Questions
Students Often Ask:
Q:
What can I do with a degree in Sociology?
A:
Sociology is a strong major in the liberal arts tradition. As such, those
who have earned bachelor’s degrees have used them in a number of ways:
The
undergraduate degree provides strong preparation for entry-level positions
in business, government, and social service. A variety of surveys have
indicated that employers look for the skills that undergraduate training in
sociology provides. The subject matter of sociology--human social life--is
intrinsically fascinating; as such, it offers valuable preparation for
careers in journalism, politics, public relations, or public
administration-- fields that involve investigative skills and working with
diverse groups. Many students use sociology as the liberal arts foundation
for professions such as law, education, medicine, social work, and
counseling. A BA or BS in sociology can be the first step toward the
attainment of more advanced training in order to become a professor,
researcher, or applied sociologist.
Q: Specifically, what kinds of employment have RU Sociology graduates been able
to secure?
A:
Some of the jobs obtained by recent graduates include those listed below.
Also see the Alumni Careers page on this
website.
Manager
of a nursing home
Fraudulent claims investigator for an insurance company
Loan officer for a mortgage company
Manager of a child care facility
State police officer
Counselor at a substance abuse treatment center
Eligibility worker in a county social services department
Director of a Chamber of Commerce
Q: What special skills or abilities will I develop as a sociology major?
A: In
addition to providing the information about the workings and impact of
different types of cultures and social groups, the department teaches three
skills that maximize students’ employability: the ability to think clearly
and logically about social issues; the ability to communicate well, both
orally and in writing; and the ability to gather data and analyze it using
the computer. As part of the requirements for the degree, each major does
his or her own piece of original research which is carried out from the
original conceptualization to the final analysis and presentation.
Q:
Are internships or other experiential learning opportunities available?
A:
The
department does offer internship opportunities to students who qualify.
Placement is available in a variety of agencies, organizations, and
institutions. See the Internships page on this
website for a list of internship possibilities, a PDF file of the internship
manual, and an e-mail link to the department's internship coordinator.
Q:
What minors or concentrations would enhance my education as a sociology
major?
A: A wide
variety of minors might be appropriate, depending upon the particular career
path a student envisions. Recent graduates have chosen a number of different
minors, including anthropology, business administration, criminal justice,
English, history, political science, psychology, and social gerontology. The
sociology major has been structured to give students a great deal of
flexibility both within and outside of the major. Obtaining a major in
sociology and a minor in any discipline should be quite easy within the
context of the 120 hours it takes to graduate, provided the student declares
both early enough. In fact, students often opt to combine sociology and
another discipline to obtain a double major. See the
Sociology Courses page on this website
for links to suggested concentrations and minors.
Q: Is
graduate study or further professional study necessary to find a job in this
field?
A: Qualified undergraduates are able to find jobs without post-graduate
training. However, as is true in most disciplines in the liberal arts,
earning a graduate degree enhances one’s employment possibilities. About 15
percent of our recent majors have gone on to graduate school; they have been
admitted to such well-known institutions as The University of Virginia, Ohio
State University, and Virginia Tech.
Q: Where can I obtain more information about the field of Sociology?
A:
RU
Department of Sociology, located on the 2nd floor of Russell Hall
RU Career Services Center
RU McConnell Library
RU Center for Counseling and Student Development
RU Advising Centers
For an application to
Radford University contact:
RU Admissions Office
Radford University
Martin Hall
P.O. Box 6903
Radford University
Radford, VA 24142
Phone: (540) 831-5371 or 1 (800) 890-4265
Fax: (540) 831-5038
E-mail:
ruadmiss@radford.edu
Web site:
http://radford.edu/Admissions.html
