Career and Graduate School
A Sociology degree offers a variety of potential career opportunities. Our students frequently go on to careers in bussiness, counseling, criminal justice, government administration, human resources, law enforcement, legal affairs, non-profit organizations, organizational administration, public policy, research, social services, and teaching, just to name a few.
With so many possibilities, it can be helpful to consider your personal and professional goals early and often. Students are always welcome to speak with an Academic Advisor to consider their options and make a plan, below are some resoruces geared toward career development.
Resources
Texas Career Engagement
If you’re unsure of what you want to pursue as a profession, you may find career exploration especially helpful. Taking the time to reflect upon your values, interests, personality, and skills—as well as factors that may be influencing your choices—can help you make informed decisions about your future. The Texas Career Engagement team offers a plethora of online tools to explore career paths.
Liberal Arts Career Services
Make your dream career a reality with a visit to Liberal Arts Career Services! They offer a multitude of services to UT students and recent alumni. They'll help you research potential employers, write a resume, practice for interviews, and even find an internship. They also host regular events, workshops, and career fairs throughout the year. They even have a desingated counselor for students considering law school. Students can also receive course credit for relevant internships through Liberal Arts Career Services.
Texas Exes Career Network
The mission of the Texas Exes Career Network is to connect alumni and current students of The University of Texas at Austin for the purposes of sharing career-related information. Those searching the database will find Texas Exes who have volunteered to share their experience and insight about occupations, industries, employers, labor market trends, and job relocation. The purpose of the Texas Exes Career Network is not to find jobs or recruit employees, but rather to network and share career information within the UT community.
Additional Resources
- Preparing for Medical School: How Sociology Helps
- American Sociological Association: Major in Sociology
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Putting Your Liberal Arts Degree to Work
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook for Social Science Degrees
- Indeed.com: Jobs for People with a Sociology Degree
- The Muse: 10 Jobs That are Great for Sociology Majors
Graduate School
Applying to graduate school requires long-term planning. Students will need to prepare for the GRE exam, research programs that may be of interest, contact schools for applications, and possibly visit campuses. Asking faculty to recommend schools is a good way to start. Faculty need time (a month's notice is ideal) and information (a resume, writing sample, transcript) in order to write recommendation letters.
Start planning early! Some schools have application deadlines as early as December of the year before students are expected to start.
As with career planning, Liberal Arts Career Services and Texas Career Engagement offer support and resources to help students plan, apply, and pursue graduate school opportunities. Please consult their websites for more information. Current Sociology majors should feel free to make an appointment with your Academic Advisor, who can be found on our Advising page.