We are all part of social norms and social inequalities from the time we are born. There’s no escape from the social structures and systems that we are part of, as our lives are, in many ways, defined by social structures and organisations.
If exploring the social structure, society, roles, and the evolution of social norms is something that interests you, then a degree in Sociology may be for you.
Sociology is a branch of social science that explores the structure of our society and how individuals are affected by them. It uses a systematic method of experiments, observation, and critical analysis to explore the social structures and social norms. Sociology looks at how these social structures came into existence and how our lives are affected because of them, and how they can evolve in the future. The major focus of sociology is on social stratification, culture and deviance, social relations, and social interaction.
Some of the specialised fields in sociology are :
- Applied sociology
- Collective behaviour
- Community
- Comparative sociology
- Crime and delinquency
- Cultural sociology
- Demography
An undergraduate degree in sociology is offered as a B.A and BA Hons course in various universities for a duration of three years. After completing the undergraduate program in sociology, you can aim for a two-year master’s program with a specialisation in a wide variety of subject areas. There are also doctorate and M.Phil. courses in sociology offered by prestigious universities. Students deciding to study sociology can choose from a list of specialised research areas such as human rights, indigenous peoples, cultures of societies, sociology and the world, and developmental sociology.
Here are the top 10 universities globally to study Sociology according to the Q.S. ranking :
Serial No. |
University |
Country |
1 |
Harvard University |
Cambridge United States |
2 |
University of Oxford |
Oxford,
United Kingdom |
3 |
The London School of Economics and Political Science (L.S.E.) |
Houghton Street,
London United Kingdom |
4 |
University of California, Berkeley (U.C.B.) |
Berkeley,
United States |
5 |
Stanford University |
Stanford,
United States |
6 |
National University of Singapore (N.U.S.) |
Singapore,
Singapore |
7 |
University of Cambridge |
Cambridge,
United Kingdom |
8 |
University of California, Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.) |
Los Angeles,
United States |
9 |
University of Chicago |
Chicago,
United States |
10 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Madison,
United States |
Creativity, critical thinking, and innovation are the key factors that can boost your career prospects as a graduate in sociology. Postgraduate study in sociology can lead to a job in academic research and as a lecturer. Expert knowledge in one part of the sociological study or aspect of sociology can get you a job as an author, journalist, or critic. Graduating in Sociology will also prepare you for a wide variety of Government, Non-Profit and Private sector careers.
According to the U.K. higher education survey, Seven of the top ten most popular jobs held by sociology graduates are welfare and housing associate professionals, care workers and home carers, police officers, human resources and industrial relations officers, and educational support assistants and primary education teaching professionals.
Here are some career options and jobs after graduating in sociology
- Advice worker
- Counsellor
- Census worker
- Community development worker
- Further education teacher
- Higher education lecturer
- Housing manager/officer
- Marketing executive
- Police officer
- Policy officer
- Public relations officer
- Corporate research
- Human resources
- Management
- Rehabilitation counsellor
- Social worker
- Sociologist
- Social critic
- Secondary school teacher
- Social researcher
- Youth worker
- Urban planner
So, if you are ready to have the lifetime privilege of developing critical thinking every other day by probing and asking the right questions and developing a deep understanding of how our society functions and how the people around us work together as part of the society, then there is no better time to get into sociology.