Sociology: Study Resource & Degree Program Information

General Information About Sociology Degree Programs

Certificates and associate degrees are available in sociology, along with bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorates. A bachelor's degree with a major in sociology usually follows a typical four-year undergraduate track, although some students may complete the degree earlier than this. Students with bachelor's degrees in sociology may continue for a higher degree in sociology or may pursue graduate work in some other discipline.

Sociology Degree Study Options

Students can attend a traditional four-year university with sociology as their major to earn a B.A. in the discipline. They may also choose to earn a certificate or associate's degree in order to prepare themselves for the bachelor's program or to qualify for some entry-level work. Certification courses and associate degrees are often taken as continuing education distance learning programs online. Once earning the B.A., students will be eligible for two-year master's programs or three- to five-(or more) year doctoral programs in sociology.

Advanced Sociology Degrees

Those who move on to graduate study in sociology should prepare for more intensive research and writing. Master's students will usually be required to produce a thesis of original research, while doctoral candidates will be expected to produce a dissertation with research that represents a unique contribution to the field of sociology.

Master's Degrees in Sociology

Students pursuing master's degrees in sociology will not only learn further about the disparate cultures that populate our world, they will learn advanced methods of analyzing data about these cultures. Students will study more advanced statistical and research methods and will conduct more and more complex research.

Doctoral Programs in Sociology

Students may take on the requirements for a doctorate in sociology directly from undergraduate work or after a master's program. Doctoral candidates will do even more original research in the field of sociology, often focusing on a particular culture or sub field of interest that they will have developed in their undergraduate or masters program. Successful completing of the Ph.D. in sociology qualifies the student to teach sociology at the university level.

Choosing A Degree In Sociology

Sociology programs are optimal for students who enjoy writing and research, since this discipline tends to be heavy in both areas. Those who have an interest in examining foreign and familiar cultures and how these cultures interacted, then using those findings to predict future behavior and facilitate future interactions are likely to do well in sociology.

Career Opportunities In Sociology

Sociologists can find positions in government agencies, particularly ones dealing with servicing specific groups of people, business, helping corporations understand consumer trends and meet consumer needs. They may work with the prison system, helping design more effective incarceration and rehabilitation methods. Sociologists may also become counselors, educators, researchers or some combination of these.

Earning Potential For Sociology Careers

The median income for sociologists in 2006 was $60,290. Some federally employed social scientists with only a bachelor's degree could start out earning as much as $35,572 in 2007, $43,731 with a master's degree.

Getting Your Sociology Degree Online

Associate's degrees, certifications, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in sociology or related fields are all available from accredited universities online. An accredited online university can be your best choice if you are a continuing education student whose obligations do not permit full time in-school attendance, or if you feel that distance learning is simply more appropriate to your specific education needs. These degrees can often be completed more quickly than a sociology degree from a traditional institution, and can qualify a student for job and higher education opportunities similar to those offered students who have attended a traditional degree program.

Getting Your Sociology Degree Offline

Most liberal arts colleges and universities offer a bachelor's program with a major in sociology that can completed in four years. Students at top brick-and-mortar colleges and universities will have access to professors who are experts in the field of sociology who they can consult with about their courses and how to proceed with their program. Attending a live university also gives the student the opportunity to immerse him or herself in academic culture in general and his or her discipline specifically. Successful completion of the bachelors program can lead to master's and doctoral degree programs at the same institution or another quality brick-and-mortar college or university, which in turn can lead to a top career in the field of sociology or a related field, such as political science, law, psychology or history.