Sociology is an excellent major applicable to numerous fields of study at the postgraduate level. While not everyone needs to go to graduate school to achieve their goals, there are many reasons to consider continuing your education beyond a bachelor's degree. Some common graduate school options for sociology majors -
- Ph.D. or M.A./M.S. in Sociology
- J.D. (law degree)
- MBA (business degree)
- MSW (master's in social work)
- M.A./M.S. in Psychology or Counseling
- M.A./M.S. in Data Science
- M.A./M.S. in Education or Teaching Credential
- M.A./M.S. in Student Affairs or Higher Education
- M.A./M.S. in Criminology or Criminal Justice
- M.A./M.S. in Public Policy
- M.A./M.S. in Urban Planning
- M.A./M.S. Public Health
- And more!
Why consider graduate school?
- Personal Growth
- Greater/additional employment opportunities
- Career advancement
- Financial reward
- Sense of accomplishment
- Greater recognition and credibility
How to get started
- Perform an internet search for the type of programs of interest
- You can identify different grad schools programs by performing a basic internet search. The Peterson's Grad School Search Tool is a good place to start!
Once you identify programs of interests, you can review the program's admissions and department web pages to determine admissions requirements, goals of that particular program, and admissions deadlines.
Every program is different and it is important to pick a program that is the right fit for you! - Use the resources at the Pre-graduate/Pre-law Advising Office
- The Pre-grad/Pre-law Advising Office is dedicated to helping students and alumni navigate the graduate school decision process and supporting them while applying.
They have a lot of great resources available including in-person and remote workshops to cover basic information, one and one advising to answer your specific questions, a graduate school guidebook, and FAQ information on their website.
They also can help you navigate the application process including reviewing personal statements or personal history statements. - Talk to a sociology academic advisor
- Our sociology academic advisors are available to support you in thinking about your future opportunities including going to graduate school. We can help you figure out how to navigate the process, and provide you with additional resources.
- Talk to a faculty mentor
- Department of Sociology faculty members serve as an invaluable resource when preparing for graduate work, so talk with them. Faculty members are well versed in how to proceed with preparation for graduate work, they can make recommendations about which institutions to consider and they can serve as a sounding board for your ideas and plans. Furthermore, faculty members may write letters of recommendation for students with whom they have developed a rapport.
- Connect with one of our current SOC graduate students
- After all, they recently went through the graduate school admissions process and can describe their experiences thus far in graduate school.