What can I do with an Sociology/Criminology major?

Areas	Employers	Strategies
HUMAN SERVICES
Counseling Advocacy Mental health services Social Services, including: Administration Programming Recreation	Advocacy groups Federal, state and local government United Way agencies/local branches of national nonprofit organizations Religion-affiliated service organizations Adoption and child care agencies Public and private nursing homes Hospitals	Concentrate course work in areas of interest Pursue excellent academic record Emphasize research methods courses, statistics courses and computer skills Obtain counseling courses and experience for counseling and case worker positions Acquire related experience Obtain graduate degree for advancement Consider business minor or double major for positions in administration, and master's in healthcare administration for advancement May need master’s degree in social work or counseling for some positions
DEMOGRAPHY
	Companies and organizations doing demographic forecasting and population studies Companies compiling market research data Consulting firms Business and industry International, federal and state agencies Government and regional planning departments Colleges and universities Foundations Advertising and marketing firms Private research firms	Take courses in social research methods, statistics, computer applications, calculus and foreign language Develop strong communication skills Gain experience via internships or part-time jobs in companies with statistical research departments Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail Obtain graduate degree for advancement
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Corrections Rehabilitation Law enforcement Judiciary	Correctional institutions Court systems Federal, state and local government, especially law enforcement agencies	Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills Gain essential practical experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships and volunteer work Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail Obtain graduate degree for advancement Learn hiring procedures for law enforcement careers
ENVIRONMENT & SOCIETY
	Waste management firms Health agencies Local planning agencies Environmental advocacy groups National advocacy groups Environmental periodicals Federal government Regional, state, and local agencies Consulting firms	Take courses in general and urban ecology, statistics, and public speaking Learn skills in communication networking, electronic mail and analytical writing Gain experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships or practicum placements and volunteer work Obtain graduate degree for advancement
BUSINESS
Demography/planning Human resources Management Sales Marketing Consumer research Insurance Personnel/training	Research departments/firms Personnel/industrial relations departments Marketing/management firms Organizational planning departments/firms International businesses Manufacturing firms Advertising firms Consumer research/public relations firms Consulting firms	Focus on an occupational area: personnel, industrial relations, management, marketing or public relations Complete a minor in business Develop strong oral and written communication skills Gain related experience Stress work experience, social skills, public speaking, writing skills, statistics and research training on resume and when interviewing
EDUCATION
Teaching Administration Research	Public and private schools Colleges and universities	Obtain licensure to teach grades K-12 Obtain Ph.D. to teach and for advanced research and administrative positions in colleges and universities Secure strong personal recommendations
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
Market research analysis Evaluation research	Federal government National headquarters of nonprofit organizations Firms conducting social, market or statistical research Public relations firms Professional periodicals Newspapers and magazines Social service agencies Hospitals Business and industry Labor unions Professional sociologists Universities Pubic opinion research polls	Learn federal government job application process Develop strong quantitative, statistical, writing, information gathering, and assimilating skills Take courses in research methods and statistics Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail Acquire related experience Obtain graduate degree for advancement and specialized areas
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
	Federal, state and local government National headquarters and local branches of nonprofit organizations Private social service organizations Religion-affiliated service organizations Child care agencies	Learn federal, state and local government job application process Obtain experience in counseling, advocacy or administration Acquire knowledge of community problems and government resources Gain volunteer experience Take courses in public speaking and social psychology
GOVERNMENT
Social science analysis Social statistics Demography Administration Management Program development Policy analysis Personnel Research Investigation	Public assistance agencies Federal, state, local, and county government	Learn federal, state, and local government job application process Develop computer application skills Obtain experience in research and evaluation Acquire skills in survey and evaluation research and specialties in such fields as health sociology, aging, criminology, demography, and family Gain experience through internships and volunteer work Obtain graduate degree for advancement

Sociology/Criminology HomePage

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Portions reproduced with permission from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
CLA Advisement Center; Spring Semester 2001