Sociology Careers & Outcomes

After Pacific | Graduates of the sociology program apply their knowledge across a wide range of professional fields. Many attend some of the country’s top graduate schools to continue studying sociology or another discipline. Graduates also teach and work in government and private industry.

They are professors, police officers, researchers, teachers, social workers, business managers, international aid workers and other types of professionals.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete a major in sociology can:

  • Employ the sociological imagination to describe how an individuals' life experiences are shaped by social structures and categories (e.g., race, class, gender, sexuality)
  • Identify and describe the theories and research methods that are foundational to sociological knowledge and research
  • Apply sociological concepts and theories to understand contemporary social issues and/or public debates about these issues
  • Communicate sociological concepts and/or research in a manner that is appropriate for the intended audience (e.g., academic, lay audience)
  • Apply sociological theories and/or research methods to generate a sociological understanding of a topic related to a main theme in the sociological curriculum (e.g., intersectionality, identity, social control, social power)
  • Prepare original works that meet American Sociological Association writing standards to convey sociological analyses

Program Purpose

The major in sociology provides extensive knowledge about culture, social institutions, and everyday interaction as these shape identity, behavior, social systems, and social inequality. Sociology majors are trained in qualitative and quantitative research skills along with tools for advanced critical thinking and theoretical application. The program contributes to a liberal arts education, prepares students for graduate training in sociology, civic and community engagement, and prepares students for careers in law, social services and related fields.