Black Intelligentsia Libraries
The New Way Of Thinking
Sociologist
Relationships between people have defined societies and civilizations throughout history and around the world. It is the sophisticated and complex relationships we share that separate humans from all other animals, and understanding human interactions is essential in keeping civilization civil. So, if you enjoy Social Studies, Science, and Math, are analytical, and if you are intrigued by the different relationships, cultures, and public policies in the world around you, then you should become a Sociologist.
Sociologists are Scientists who study human society and social behavior by examining the groups, social institutions, cultures, nations, processes, and organizations (social, religious, political, business/economic, etc.) that people form, focusing heavily on the interactions between, among, and within them. They trace the origin and growth of groups and analyze the influence of group activities and interactions on individual members. Research conducted by Sociologists is used extensively by Administrators, Demographers, Lawmakers, Law Enforcement, Educators, and Social Workers, when solving social problems (poverty, epidemics, crime, drug use, etc.) and formulating public policy.
The duties of a Sociologist include but are not limited to: designing and conducting research projects to develop and test theories about social issues (crime, poverty, etc.); collecting (through interviews, surveys, observations, etc.), analyzing, and interpreting data in order to increase the understanding of human social behavior; drawing conclusions from data; preparing reports, articles, publications, and presentations detailing research findings; collaborating with other Sociologists and Social Scientists; consulting with and advising clients, Social Workers, policymakers (Administrators, Legislators), etc. on research findings, sociological issues, and policies; collecting data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people; developing, implementing, and evaluating methods of data collection; developing approaches to solutions of groups' problems, based on research findings; observing group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, and to evaluate progress; developing problem-intervention procedures (interviews, consultations, role-playing, participant-observation of group interactions); and teaching at universities.
High school students interested in becoming a Sociologist benefit from taking Sociology, Psychology, Health, History, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Computer Applications, Counseling, Nursing, and Statistics. Students entering Sociology Bachelor's of Science programs from high school with no previous Sociology/Counseling training should expect a period of four years to complete said program.
Specialties in Sociology include: Social Psychology; Health; Criminology; Education; Racial and Ethnic Relations; Families; Urban, Rural, and Politics; Population; Gender Relations; Poverty; Demography; and Aging/Gerontology.
Due to governments' and social, political, civil, educational, and business organizations' constant need to understand ever-evolving societies and human social interactions worldwide, employment of Sociologists is projected to grow 15 percent over the next decade. Those with an advanced degree, strong statistical and research skills, and a background in Applied Sociology will have the best job prospects.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
Median Salary: $72,430
Salary Range: ~$39,790 - $127,590+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming a Sociologist have been to major in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Science, Social Work, Counseling, Social Relations, Social Studies, Psychology, World Languages and Culture, Applied Psychology, Behavior Analysis, International Studies, Cultural Studies, African Diaspora and the World, Ethnic Studies, Urban Studies, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Juvenile Justice, Family and Community Services, Theology, Philosophy, Human Sciences, Health Science, Public Health, Gerontology, Public Relations, Public Policies, Public Affairs, Corrections, Justice Studies, Human Development, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Child Development, Adolescent Studies, Family Development, Religion, Social Science Education, Religious Education, or Religious Studies.
College courses include Research Methods, Statistics, Computer Science, and Mathematics, for working with large amounts of electronic data is essential for Sociologists. A bachelor’s degree is needed for entry-level positions in related fields (social services, public policy, education, etc.). Sociologists typically need a master's degree or a PhD. A PhD qualifies one to lead research projects and to teach Sociology at colleges and universities, while a master's degree is required to teach at community colleges.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Sociology and related majors are: Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama); Alabama A&M University (Huntsville, Alabama); Howard University (Washington, DC); Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Florida); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama); Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama); Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); Talladega College (Talladega, Alabama); University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland); Philander Smith College (Little Rock, Arkansas); Arkansas Baptist College (Little Rock, Arkansas); Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee); University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Arkansas); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC); Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach, Florida); Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas); Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, Georgia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Kentucky State University (Frankfort, Kentucky); Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana); Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas); Xavier University (New Orleans, Louisiana); Bowie State University (Bowie, Maryland); Coppin State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Missouri); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, Mississippi); Rust College (Holly Springs, Mississippi); Tougaloo College (Jackson, Mississippi); Barber-Scotia College (Concord, North Carolina); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Saint Augustine's University (Raleigh, North Carolina); LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, Tennessee); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Wilberforce University (Wilberforce, Ohio); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Lane College (Jackson, Tennessee); Cheyney University (Cheyney, Pennsylvania); Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi); Dillard University (New Orleans, Louisiana); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Lincoln University (Lincoln University, Pennsylvania); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Langston University (Langston, Oklahoma); Shaw University (Raleigh, North Carolina); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee); Jarvis Christian College (Hawkins, Texas); Morris College (Sumter, South Carolina); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Virginia Union University (Richmond, Virginia); Wiley College (Marshall, Texas); Saint Paul's College (Lawrenceville, Virginia); Texas College (Tyler, Texas); West Virginia State University (Charleston, West Virginia); and Bluefield State College (Bluefield, West Virginia).
Available Scholarships
