Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees

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The best sociology degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best sociology degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding sociology faculty.

Key Takeaways

  • Sociology is a discipline that covers diverse topics involving the study of the relationship between human beings and their surroundings.
  • Sociology students are taught to understand how human beings and their activities and consciousness shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social systems.
  • Undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology cover sociological research methods, such as using statistics, conducting in-depth interviews, analyzing the language used in media articles, and evaluating different settings where interactions exist.

A bachelor’s degree in sociology is an excellent starting point for a career in public service, policy development, activism and a host of other socially conscious fields. The sociology degree centers on how systems like families, groups, and communities intersect. Sociology also concerns the way human beings relate to one another over matters of religion, culture, race, gender, and more. Sociology students will learn how to conduct research, study populations, and understand how these populations are impacted by factors like geography, race, economics, and more. The best schools for sociology are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of sociology concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Featured Programs

Sociology: A Valuable Degree Program

Sociology is a diverse and vast field, and different jobs require different educational requirements. Some positions only require a bachelor’s degree, while some demand applicants to have a graduate degree.

Given the wide variety of sociology programs available, it’s crucial to comprehend the distinctions between degree levels in sociology before applying.

Fortunately, the majority of the best colleges and universities for sociology degrees provide on-campus and online degree programs. Online degree programs have helped working students dedicate the necessary time to a sociology degree without having to leave their current positions.

Degree Levels in Sociology

Associate Degree in Sociology

Students who want to test the waters before committing to a four-year college or university can begin by obtaining an associate degree in sociology. This degree level is a two-year post-secondary option that covers a variety of basic sociological concepts. Graduates of an associate’s degree program in sociology have access to a wide range of employment prospects.

It is an appropriate, less expensive alternative with the possibility for profitable work placements within several fields of sociology, even though it is not as in-depth as a four-year degree in sociology.

Basic Requirements:

  • Proof of graduation from a high school, such as a high school diploma or GED.
  • Transcripts from previous levels of education.
  • Proficiency in the English language

Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology

Bachelor’s degree programs in sociology open up several career opportunities in different industries involving sociology. Undergraduate students are often allowed to customize their degree programs by choosing a concentration.

The most common concentrations in this degree level include:

  • class, race, and ethnicity
  • social change
  • political and social movements
  • criminal justice
  • gender and sexuality
  • social stratification
  • culture
  • globalization
  • economics
  • medicine
  • organizations
  • urban sociology

Bachelor’s degrees in sociology typically require students to complete 120 credits or 40 courses in at least two years. Many factors affect the duration of a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate students need to consider whether they can attend full- or part-time classes.

There are two types of undergraduate degrees in sociology: bachelor of science (BS) and bachelor of arts (BA). Compared to BA degrees, BS in sociology programs emphasize research theories and methodology, focusing on data gathering and analysis.

BA in sociology programs adopt a more multidisciplinary approach and place a greater emphasis on the liberal arts.

Bachelor’s degrees that are often intertwined with sociology are political science and social science.

Basic requirements:

  • A minimum GPA of 2.0 to 3.0.
  • SAT and ACTs
  • GRE scores

Master’s Degree in Sociology

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in sociology or its closely-related fields, students planning to enter upper-level positions are encouraged, often required, to obtain a master’s degree in sociology. This degree level equips students with advanced skills and knowledge in quantitative methods, ethnographic research, and global perspectives.

A master’s degree in sociology requires students to complete 30 to 45 credits and can last up to two years of full-time study. A thesis requirement could make it take longer to finish. Enrolling part-time will take you longer to graduate.

Basic Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s in sociology or any closely-related field
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Two to three letters of recommendation
  • GRE scores

A few of the best schools to obtain a master’s degree are the University of California Berkeley, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Duke University, Northwestern University, and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, among others.

Doctoral Degree in Sociology

A doctorate in sociology is the highest level of education available. This terminal education equips graduates with research, teaching, and leadership careers. Students often concentrate their study on a specific topic, such as social deviance, criminal justice, or gender, racial, or ethnic disparities.

A doctorate in sociology typically takes 4-8 years to complete. You spend roughly a year preparing a qualifying paper and taking tests to move to doctoral candidacy after two to three years of in-class study. As a doctoral candidate, you spend one to two years conducting original research and writing your dissertation before presenting it in front of a faculty panel in a public setting.

Basic Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in a social science discipline
  • At least three years of professional experience in sociology

Frequently Asked Questions About Sociology Bachelor’s Degrees

Your knowledge as a sociology major can qualify you to work in a wide array of settings, from research foundations and think tanks to educational groups and government agencies. But you’ll also learn excellent communication skills, the scientific research process, and problem-solving skills. These traits are in high-demand in any workplace setting, and can qualify you to work in a wide range of professional contexts.

Sociology concerns broad and overlapping systems. Researchers, educators, community leaders and outreach groups impact the lives of countless people, families and communities through meaningful findings and actions. Today, top influencers in sociology are bringing illumination to subjects like the intersection of humans and technology, feminist and gender theory, social networking, urban sociology, and much more.

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Sociology is one of the more versatile and respected social sciences degrees. That’s because this major is inherently interdisciplinary in nature, bringing together subject areas like economics, political science, and statistical analysis. Each of these disciplines informs the way we understand complex and interwoven social systems like religious organizations, national governments, and varying ethnic groups.

The bachelor’s degree in sociology may be earned in four years, and provides a comprehensive education in demographic studies, research methodology, urban studies and more. Your undergraduate degree in sociology will qualify you for a wide range of opportunities in the field, including human resources specialist, guidance counselor, market research analyst, and more.

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Once you’ve declared your major in sociology, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized sociology electives, there are several courses that most sociology majors will be required to take, including:

  • Sociolinguistics
  • Criminal Behavior and Social Control
  • Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
  • The Practice of Social Research
  • Ethnographic Research
  • Comparative and Historical Methods
  • Epidemiological Methods
  • Analysis of Sociological Data
  • Language, Culture, and Education
  • Sociology of Gender

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Majoring in sociology can qualify you for a wide range of professional opportunities. Your communication, research, and problem-solving skills will be of value in an array of educational, administrative, and business settings. If you plan to channel your education into a sociology-specific career, consider these top jobs:

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The Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees

Best Sociology Major Research Universities

  1. Harvard University
  2. Columbia University
  3. University of Chicago
  4. University of California, Berkeley
  5. Yale University

Go to The Best Sociology Major Research Universities

Best Sociology Major Liberal Arts Colleges

  1. Wesleyan University
  2. Swarthmore College
  3. Wellesley College
  4. Pomona College
  5. Amherst College

Go to The Best Sociology Major Liberal Arts Colleges

Best Sociology Major Online Colleges

  1. University of Missouri
  2. University of South Carolina
  3. Florida International University
  4. University of Louisville
  5. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Go to The Best Sociology Major Online Colleges

Career Outlook for Students with Sociology Degree

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Sociology

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,306
  • Avg. Expenses*: $16,749
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $31,920
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $43,098
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 12 years
  • Job Growth: 3.38%
  • Number of Jobs: 1,281,000
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Managers, All Other3.35%$106,040
Sociologists3.03%$90,231
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary3.33%$79,290
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other2.60%$73,512
Social Science Research Assistants4.65%$50,585

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$52,427$85,708$137,798

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Rhode Island20% higher than average$123,115
#3 Texas10% higher than average$90,751
#4 Illinois7% higher than average$92,763
#5 Delaware2% higher than average$101,555
#6 Wyoming2% higher than average$95,640

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Managers, All Other$106,040
Sociologists$90,231
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary$79,290

The Best Sociology Schools in Your State

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