The answer to the question, ‘what is sociology?’ is a very simple one – the study of society. It is the subject matter that is difficult to define. Sociology as a subject includes everything under its name, it is interrelated to all social science subjects, and all that’s happening in the society. The subject matter of sociology is related to other fields of study such as political science, geography, economics, and even natural sciences like physics, chemistry, etc. Hence, while studying the subject, we are often exposed to subjects like political sociology, economic sociology and developmental sociology.

Sociology is a social science which helps to understand the way society works. Those who study sociology will be able analysing sociological issues and devising potential solutions and improvements, perhaps by addressing social inequalities relating to factors such as class, gender, race and poverty.

Sociologists look at the human society both past and present, gaining insight into how societies develop and organize themselves. Topics covered on a sociology degree can be incredibly wide-ranging depending on your interests. Sociology students will learn about the social causes and consequences of common human experiences and issues. This knowledge can then be used across multiple sectors, from politics to social welfare.

Sociology is a vast field and there are different areas where one can specialize in with the advent of one’s studies and career. There are experts who study behaviour of children, deal with problems of adolescents, decode criminal behaviour and action, assist students to broaden their horizon and become able enough to conduct an effective communication, analyse and solve their problems and so much more. One can choose from the many options present and think of making his career in the world of Sociology. There is no vertical specialisation when it comes to sociology.

Being a sociologist asks for a lot of patience and dedication to their work. Employers will look for people with good communication and research skills along with the capacity for detailed observation. Since you’d be required to solve problems along with diagnosing them, so you must have a strong sense of problem solving along and critical thinking.

On the other hand Sociology would mean the scientific study of human social behaviour. It includes origin and development of organization and different institution. Sociology will not only help you comprehend the human behaviour more easily but also help to know more about its cause and consequence. Sociology is more of a subject where the student will have to be patient and have an eye for detail to understand the behaviour of human beings through their social interactions, and understand how societies organize, develop and change. Your education in Sociology can open many arenas for you.

Some of the many career options of Sociology

1. Community and youth work

Community and youth development are common yet incredibly important fields in which to pursue sociology careers. The focus here lies with social welfare amongst young and vulnerable people as well as the wider community, on both a local and at national scale. Often these roles have close involvement with social politics, particularly regarding social care, education, community involvement, poverty, rehabilitation and healthcare. Studying sociology will help develop the knowledge needed to work in community development, including awareness of how laws and regulations affect society with strong interpersonal skills. Common roles in community and youth work include roles as community officer, social worker, carer, youth worker, equality and diversity officer and sports development officer.

2. Counselling and therapy

Studying sociology could provide a way into counselling and therapy careers. While a psychology degree is a more typical route into professional psychology careers, counsellors and therapists can come from numerous backgrounds. The main attributes required are strong interpersonal, communication and critical thinking skills and an ability to empathize without judgment. Counselling and therapy roles mean working closely with a diverse range of people – individuals, couples and/or groups – helping them to talk through and overcome an array of problems.

3. Education

For careers in primary and secondary education, a sociology degree could provide you with relevant knowledge of education in society, as well as the child development process, and even the laws of the playground. Although a background in sociology provides a solid foundation for careers in education, a professional teaching qualification is also often required (B.ED), usually taking two years to complete. For careers in higher education, postgraduate qualifications are often a prerequisite – you’ll typically need at least a master’s degree, and often a PhD. At this level you’ll likely be working within your own specialization in a teaching (professor) and/or research capacity. Job roles include lecturer, tutor and researcher; many of those working in academia combine several of these functions, while focusing on writing papers for publication in journals and books.

4. Public service

Careers in public service often focus on similar issues to those addressed in community development roles. Potential public service jobs for sociology graduates include roles in social and welfare services, public health services, the voluntary sector, criminal justice, probation and prison services, rehabilitation and housing services. Social researchers are also needed to track societal developments across the public service sector. Employers often look for analytical and critical thinking skills, cross-cultural understanding, ability to collaborate and present complex information, awareness of current laws and regulations in the sector and solid interpersonal skills. Which ultimately helps in preparation of the competitive exams needed for getting into public services. 

5. Careers in business

Combining a background in sociology with a career in business opens up a huge range of potential career paths and sectors. Business careers span every industry, incorporating roles in marketing, statistics, research, public relations (PR), recruitment, human resources (HR) and more. Those who study sociology are likely to have the strong analytical skills needed to make it in the business world, as well as the critical thinking skills needed to make connections and find solutions to business issues.

6. Careers in marketing

A knowledge of the complexity of human societies and behaviour is extremely helpful for pursuing careers in marketing. Marketers focus on targeting messages to different sections of society, identifying the needs of different demographics and acting accordingly. An understanding of how to categorize and analyse different subsections within society will help with the creation and targeting of marketing campaigns, with the statistical and analytical skills gained during a sociology degree providing an excellent background for effective work in this field.

7. Careers in politics, activism and the charity sector

Sociologists’ knowledge of society, patterns of social relationships and the culture of everyday life is important in order to question the status quo in society, in matters such as race, class and gender equality. If you want to use the skills and knowledge gained during your degree to make society better, you could consider careers within the charity sector, local and national politics, or by becoming a political activist. Entry-level roles in professional politics may require a relevant postgraduate degree. But many roles are available to bachelor’s graduates who can demonstrate the passion for the sector alongside skills in conducting research and analysing complex data, awareness of current affairs and the ability to argue, reasoning and persuasion.

8. Consumer Relations

A sociologist often has an understanding of the complexities of human nature and can apply the tools to understand the behaviour and formulate reports on it. Consumer relations involves understanding the requirements of the customer, the various factors that are involved in changing the requirements of the customer, etc. There are various other fields that require the knowledge of sociologists, such as public litigation, policymaking, etc. There is also social media that has changed the way people communicate or view each other, and the subject of sociology helps us understand this phenomenon among various others.

9. Journalism

Journalism requires one to develop an understanding of a phenomenon and provide an unbiased opinion on that. Analytical and critical thinking accompanied by excellent communication skills are a must if one wants to become a journalist. A sociology major is taught various methods and approaches of studying a social phenomenon. Sociology majors learn the various methods and approaches of studying a societal phenomenon such as conducting interviews, case studies and surveys. A typical sociology class often involves heated discussions and debates where the individual is supposed to share their ideas and views on a topic. You are also exposed to assignments where employing critical and analytical thinking is essential. These learnings can very well be implemented while taking up a career in journalism. 

Why ADAMAS University?

Adamas University has world class facilities, with specialised faculties, who guide throughout the entire span of degree. In Adamas you can opt for all UGC acknowledged full time courses like B.A, M.A, M.Phil, and PhD in Sociology as major subject. As we all know by now, that Sociology is a very important subject or paper to be considered in competitive exam, because it is both very informative, all-encompassing and updated to study and get through the exams. On one hand sociology as a subject can be studied here and on the other hand, all the allied subjects like logic, reasoning, G.K, English, history etc. can be studied here too. Because in Adamas University, you will get after college evening classes, where these things are helped with.  Thus come to Adamas and explore the horizon.