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Careers in Sociology and Social Work

Whether you pursue a degree in sociology or social work, remarkable career paths that directly impact the lives of others await you! Read on to learn more about career opportunities and hear directly from recent alumni.  

Careers in Sociology
In this time of rapid social change, it’s impossible to know what lies ahead. Yet, because the field of sociology gives you a broad liberal arts education, you have a solid base for many career paths. Sociology graduates are very marketable because of the heavy emphasis on skills - research, interviewing, grant writing, mediation and computer applications to name a few. Many students select sociology as a major because it provides:

  • a broad liberal arts base for advanced degrees in law, education, social work, and counseling
  • a broad liberal arts preparation for entry level positions throughout the business, government, non-profit and human services areas
  • a broad liberal arts preparation for careers in research, politics, public relations, community development, non-profit management, and human resources

With a degree in sociology, you can follow a diverse number of career avenues:

  • Survey Researcher
  • Case Manager
  • Grant Writer
  • Marketer
  • Teacher
  • Planner
  • Mediator
  • Consultant
  • Business Manager
  • Non-Profit Manager
  • Community Developer
  • . . . to name just a few !! 
 

About a career as a sociologist: 

 

Other helpful links: 

 

Careers in Social Work
Social workers are professionals who have many different roles. They provide services to people of any age, income, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. They help people cope with complex interpersonal and social problems and assist in obtaining resources for people.

With an undergraduate degree in social work, you could pursue a career in:

  • Nursing Homes
  • Mental Health Centers
  • Social Welfare Agencies
  • Child and Family Services Agencies
  • Chemical Addiction Treatment Centers
  • Hospitals and Health Care Agencies
  • Foster Care and Adoption Agencies
  • Residential Treatment Programs
  • Community Organizations
  • Correctional Settings
  • . . . and many more locations! 

About a career as a social worker: 

Other helpful links: 

Still not sure if a degree in sociology or social work is right for you?  Visit FHSU’s Academic Advising and Career Exploration website for more information about potential careers, or contact the Department of Sociology and Social Work to speak with a faculty advisor.

FHSU Sociology and Social Work graduates - out in the world


Lee Chastain (2004)
City Planner
City of Thomasville
Thomasville, GA

Since graduating in 2004, I have worked for both city governments and private business as a planner and project manager. I am currently the City Planner for the City of Thomasville, GA. In this capacity I report directly to the City Manager and I am responsible for planning, zoning, code enforcement and building review. Additionally, I am pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from Troy University. The certificate in Community Development helped to focus my attention on a career in city planning and the reflective skills I gained through the B.A. in Sociology program at FHSU that benefit me as a city planner. The sociology program at FHSU focused on the development of my "sociological imagination." It is this "imagination" that I use daily in my endeavors to develop solutions to community concerns.

Morgan Campas-O'Hara (2003)
Intake Clinician & Patient Rights Representative
Devereux Cleo Wallace
Westminster, CO

I loved each sociology class I took and knew I was getting a valuable education from the first day of class. My experiences since graduating from FHSU have illustrated how the sociology degree program provided me with countless benefits that prepared me to excel in graduate school and be a leader in the work place. The focus on developing strong writing skills surpasses many other undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The incorporation of a multicultural focus is vital to graduate education programs and the modern workplace. In addition, the unparalleled commitment and attention provided by department staff provides individualized guidance and direction, essential to navigating the professional arena and world that follows graduation. Most importantly, each of these benefits is transferable and valuable to a wide variety of professional and personal endeavors. I left FHSU prepared and strengthened both personally and professionally.