<p>I am applying to college and am interested in sociology. On the application, however, I have to choose from the following categories: social studies, humanities, biological sciences, physical sciences, engineering, math, or computer science....</p>
<p>So what do you guys think sociology more is: humanities or social studies?</p>
<p>definitely social science/social studies. Humanities is more like english, history, etc.</p>
<p>cool thanks!</p>
<p>hmm note the social in sociology</p>
<p>social studies.</p>
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Humanities is more like english, history, etc.
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<p>History is often categorized as a social science too. It can be either.</p>
<p>I think part of the reason sociology gets a bad rep (and why some majors such as comm, philosophy etc also do) is because it is a major you can make as difficult, easy, interesting, etc. as you want it to be.</p>
<p>At my school, criminology, comm, sometimes psych, and sociology get a bad reputation because people can choose to take easy classes and slide through, which is also why alot of athletes choose these majors (sorry for the generalization, but they are majors that are known to be easy if you choose the easy classes)</p>
<p>I am a comm major and I try to take interesting and challenging classes. When I apply for a job, I will have relevant and interesting coursework to show on my resume. </p>
<p>Sociology can be a challenging and interesting major if you choose to make it so. Alot of people may add another major or a minor to make it more valuable, but it doesn't have to be necesary. I have taken a fair amount of sociology classes to add to my own degree and they have all been reading and writing intensive and very thought provoking.</p>
<p>One of the greatest dangers of sociology is that its an academic major. While it might teach a fondation for higher curricula, the undergraduate social sciences all bear a crisis when the employer asks “What can you do for me?”</p>
<p>Sociology studies things like social problems, group dynamics, government structure, research method. Lots and lots of foundation is described within a sociology degree but the programs fall short when they require applied study. Sure, I can analyze a particular social problem and generate explanations as to why they occur, but outside of the academia, it’s considered useless. </p>
<p>While studying the degree, I was loaded with big words like stratification, first response, class status power, social inequality, minority and ethnic relations, American vs foriegn power structures, pesonal adjustment, research method, macro and mezzo social structre, interview and reporting. There were some applied courses, interview, testing and assessment, statistics, social research. However, one can’t even do these tasks until they have a master’s degree with a counseling license. </p>
<p>At the time it felt like I was studying something that could be applied later. However, after graduation, I discovered that the applied fields just did not hire until a graduate degree is completed. There really is no such thing as a “sociologist.” The schools need this term to keep their major alive. My unversity’s placement department advised they just dont place sociology or psychology majors at the bachelor level. If I wanted to work, I had to study something applied.</p>
<p>Compare it with a business degree. Courses in business can include financial accounting, economics, communication skills, marketing, sales force and marketing management, team leadership, workplace design, distribution, product development, cost management, auditing…In comparison there are lots of applied skills within this study. A business major has the advantage of studying applied skills that are not seen as generalist. They can gain some kind of certification and say they have specific knowledge in this area and it looks like they have done something. Granted the young business major has the same crisis with a bunch of generlist courses. However, the crisis is a little better than the young “sociologist” who learns that business are more interested in applied study when they ask “What can you do for me?”</p>
<p>The big crisis for the undergrad who didnt plan to go on and study an applied skill at the master’s level is that nearly every job in the field requires a master’s degree with a counseling license. Even when the master’s degree is achieved, non profit organizations just dont have the money to pay a living wage. The end result is that the young sociologist grieves a loss, wasting four years of his life, hoping to get something entry level under the idea that they graduated college. However, in this economy that is everyone, and the major lacks something applied.</p>
<p>Parachronistic said nicely what I’m going to say.</p>
<p>Sociology won’t get you a job.</p>
<p>The only real direct application of a Sociology undergrad degree is social work, usually as a case worker for a local government.</p>
<p>Which is great, because we need people to do that.</p>
<p>This is often true with Pschology as well.</p>
<p>@ parachronistic, seems someones is bitter.</p>
<p>And sociology can get you a job if you can market yourself.</p>
<p>Sociology is an experimental and mathematical discipline. Most sociology departments know that as well. However, to encourage more students to join, they water it down and make it memorization based and almost as bad as psychology. I suggest you become a math major and take a few sociology electives.</p>
<p>@LQTM</p>
<p>Try every culture. We’re a money centric world.</p>
<p>I’d like to get some opinions on here of people who are out of college. All I see posted is “I’m a (insert humanities/social science major here) and don’t let ANYONE tell you that you’re degree is useless in finding a job”. That’s great, but you really don’t have any room to talk because you’re still getting a degree. Almost (not all, but I’d say a good 80% of) everyone I know with a degree in the humanities or social sciences say they wish they could do it all over again and major in something that can get them more money. </p>
<p>I realized that most of you guys are eager kids, taking on the world and doing the things you love, but saying that money is not important is a really childish and immature statement. You need money to support yourselves, your spouse, your children, not only now but in the future.</p>
<p>Here’s what I’ve decided on doing…</p>
<p>I’m going to major in philosophy and minor in computer science, and attend graduate school for philosophy to become a professor. I would have double majored in the two, but I’ve already completed 45 community college credits and 15 in progress for the current semester. So by the time I get to the four year college, I’ll have 60 credits. With only 60 more needed to get a degree, it’d be impossible for me to also get a computer science major with little math foundation and no cs courses (none offered at my community college that transfer). Why computer science? Well, because it’s one of the most practical fields and has a decent return rate for many of its graduates. I’d prefer to take as many cs courses as I can to gain practical skills, but I also really enjoy philosophy. And plus, I see myself more as a professor than working in the computer science field. I’ve also considered a math minor, but CS certainly has more tangible aspects. As a humanities major, definitely take courses that offer “job-like” skills so you aren’t completely involved in purely academic courses, and at least have something you can allude to, to prospective employers.</p>
<p>@ Intervenient</p>
<p>You know that people who majored in social sciences and humanities can survive, right? I’m not arguing that money isn’t important because it is. Like you said: “We’re a money centric world.” And unless we become a communist nation, LAS majors will still exist with people majoring in it. Unlike you I know people who have majored in various LAS majors and have found success. I also know people who majored in English and didn’t know to apply their writing or analytical skills to jobs that weren’t teaching. I don’t think it’s what the major can do for you, but you can do for the major. It would be silly and idiotic to expect a job base on a major if you can’t think critically on how you’re going to market yourself. And until a majority of LAS majors comes on here and say it’s not worth it, then I’ll probably reconsider. </p>
<p>There is truth to what you say about the risks of majoring in social science/humanities. But for every failed wannabe Shakespeare writer I can attest there’s a cubic stuck, pencil pushing finance major who couldn’t get a job at a Big Four. There’s failures on both sides of the coin.</p>
<p>@ L3Ys and the like, to tell someone it isn’t worth it because you failed is just pretentious and inconsiderate. You think you’re a savior, but you’re just a killjoy and come off condescending and arrogant. If everyone had your attitude the world would be worse off.</p>
<p>If you want to work as a social/case worker, police officer, or for a charity, sociology is OK…but just OK. You could get those same jobs with any degree.</p>
<p>It can be OK for some government careers, mainly social services like welfare department or counseling (like a youth counselor).</p>
<p>Because Sociology doesn’t have any application in the corporate/business world, your options will be limited. Personally, I think limiting yourself like that is an unwise decision.</p>
<p>As far as money goes…wait. It’s easy to say now, as a young adult supported by your parents that money isn’t an issue, but in a few years money WILL BE THE ONLY ISSUE. </p>
<p>Sure, you want to have a job you enjoy and connected with, but not as much as you want to put food on the table for your kids, buy a home, remodel your kitchen, put new brakes on your car, ect.</p>
<p>That’s isn’t being greedy, just how it is…no one wants to struggle, especially not when you factor in a spouse and kids. </p>
<p>Decades ago, alot of these kinds of majors weren’t a bad choice. A college degree (any degree) still promised you a good life and a good career, your major was almost irrelevant. Not like that anymore, not in this economy. A college degree isn’t worth much anymore (but costs alot) and there aren’t as many opportunities.</p>
<p>This is a very tough economy. Nearly 10% unemployment, businesses aren’t hiring/expanding, corporations are outsourcing and industry is closing all over the country. To say the competition is stiff is an understatement. Before, a 21 year old college grad would just be competing with other entry-level candidates, with education and experience similiar to their own. Now, hiring managers can hire an experience professional who’s out of work to fill those positions. It’s tough.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with majoring in sociology, psychology, ect. Just know what you are getting yourself into. Your options will be limited. Your pay will be lower. If you lose your job, it will be difficult to find a new one. </p>
<p>Right now, the applicant pool is full of employees re-inventing themselves, gaining new skills, and embarking on a second career.</p>
<p>If you want to do sociology research, just get a math degree. Real sociology research is rigorous and mathematical anyhow, you can read up on the theory in electives.</p>
<p>^ Would second that.</p>
<p>If you have a background in statistics you can apply that skill to just about nearly any issue. Whether it be social problems, politics, crime…whatever.</p>
<p>Not Bitter, just stuck between stage I and II of the Kubler Ross. I will say one positive thing about sociology; the sex is great. Hundreds of women knocking on my door, who believe I have studied Freud, Ruth, and orgasmic structure, know I can bring bring that five hour sexual experience…Otherwise, it’s an angry matter to realize that I have to get off my butt and go to college again for two more years after investing 30K. </p>
<p>It’s the crisis of generalist undergradaute study. It’s not only sociology, the same thing is happening with other academic majors just because the economy is tight. I’m sure the specialist majors are crying their song as well. The business majors who know nothing but accounting are interviewing 30 times only to compete with someone who knows a little more. The engineering majors have everything but the Mcdonoland circut structure and can’t quite get the job yet. That rejection is still a little better than the run-around between the undergrad and graduate level for majors like sociology and psychology. </p>
<p>Today, one needs a master’s degree and a counseling license to even sit with a client in an intake position. It wasn’t always like that. Entry level was once possible with a bachelor’s but non-profit agencies are more paranoid. </p>
<p>Im done with my break…I gotta get the door.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your sexual encounters. It’s unfortunate you couldn’t turn your charm in a productive and aggressive job search. I think you’re looking it at the wrong way. If you go to college to get a high paying job, and that’s it, then studying sociology is a waste - for you. Have you talked to your sociology professors and told them what you thought of their discipline and their title? It seems your expectations and your lack of awareness of applying whatever you learned in sociology speaks for you, not so much the major itself. There are very few who take sociology seriously as a undergraduate student and I understand the perceived notion of why sociology is looked at the way it is, but to alienate those who could add to the discipline is rather pathetic. Because you fail does not mean another will.</p>