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Overview
Faculty
Majors
Sociology
Anthropology
Courses
Special
Resources
Opportunities
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Career Options
Career
Options in Sociology
Dr.
Arnold delivers a lecture at the European Association
of Archaeologists' 2002 meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece. |
A BA in
sociology can take a graduate into a wide variety of jobs
in such sectors as business, the health professions, the criminal
justice system, social services, and government. Sociology
majors who enter the business world may work in sales, marketing,
customer relations, or human resources. Those who enter human
services may work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people
experiencing problems related to poverty, substance abuse,
or the justice system. Because sociology teaches students
to analyze patterns of behavior around them, it offers valuable
preparation for careers in journalism, politics, public relations,
business, or public administration--fields that involve investigative
skills and working with diverse groups. Many students choose
sociology because they see it as a broad liberal arts base
for professions such as law, education, medicine, social work,
and counseling. A BA in sociology is also excellent preparation
for future graduate work in sociology in order to become a
professor, researcher, or applied sociologist. (ASA, 1995
‘Careers in Sociology’) Employment sectors include:
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social
services--in rehabilitation, case management, group
work with youth or the elderly, recreation, or administration
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community
work--in fund-raising for social service organizations,
nonprofits, child-care or community development agencies,
or environmental groups
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corrections--in
probation, parole, or other criminal justice work
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business--in
advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance,
real estate, personnel work, training, or sales
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college
settings--in admissions, alumni relations, or placement
offices
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health
services--in family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation
counseling, health planning, hospital admissions, and
insurance companies
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publishing,
journalism, and public relations--in writing, research,
and editing
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government
services--in federal, state, and local government
jobs in such areas as transportation, housing, agriculture,
and labor
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teaching--in
elementary and secondary schools, in conjunction with
appropriate teacher certification. (ASA, 1995 ‘Careers
in Sociology’)
Career Options in Anthropology
Anthropological
study provides training particularly well suited to the
21st century. The economy will be increasingly globalized;
workforces and markets, increasingly diverse; participatory
management and decision making, increasingly important;
and communication skills, increasingly in demand. Anthropology
is the only contemporary discipline that approaches human
questions from historical, biological, linguistic, and cultural
perspectives. Anthropology provides a theoretical and methodological
“toolkit” for understanding human interactions in every
setting. A BA in anthropology provides an excellent liberal
arts preparation for positions throughout the business,
social service, and government worlds and offers valuable
preparation for careers in journalism, politics, public
relations, business, or public administration. Businesses
have become increasingly aware of the benefits of employees
with the ability to interpret and react to human behavior
in systematic and constructive ways. Anthropology majors
who enter the business world work in sales, marketing, customer
relations, consulting, investment banking or human resources.
Those who enter human services work with youths at risk,
the elderly, or people experiencing problems related to
poverty, immigrants dealing with cultural adjustment, and
structural inequality related to cultural patterns. A BA
in anthropology is also excellent preparation for future
graduate work in anthropology (or any number of related
fields) in order to become a college professor, researcher,
or applied anthropologist. Those going into ministry often
recognize the value of cross-cultural understandings and
the ability to work with culturally divergent populations
as they find themselves dealing with multicultural populations.
Although those pursuing foreign missions often see the immediate
benefits of anthropology, even those who have no intention
of living abroad find that they can apply the toolkit of
anthropology to life in an increasingly globalized world.
(see the American Anthropology Association Guide for a list
of anthropology departments and institutions recruiting
anthropologists. [AAA Guide, 2001-2002])
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