Self Assessment

Career Exploration

Davidson Majors

Related Resources

Career Services Home

Transferable Skills

Sample job titles of alums with this major

Other job titles for this major

Types of employers

Resources in Career Services Library

Other resources

Transferable skills:
In addition to the specific subject matter that Sociology majors learn, they acquire many skills that can easily transfer to any subject matter.  The following is a list of transferable skills that Sociology majors develop:Analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting information
Communicating orally and in writing
Knowledge of community resources  
Statistical abilities
Understanding and improving human relationships
Computer data processing and analysis
Understanding group dynamics
Interacting well in multicultural/multinational environments
Thinking critically
Researching
Resolving conflicts
Working well under pressure  
Appreciating social structures, change, and context  
Strategic planning
Analyzing trends
Designing surveys  
Systems analysis
Interviewing  
Insight into factors of race, ethnicity, age, gender  


Sample job titles of Davidson alums who majored in Sociology: 
Air Force Pilot '01
Athletic Administration '00
Child Advocate '97
Coordinator/Youth Ministries ‘80
Credit Officer ’87
Financial Consultant ‘69
FBI Agent '85
Governmental Relations Director '04
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Judge ‘70
Marketing Researcher ’77
Naval Flight Officer ‘81
Pain Management Coordinator ‘97
Paralegal '00
Personal Legal Recruiter ‘93
Probation Parole Officer ‘68
Professional Basketball Player '00
Proprietor, Fitness Club '98
Small Business Laundry/Dry Cleaning '03 
Special Agent FBI ’85
Stock Trader '00
Survey Statistician '01
Teacher '03
Transitional Living Specialist '03


Other job titles for Sociology majors:
Attorney
Bank Officer
College/University Administrator
Counselor
Criminologist
FBI Agent '85
Health Care Administrator
Independent Living Trainer
Lawyer 
Linguist
Marriage/Family Therapist
Minister/Pastor
Professor
Recreation Therapist
Social Worker
Sociologist
Teacher
Urban Planner
Youth Worker


Types of employers:
Academic & Professional Periodicals 
Advertising Firms 
Business and Industry 
Churches & Religious Organizations
Community Organizations 
Correctional Institutions
Educational Institutions 
Government Agencies
Hospitals and Health Care Agencies 
Labor Unions 
Law Offices
Market Research Departments and Firms 
Museums
Personnel Departments 
Public Opinion Research Companies 
Rehabilitation Agencies
Research Institutes 
Social Action Agencies: VISTA, Peace Corps
Travel Agencies


Resources in the Career Services Library:
Over 1200 books, pamphlets, and periodicals are available in the Careers Library to help you with self-assessment, career exploration, the job search, and graduate school planning.  Some good library resources for Sociology majors looking for career information include
Careers in Education
Careers in Social and Rehabilitation Services
Careers in Sociology
For the Common Good: Internships with Social and Community Agencies
Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors
Great Jobs for Sociology Majors.
Guide to Careers in Community Development 
Guide to Graduate Departments of Sociology


Other sources of information:
Career counselors, alumni, and faculty members are great resources.  Visit the Careers Office early and often, and talk to professors in your major and related fields.  Ask at the Careers Office for help locating Davidson alums in career fields that interest you and set up informational interviews with them.  Professional associations are excellent sources of career and employment information, and many of them have websites.  Surf the internet, keeping in mind that many colleges and universities have websites for their Career Centers and for each academic major.  Many of these sites include career and employment information as well as links to other useful websites. Consult the following organizations and websites for more information:

American Counseling Association (ACA)
www.counseling.org

American Public Health Association
www.apha.org

American Sociological Association
www.asanet.org

Bradley University Sociology Program
http://www.bradley.edu/las/soc/soc/career.html

Davidson College Sociology Dept.
http://www.davidson.edu/academic/sociology/sociology.html

National Association of Social Workers
www.socialworkers.org

Population Association of America
www.popassoc.org

Social Science Research Council
www.ssrc.org

Univ. of Delaware Career Services Center, Major Resource Kits
www.udel.edu/CSC/mrk.html

(Current as of 12/05)