Careers - #350 - SOCIOLOGIST

Sociologists are concerned with the relations between individuals and society through systematic study of the origin, development, organization, conflict, and function shaping human groups and societies. Groups which are of interest to Sociologists include families, tribes, gangs, communities, governments, and a variety of social, religious, political, business, and other organizations.

Collect and analyze empirical data concerning social phenomena such as communities, associations, social institutions, ethnic minorities, social classes, and social change

Act as consultants to law makers, administrators, and other officials on problems of social policy

* Computers	* Public opinion polls
(with Internet access)
* Calculators	* Censuses, data, surveys
* Ethnographics	* Manuals & other publications
* Charts & diagrams	* Case studies & questionnaires
* Videos & interactive computer software
* Teaching aids (textbooks/reference/materials/chalkboards)

054.067-014 SOCIOLOGISTS are concerned with the study of the origin, development, arrangement, and functioning of human groups and societies. Groups of interest include families, tribes, gangs, communities, governments, and a variety of organizations.

054.067-014 CRIMINOLOGISTS specialize in research on the relationship between criminal law and the social order and on the causes, consequences, and societal response to crime.

054.067-014 INDUSTRIAL SOCIOLOGISTS specialize in research on group relationships and processes in industrial organizations.

054.067-014 PENOLOGISTS specialize in research on punishment for crime, control and prevention of crime, management of penal institutions, and criminal rehabilitation.

054.067-014 RURAL SOCIOLOGISTS specialize in research on rural and agricultural communities and special problems brought on by scientific and industrial changes in the rural way of life.

054.067-014 URBAN SOCIOLOGISTS specialize in research on the origin, growth, structure, and demographic characteristics (population statistics) of cities and the problems and social patterns of an urban environment.

054.067-014 SOCIAL ECOLOGISTS specialize in research on the effects of the physical environment and technology on the location of people and their activities.

054.067-014 SOCIAL PROBLEMS SPECIALISTS research social problems such as crime, delinquency, poverty, and sexual and racial discrimination.

054.067-014 MEDICAL SOCIOLOGISTS specialize in research on social factors affecting health care, such as behavior of patients and physicians, delivery of health care, and a variety of information on illness.

054.067-014 DEMOGRAPHERS conduct research, surveys, and experiments to study human populations and population trends.

054.107-010 CLINICAL SOCIOLOGISTS develop and implement corrective procedures to alleviate group dysfunctions.

Other specializations include: social stratification; social welfare research; social pathology; historical and theoretical sociology; sociology of education, gender roles, law, deviance, racial and ethnic relations; and research of specific groups such as women, the aged, and youth. Some may specialize as family Sociologists who often teach on the functioning of families as well as act as a family counselor.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

Sociologists generally work alone under the general supervision of a department head or research director. Depending on their specialization, they may work with community groups and members of other professions, such as medical personnel, economists, probation officers, urban and regional planners, political scientists, computer specialists, and market-research analysts. Their work is usually performed indoors in clean, well lighted, well ventilated offices, classrooms, and experimental laboratories. Sociologists conducting research projects may work in a variety of settings where conditions vary drastically. Criminologists might spend considerable time in police departments, prosecutors' offices, prisons, rehabilitation centers, and in both high-crime sections of cities and corporate or occupational settings that support crime.

Sociologists generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Those working at colleges may have longer hours but have some flexibility in the scheduling of their time outside of classes. Sociologists in private practice arrange their schedules as appointments require. They might work evenings and weekends to accommodate clients. Additional time may be spent writing books and articles and attending meetings.

Some Sociologists join associations such as the American Sociological Association or the Rural Sociological Society. Those who choose to be members pay periodic membership fees.

A public opinion poll shows that 78% of those polled believe that welfare should only support the poorest 12% of the people currently on welfare. If your state has 32,000 people on welfare, how many would be supported by this policy?

Poverty is relative. Would you say that a family with no running water, central heating, or electricity was poor? Kings lived under such conditions during the Middle Ages.

You should be able to write a report explaining your findings during an experiment.

You should be able to look at experimental data and decide what kinds of problems certain people are going through.

A master's degree in sociology is generally the minimum requirement for employment as a Sociologist. Increasingly, a Ph.D. degree is required for Sociologists who wish to teach at colleges and universities or to direct major research projects. Certification by the Sociological Practice Association (SPA) is required for persons working as Clinical Sociologists. Directors of major research projects, administrators, and consultants are usually expected to have a doctorate degree.

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

Programs in Sociology emphasize an understanding of the interactions of groups in organizations and in society. Sociologists are employed in such areas as criminal justice, government service, and social research. Individuals who teach Sociology at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

There are few ways to explore or gain experience as a Sociologist. Some graduate assistantship or fellowship openings for students with high grades may be available at some universities. Part-time or volunteer work in community service programs may provide related experience. Generally, there are many more applicants than there are positions.

Most Sociologists find positions by applying to departments of sociology at colleges and universities or applying at federal, state, and local civil service offices. The American Sociological Association publishes a monthly "Employment Bulletin" listing available positions. Many colleges advertise in the weekly "Chronicles of Higher Education". In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Earnings of Sociologists vary according to the employer, location, and the individual's college degrees. Earnings of those who teach vary with the level taught and academic rank. Generally, private businesses and agencies and federal government agencies pay higher salaries than colleges and universities pay.

Nationally, persons with master's degrees in social sciences were offered starting salaries averaging $31,508 (late 2001). Those holding doctorate's degrees in social sciences received average salary offers of $41,115. The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $31,044 in 2001.

The average annual salaries of college and university teachers, including those of sociology, ranged from $36,620 for instructors to $83,282 for professors (2001-02).

Depending on their academic records, Sociologists working for the federal government (2002) earned a starting annual salary of:

The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

Faculty members, including Sociologists working as college and university teachers in Michigan during the 2001-02 school year earned average annual salaries of:

Instructor	$35,625
Assistant Professor	$49,085
Associate Professor	$58,463
Professor	$81,429

Graduates from one Michigan university with a bachelor's degree in criminology were offered starting salaries averaging $47,200 per year (2001).

Many Sociologists, particularly those employed by colleges and universities for the academic year (September to June), supplement their regular salaries with earnings from other sources, such as summer teaching and consulting or through winning competitive research funds.

Depending on the employer, most Sociologists receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and paid sick leave. In addition, some colleges grant sabbatical leaves (absence for travel or study) at 50% to 100% of the annual salary after 6-7 years of employment. These benefits are paid for, at least in part, by the employers.

Sociologists who teach may advance to full professor after gaining additional experience and education. Researchers may advance to research fellow and research director by developing a reputation for distinctive work or publications.

Approximately 13,000 Sociologists were members of the American Sociological Association. Most of these held sociology faculty positions in colleges and universities. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. A master's degree in sociology is sufficient for most administrative and research positions in public agencies and private industry, provided applicants have adequate training in research, statistical, and computer methods. A doctorate is required for most teaching and research positions in colleges and universities and for some positions in private industry.

Strong demand is expected for research personnel to work in the areas of clinical sociology, criminology, environmental sociology, medical sociology, social gerontology, and demography.

There are about 350 Michigan members of the American Sociological Association. The State of Michigan is one of the larger employers. Many of these Sociologists worked in educational services. Others worked for research firms, consulting firms, corporations, professional and trade associations, hospitals, welfare agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Few were self-employed in private practice in counseling, research or consulting. Demographers worked for market research firms or the Bureau of Census.

Little or no change in the employment of Sociologists is expected in Michigan through the year 2005. A number of openings will occur due to replacement of Sociologists who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations. Competition should be keen as the number of persons with advanced degrees in sociology continues to greatly exceed the number of openings.

Through enrollments at colleges and universities remain high, the number of first-time students has dropped. Older students are going back to school, often into vocational sub-disciplines such as criminal justice. Competition will be keen for teaching positions. Sociologists with Ph.D. degrees will have the best opportunities. Those with master's degrees may find a few teaching positions in junior and community colleges. Individuals with bachelor's degrees in sociology may find a few positions with government agencies, industrial firms, and businesses. Sociologists may increase their employability in non-academic areas by obtaining training and/or work experience in business administration, public policy, public administration, and criminology.

EMPLOYMENT AND	NUMBER	PERCENT	PROJECTED YEARLY
OUTLOOK REGIONS	EMPLOYED	GROWTH	JOB OPENINGS
State Total	350	2.5%	<10

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

American Sociological Association 1722 N Street NW Washington, DC 20036 1-202-833-3410	Rural Sociological Society c/o Barbara Broughton Department of Sociology 510 Arntzen Hall Western Washington University Bellingham, WA 48225-9081 1-360-650-7521
Mary French, Executive Officer 62 Rike Hall Wright State University Dayton, OH 45434	American Correctional Assoc. 8025 Laurel Lakes Court Laurel, MD 20707
Michigan Sociological Assoc. C/O Professor Alan Hill Sociology Department Delta College University Center, MI 48710	Association for the Sociology of Religion C/O Dr. Barbara J. Denision Leadership Development Institute Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA 17003
Association of Black Sociologists Department of Sociology 1810 Chicago Ave. Evanston, IL 6/careers/0,1607,7-170-22526_23422-64454--,00.html8	Ann Marie Ellis, Ph.D., C.C.S. Chair, SPA Certification Committee Sociological Practice Association 313 FH, Southwest Texas State Univ. San Marcos, Texas 78666-4616
Michigan Department of Education Teacher/Administrator Prep. and Certification Services PO Box 30008 Lansing, MI 48909 1-517-373-6505l	Michigan Department of Career Development
Federal, State, and Local Civil Service Offices	College Placement Offices
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