Psychedelic Gleam
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2004
- Messages
- 979
Someone please tell me...
I swear studying liberal arts has dropped my IQ substancially.
I swear studying liberal arts has dropped my IQ substancially.
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What the hell am I going to do with a Sociology Degree?
- Thread starter Psychedelic Gleam
- Start date
I'm assuming you mean undergrad...if so, you can do anything. It doesn't matter what you get your degree in. You could go to law school, med school, anything. Unless you want to be a sociology professor, in which case you should go to grad school.
satricion
Bluelighter
Where are you from?
What you're being trained to do is critically analyse social processes and write about them. So what you'll end up doing is writing and analysing. Working for the government, political parties, NGO's, whatever...anyone who needs someone with a proven sharp mind, knowledge about the world and the ability to write.
Or you could do what I'm doing which is shoot for a Phd and hope to become the next Habermas or Foucault or something.
What you're being trained to do is critically analyse social processes and write about them. So what you'll end up doing is writing and analysing. Working for the government, political parties, NGO's, whatever...anyone who needs someone with a proven sharp mind, knowledge about the world and the ability to write.
Or you could do what I'm doing which is shoot for a Phd and hope to become the next Habermas or Foucault or something.
Omega Waves
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2007
- Messages
- 3
Teachers in my high school advised kids against taking sociology degrees because they generally don't do much. Unless there is a specific job you are looking at that said you needed that degree, I don't really know what to tell you besides start looking for jobs in a seemingly unrelated field that just require a degree. If I went back to school, it would be to learn something that I could use to start my own research or business - you could always look at ways of using the information you are learning to employ yourself.
Or you could also look at teaching in Asia for a bit (if you like the idea of travelling - it will help pay off the debt you no doubt accumulated) and then decide what you really want to do with the rest of your life.
"You could go to law school, med school, anything."
I think the idea is not to have to go to do MORE school. For the most part, an undergraduate degree doesn't do too much in this world - in any subject. It's a really expensive piece of paper. University kids are the ones who really have to struggle with no promise of a future or fully accept being a tool for society to get anywhere. College kids tend to get right into the industry.
I just dropped out of international development studies - it is a course which explains how bad the large government institutions are, but those are pretty much the only places you can get a job in afterwards. Its a shitty road to travel, this education thing - I felt more limited in my life while going to school - now I feel I have so many options open again. (Not that I promote the idea of dropping out of education)
Or you could also look at teaching in Asia for a bit (if you like the idea of travelling - it will help pay off the debt you no doubt accumulated) and then decide what you really want to do with the rest of your life.
"You could go to law school, med school, anything."
I think the idea is not to have to go to do MORE school. For the most part, an undergraduate degree doesn't do too much in this world - in any subject. It's a really expensive piece of paper. University kids are the ones who really have to struggle with no promise of a future or fully accept being a tool for society to get anywhere. College kids tend to get right into the industry.
I just dropped out of international development studies - it is a course which explains how bad the large government institutions are, but those are pretty much the only places you can get a job in afterwards. Its a shitty road to travel, this education thing - I felt more limited in my life while going to school - now I feel I have so many options open again. (Not that I promote the idea of dropping out of education)
Well, with a sociology degree I think you would WANT to pursue more school. What else are you going to do? For many professional career paths, you just need a degree, in anything. I got my bachelor's in Political Science, and I'm going into medicine. It really does not matter what you get your degree in, unless you are going into something like engineering, architecture, comp sci, etc. In those tracks, your undergrad education is considered essential to developing fundamental skills in the field. Most times, engineering majors get hired right out of undergrad.
A sociology degree is different. There is not a whole lot that a sociology degree qualifies you for right out of school. However, it opens a lot of doors to further education. For example, professional tracks like law, medicine, education, etc. Also, social work and policy analysis.
I mean, if you just want to work at the cell phone store, by all means quit now. But never sell yourself short - there are tons of options.
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who_can_say
Bluelighter
I did an Arts degree, and I think the point of them is meant to be acrewing skills that you can move into any position rather than what your actual major was. I would go do postgraduate study and try and find something you like.
AmorRoark
Bluelight Crew
My vote goes to law school but I'm biased. 
ebola?
Bluelight Crew
>>
Or you could do what I'm doing which is shoot for a Phd and hope to become the next Habermas or Foucault or something.>>
Let it be known that you have competition.
...
Yeah, I have a sociology degree...and I'm in a PhD program. Truth be told, I was somehow destined to go to grad school in something and enter academia, so I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about how to practically apply your degree.
ebola
Or you could do what I'm doing which is shoot for a Phd and hope to become the next Habermas or Foucault or something.>>
Let it be known that you have competition.
...
Yeah, I have a sociology degree...and I'm in a PhD program. Truth be told, I was somehow destined to go to grad school in something and enter academia, so I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about how to practically apply your degree.
ebola
Jamshyd
Bluelight Crew
I have an unimpressive degree in sociology (that would not allow me to continue with anything grad-related). As-is, it is a very useless degree... even as asswhipe.
So my plan right now is to go teach (english) abroad. When I get a couple of years of experience under my belt, I garantee this as an option. Perhaps you may want to try that?
I might after that return to university and do a new degree with something that I can actually use and that I have discovered to be what I do best: languages and translation. Perhaps even ethnolinguistics or journalism.
But other wise, a Sociology BA is simply useful as "a university degree", and would not do much on its own.
Do you wonder now why Sociology was born with a study called "Suicide"? ;-)
So my plan right now is to go teach (english) abroad. When I get a couple of years of experience under my belt, I garantee this as an option. Perhaps you may want to try that?
I might after that return to university and do a new degree with something that I can actually use and that I have discovered to be what I do best: languages and translation. Perhaps even ethnolinguistics or journalism.
But other wise, a Sociology BA is simply useful as "a university degree", and would not do much on its own.
Do you wonder now why Sociology was born with a study called "Suicide"? ;-)
WildLtn
Bluelighter
The above answers are great, but the days of getting a degree and someone handing you a job are long gone. An BA shows you can jump through hoops, unless you choose to further your education; as some people have suggested.
Rather than generalizing, why don't you (Psychedelic Gleam) tell us what caught your interest in Sociology. Was there a class that you had a passion for?
I work at a college and degrees like English (my field), Anthropology, and Sociology, tend to be dead end fields unless you are in academia doing research.
Rather than generalizing, why don't you (Psychedelic Gleam) tell us what caught your interest in Sociology. Was there a class that you had a passion for?
I work at a college and degrees like English (my field), Anthropology, and Sociology, tend to be dead end fields unless you are in academia doing research.
skywise
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,679
satricion said:
If your arguments for determinism are anything to go by, you'll have to work on your logic a bit first!
To the OP. Pretty much like everyone else said, you can pursue just about whatever you want. I'm graduating with a philosophy degree and already have starting racking up business management experience. Of course, I'm not positive that's the field I want to go into after college but the point is that a lot of places (whether they be jobs or grad/law schools) just want someone with a degree, regardless of what it is.
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The_Idler
Bluelighter
why would one choose to study sociology?
there seems to be a correlation between people who study sociology and people who pick an area of study without knowing anything about it, or the potential use of the qualification.
It could be that people who DO find out about a course before taking it, would not study sociology, or it could be that people who want to study sociology would not have the initiative to find out what its good for.
anyway, id say go for another degree. maybe psychology (maybe to masters), or you know, some other useful, recognised qualification.
EDIT:
UNLESS you want to go straight into a business, using your degree as proof of proficiency and some level of intelligence (if not qualification), and join on some reasonably paid, probably middle-managerial role.
there seems to be a correlation between people who study sociology and people who pick an area of study without knowing anything about it, or the potential use of the qualification.
It could be that people who DO find out about a course before taking it, would not study sociology, or it could be that people who want to study sociology would not have the initiative to find out what its good for.
anyway, id say go for another degree. maybe psychology (maybe to masters), or you know, some other useful, recognised qualification.
EDIT:
UNLESS you want to go straight into a business, using your degree as proof of proficiency and some level of intelligence (if not qualification), and join on some reasonably paid, probably middle-managerial role.
The_Idler
Bluelighter
and he says hes studying sociology.....9mmCensor said:
StagnantReaction
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2004
- Messages
- 4,489
......... Oh crap.
*switches major*
*switches major*
The_Idler
Bluelighter
maybe its different in the USA, but here in england when people say they are sudying sociology the usual response is "Why?!?",
to which they reply EITHER "dunno actually", or "its easy".
to which they reply EITHER "dunno actually", or "its easy".
ebola?
Bluelight Crew
>>maybe its different in the USA, but here in england when people say they are sudying sociology the usual response is "Why?!?",
to which they reply EITHER "dunno actually", or "its easy".>>
So "it turns out that I am interested in how commodity fetishism affects subjectivation in modern societies" is an outlier response?"
to which they reply EITHER "dunno actually", or "its easy".>>
So "it turns out that I am interested in how commodity fetishism affects subjectivation in modern societies" is an outlier response?"
satricion
Bluelighter
I started out doing psychology, but now I'm doing my honours in sociology with plans to do a phd next year.
Why?
Because sociology is a rigorous, engaged discipline answering real world questions about human life and society in ways that have the potential to improve our lives.
As to 'it's easy'...well...psychology is definitely, definitely easier than sociology. The arrogance of psychology with regards to the validity of it's paradigm and the strength of its truth claims makes psych much less rigorous than sociology, and much easier to study, because you never have to question the epistemological foundations of what you're trying to do. I mean, I used to get top marks for psych courses that I hadn't attended at all because all that was required was a week of rote learning before the exam. And the standard of writing expected was so low that anyone who can get a 70 in a sociology essay would blow psych lecturers away with their capacity to do crazy things like 'argue a point'...
Why?
Because sociology is a rigorous, engaged discipline answering real world questions about human life and society in ways that have the potential to improve our lives.
As to 'it's easy'...well...psychology is definitely, definitely easier than sociology. The arrogance of psychology with regards to the validity of it's paradigm and the strength of its truth claims makes psych much less rigorous than sociology, and much easier to study, because you never have to question the epistemological foundations of what you're trying to do. I mean, I used to get top marks for psych courses that I hadn't attended at all because all that was required was a week of rote learning before the exam. And the standard of writing expected was so low that anyone who can get a 70 in a sociology essay would blow psych lecturers away with their capacity to do crazy things like 'argue a point'...
The_Idler
Bluelighter
i am impressed.
tbh i was ignorant no to investigate myself what a sociology degree entailed....
sounds interesting-
unfortunately the courses offered for A level are not so engaging, or rigorous - which definitely encourages enrollment by some of the lazier (or less self-confident) candidates.
Im not saying the discipline of sociology is useless and pointless, im saying it often attracts the wrong people for the wrong reasons, and a lot of the time people who take any kind of course in sociology dont plan on working in the field, so there are lots of people who want to join a business, with a sociology degree/A level that would be irrelevant to the position.
i suppose once youre doin masters, or PhD then it would imply some actual genuine interest.
But, the point remains, there are a lot of people who (for example) do a degree in sociology and then say "What the hell am I going to do with a Sociology degree?"
and this does not portray a positive image for those studying sociology.
tbh i was ignorant no to investigate myself what a sociology degree entailed....
sounds interesting-
unfortunately the courses offered for A level are not so engaging, or rigorous - which definitely encourages enrollment by some of the lazier (or less self-confident) candidates.
Im not saying the discipline of sociology is useless and pointless, im saying it often attracts the wrong people for the wrong reasons, and a lot of the time people who take any kind of course in sociology dont plan on working in the field, so there are lots of people who want to join a business, with a sociology degree/A level that would be irrelevant to the position.
i suppose once youre doin masters, or PhD then it would imply some actual genuine interest.
But, the point remains, there are a lot of people who (for example) do a degree in sociology and then say "What the hell am I going to do with a Sociology degree?"
and this does not portray a positive image for those studying sociology.