At larger universities, scholarly research is a normal and expected part of the job, and may be essential for advancement. Community college teaching is possible with a master's degree. Research organizations and offices employ sociologists at all degree levels, but often reserve the highest positions for those with the highest degrees and the most experience. Research sociologists may work either for organizations entirely devoted to contractual research, or for public or private organizations needing some research to support their other activities. Research outside of academic settings is often applied research rather than theoretical research, for such purposes as evaluating social programs or studying markets.
Sociologists are especially likely to be employed in the government or in the non-profit sector.
They may hold any number of specific job titles, such as policy analyst, consultant, human resource manager, program manager, counselor, statistician, gerontologist, planner, community developer or demographer. Students with undergraduate sociology degrees are not considered professional sociologists, but they usually find jobs in which they can use what they have learned. Building on the sociology major You can enhance your job prospects by branching out to cultivate a particular skill or secondary area of study. A second major or minor in a field related to sociology, such as political science or human geography. An interdisciplinary minor such as gerontology or planning.