Skip to main content

Sociology is the study of social life, organization and change. Students of sociology study the causes and consequences of a wide range of human behaviors, interactions, groups, organizations, and institutions. Students can take courses on topics ranging from inequality, religion, social movements, families and sociological theory (just to name a few). Sociology has a tradition of developing explanations for how social order can be maintained as well as how and why social change happens.

The Colorado Mesa University sociology program has two concentration options for students, Sociology and Human Services. The Sociology concentration provides students with critical thinking, research, and communication skills that are applicable in a broad range of careers such as social services, business, education, and law; as well as providing excellent preparation for graduate school. The concentration in Human Services provides students with much the same purpose as a social work degree would but has an "applied sociology" perspective. Human Services concentration students take courses in Psychology and Counseling Psychology and do an internship to obtain important job skills and connections in the field. The Human Services concentration provides excellent preparation for careers in the social services (e.g. non-profit organizations or criminal justice for graduate work in social work and applied sociology).

The sociology department also offers various experiential learning opportunities in order to better position their students for pursuing graduate studies or employment in their field of study. CMU sociology students can participate in internships, conferences, research projects, and clubs. CMU also has many clubs and organizations that can help prepare students for advanced study in their field or build campus and community connections, for example the Social Work Club, whose activities include assisting with local charities for needy teens.

Learn more about CMU's Sociology program

• Adoption Agent
• Affirmative Action Representative
• Alcohol and Drug Case Worker
• Behavioral Scientist
• Career Analyst
• Case Aid Worker
• Child Welfare Officer
• Clinical Sociologist
• Community Relations Director
• Community Service Agency Worker
• Congressional Aid
• Consultant
• Consumer Advocate
• Consumer Survey Advisor
• Convention Organizer
• Correctional Case Worker
• Data Analyst
• Delinquency Counselor
• Family Services Specialist
• Family Sociologist
• Foster Care Worker
• Foundation Program Director
• Fundraiser/Development Officer
• Group Home Coordinator
• Independent Living Trainer
• Lawyer
• Marketing Research Analyst
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Mental Health Worker
• Parole/Probation Officer
• Peace Corps/VISTA Worker
• Policy Advisor for government or private organizations
• Political Campaign Worker
• Professor
• Program Director
• Public Administrator
• Public Health Educator
• Public Opinion Surveyor
• Public Relations Specialist
• Rehabilitation Counselor
• Researcher
• School Counselor
• Social Movements Organizer
• Social Scientist
• Social Welfare Research Worker
• Social Worker
• Sociologist
• Study Director
• Teacher
• Technical Writer
• Urban Planner
• Veterans Affairs Specialist
• Welfare Counselor
• Writer/Author

Note: Some of the occupations listed above may require additional education, experience, or training beyond a Bachelor’s Degree. To research these occupations use the Career Research Resources links below.

• Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report research findings on human behavior or social issues like crime, poverty, religion, group dynamics, and aging
• Consult with policy makers and administrators to identify, research, and resolve social problems
• Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of a variety of groups
• Create/evaluate methods of data collection like surveys, opinion polls, case studies, or interviews
• Observe patterns in people or groups in both controlled and everyday settings in order to collect information and identify trends
• Develop intervention procedures through interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions
• Study group behaviors, cultures, or social institutions and construct theories to explain social trends
• Choose an area of specialization such as family, education, politics, gender, criminology, racial relations, or many others
• Colleges/Universities
• Community Agencies
• Consulting Firms • Corporations
• Correctional Facilities
• International/Multicultural Agencies
• Investigative Bureaus
• Local, State, and Federal Government Agencies
• Media Organizations
• Mental Health Agencies
• Museums
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Private Practice
• Public Policy Organizations
• Rehabilitation Agencies
• Youth Services Organizations

Skills Needed by Sociology majors:

• Understand and interpret statistics
• Interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of community resources
• Insight into group dynamics
• Use computers to collect and analyze data
• Interact well with diverse cultures/groups
• Research and critical thinking skills
• Resolve conflicts/counseling
• Work well under pressure
• Use census data, polls, questionnaires, or surveys for studies
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to understand & improve human relationships

Other Sociology resources