Sociology major
Sociology: courses, careers, and where to study
Sociology studies social institutions, group behavior, inequality, and culture, preparing graduates for research, policy, social services, and graduate school in law or social work.
A Sociology major examines society at scale, institutions, demographics, inequality, race, class, gender, religion, family, deviance, and social change. Programs combine theory (Marx, Weber, Durkheim through contemporary frameworks) with quantitative and qualitative research methods (statistics, survey design, ethnography, interview methods). Sociology pairs well with a minor in Statistics, Political Science, or Public Health for data-leaning graduates.
Graduates work in nonprofit research, public policy, social services, government, market research, journalism, and as a strong feeder to Law school and Social Work.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Sociology maps to CIP 45.1101, Sociology, General, within the SOCIAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Sociological theory (classical and contemporary)
- Race, class, and gender stratification
- Family and demography
- Crime and deviance
- Quantitative methods and statistics
- Qualitative methods (ethnography, interviews)
- Sociology of work, education, or health
- Senior research project
Typical careers
- Policy Analyst
- Market Research Analyst
- Social Worker (with MSW)
- Nonprofit Program Manager
- Survey Researcher
- Journalist
Typical salary range: $42,000–$68,000 early-careerRanges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Sociology. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Sociology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Sociology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Sociology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Sociology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Sociology programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Related majors
Psychology
Psychology majors study human cognition, behavior, and emotion, preparing graduates for clinical, research, business, and human-services careers (and graduate school in clinical, counseling, and I/O psych).
Social Work
Social Work prepares graduates for licensed direct practice with individuals, families, and communities, combining behavioral sciences with field placements and an explicit ethical framework.
Political Science
Political Science studies governments, political behavior, and policy, preparing graduates for law school, public service, journalism, and policy research.
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice studies the institutions and practices of policing, courts, and corrections, preparing graduates for law enforcement, probation, corrections, and law school.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.