Verstehen The German word for "understanding" or "insight"; used by Max Weber to stress the need for sociologists to take into account people's emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes.

CAREERS IN SOCIOLOGY

Where Sociology Graduates Find Employment

Research

Government

Professions

Graduates with baccalaureate degrees in sociology find employment in a number of areas, but particularly in human services, business and commerce, and education.

the agency's own workers. In addi­tion, people with sociological training can put their academic knowledge to effective use in pro­bation and parole, health sciences, community development, and rec­reational services.

Some people working in govern­ment or private industry will have a master's degree (on M.A. or M.S.) in sociology; others will have a bachelor's degree (a B.A. or B.S.). According to data reported in 2004, 21 percent of all college graduates with bachelor's degrees in sociology currently hold jobs as social workers, counselors, or re­searchers. Another 15 percent are in management or planning posi­tions.

The accompanying figure sum­marizes the sources of employment for those with B.A. or B.S. degrees in sociology. Like other liberal arts graduates, sociology majors can generally offer their employers essential job-related skills. Alumni find that their refinement in such

areas as oral and written commu­nication, interpersonal skills, prob­lem solving, and critical thinking gives them an advantage over graduates who have pursued more technical degrees.

Reflecting the utility of applied and clinical sociology, the figure shows that the areas of human ser­vices, business, and government offer important career opportuni­ties for sociology graduates. Un­dergraduates are commonly ad­vised to enroll in sociology courses and specialties best-suited to their ca­reer interests. For example, stu­dents hoping to become health planners would take a class in medical sociology; students seek­ing employment as social science research assistants would refine their skills in statistics and meth­ods. Internships, such as place­ments at city planning agencies and survey research organizations, offer sociology undergraduates an important opportunity to prepare for careers. Studies show that stu­dents who choose on internship placement have less trouble find­ing jobs, obtain better jobs, and enjoy greater job satisfaction than students without internship place­ments.

Finally, underscoring the re­newed interest in applied sociol­ogy, it is clear that on increasing number of sociologists with gradu­ate degrees are being hired by business firms, industry, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations. Two-thirds of applied research funds are awarded to social scientists working in such fields. As an un­dergraduate major, sociology is excellent preparation for employ­ment in many parts of the business world.