What Are the Benefits of Obtaining a Degree in Sociology?

The benefits of earning a degree in sociology may be career and education oriented as well as more personal. Personal benefits of a sociology degree could include having a better understanding of how and why human beings may live or communicate in a certain way. Since sociology programs typically cover early tribes and peoples from all over the world, a great benefit of a degree in this discipline can be a well-rounded, global appreciation of different races and cultures. Those with sociology degrees are often able to find work or further educational opportunities in a wide range of fields due to the discipline's focus on people and communication.

Law and social work are two areas that are especially connected to sociology, as both fields concern all of society. Stanford University offers a joint degree in law and sociology with opportunities to study a vast range of societal issues such as racial profiling, human rights and the death penalty. The benefit for law students earning a degree in sociology is to have a social science background to get an in-depth look at many different cultural beliefs that can affect which laws become established. Social workers with a degree in sociology can particularly benefit from learning about cultures and races other than their own as a way of better connecting to those they want to help.

A degree in sociology can open the doors to further education in fields such as feminism or gender studies since it's beneficial to first learn about all of humanity before focusing on one particular segment or issue. Even city planning is an area in which first earning a degree in sociology can be beneficial in the realm of equity policies within communities. Most sociology degree programs have a strong emphasis on research skills and critical analysis which can be valued by educators as well as employers.

The breadth of areas in which a sociology degree may be appreciated is as diverse as business management and prison reform. Criminology and criminal justice students often get a strong understanding of possible sociological problems that may affect the growth of crime as a benefit of their earning a degree in sociology. Due to the research and thinking skills learned in a sociology degree, business people are often well-equipped to better understand consumers as well as effective marketing strategy techniques. Sociology training can also be a huge benefit in global marketing strategies.