Mapping your Sociology Major
Your Hood experience is about so much more than just your sociology major.
The Student Success Center, the Center for Career Development & Experiential Learning, and the Office of the Registrar have teamed up to show you where a sociology major can take you. They will help you cultivate, engage and prepare during your time at Hood so that you are career ready for your journey beyond Hood.
Additionally, these maps will serve as milestones and guideposts when you meet with your academic adviser.
Contact
| Student Success 301-696-3860 | Registrar 301-696-3620 | Center for Career Development & Experiential Education |
| College Catalog | Department of Social Work & Sociology | Sociology (B.A.) |
Year One
Fall Semester | Credits |
Core- SOC 101 Principles of Sociology | 3 |
FYS 101 First Year Seminar | 3 |
Core- Foreign language 101 | 4 |
Core- English Composition | 4 |
Core- Health and Wellness/PE | 1 |
| 15 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
Core- Scientific Thought, nonlab | 3 |
Core- Historical Analysis | 3 |
Core- Foreign Language 102 | 4 |
Core-Philosophical Inquiry | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 16 |
Year Two
Fall Semester | Credits |
SOC 260 Research Methods | 3 |
SOC 2XX, SOC 3XX, or SOSWXX (cross-listed) major elective | 3 |
Core- Literary Analysis | 3 |
Core- Scientific Thought, lab | 4 |
Elective | 3 |
| 16 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
SOC 259 Social Theory | 3 |
Core- SOC 261 Quantitative Methods | 3 |
Core- Visual and Performing Arts | 3 |
SOC 263 Grant Writing/Com.-based Res. | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Year Three
Fall Semester | Credits |
Core-SOC 318 Global Problems | 3 |
Core Health and Wellness/PE | 1 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 16 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
SOC 300, 311, or 323 | 3 |
SOC 2XX, SOC 3XX, or SOSWXX (cross-listed) major elective | 3 |
Elective or internship | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Year Four
Fall Semester | Credits |
Elective or Internship | 3 |
Elective or Internship | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 1 |
| 16 |
Spring Semester | Credits |
SOC 482 Practicum | 3 |
Elective or Internship | 3 |
Elective or Internship | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
| 15 |
Total Credits = 124
SOC 101 meets the Social and Behavioral Analysis Core Curriculum requirement.
SOC 261 meets the Quantitative Analysis Core Curriculum requirement.
SOC 318 meets the Global Perspectives Core Curriculum requirement.
The Sociology major requires 30 credits. SOC 101, 259, 260, 261, and 482 require a grade of C- or above to fulfill the prerequisite for higher level courses. Students often pair with one of the following minors: African-American Studies, Business Administration, Criminology and Delinquency, Global Studies, Nonprofit and Civic Engagement Studies, Psychology, Public Relations, Social Work, Studies in Women and Gender, and/or a certificate in one of the global languages. Individuals interested in the SOC BA/MBA Dual Degree should contact Nick Masucci, Assistant Director of Graduate Admission and 4PLUS Grad School Liaison.
Learning, Self-Exploration, and Academic Excellence
The Hood College Center for Career Development and Experiential Education is here to support you through your four-year educational journey. Whether you are headed toward additional educational pursuits after graduation or on to the exciting world of work, we recommend that you investigate all your opportunities through three distinct types of exploration. These include Cultivating knowledge of your major and occupations related to your studies, Engaging in activities that give you hands-on experience, and taking practical steps toward Preparing for life after college. Below are three tables that will help you understand these areas and associated activities. Want to know more? Meet with a counselor in the Career Center. Email careers@hood.edu to make an appointment.
Cultivate
Explore your Major and Related Occupations
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Explore careers in sociology through the Hood College website. Explore the backgrounds of faculty and learn about course offerings. | Visit with a counselor in the Career Center to update your resume and CV. | Update your resume and CV to include classes from the previous year and any experiences that are relevant, including employment or those related to sociology. | Update your resume and CV to include classes from the previous year and any experiences that are relevant, including employment or those related to sociology. Be sure to include your research skills. |
Visit the What Can I Do With the Major? and the CareerOneStop websites. | Explore club and engagement opportunities related to Sociology. | If you’re planning to apply to graduate school in your senior year, meet with the Career Center and your faculty advisor to review your CV in the spring semester and to learn about exams you may need to take to apply. | If you’re planning to apply to graduate school, meet with the Career Center and your faculty advisor to review your CV early in the fall semester. |
Take the Focus 2 Career Assessment to learn more about additional areas of career interest. |
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| If you haven't already, engage in your internship; enroll in SOC 399 to gain work experience and college credit after gaining approval from a faculty member in the Sociology Department. |
Meet with Career Center staff to begin developing a resume and CV. |
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|
|
Engage
Locally and Globally
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Explore club and engagement opportunities related to Sociology. | With a Career Center counselor in the spring, explore and consider locations for a sociology internship for your third year. | If you’re planning to apply to graduate school in your senior year, meet with the Career Center and your faculty advisor to review your CV in the spring semester and to learn about exams you may need to take to apply. | Consider who will be able to write you great letters of recommendation for graduate school or recommend you to a future employer. Talk to those individuals to verify that they’re willing to offer their recommendation. |
| Participate in Career Center workshops on interviewing for success. | Attend Career Center workshops on interviewing for success and how to conduct a job search. | Work with a Career Center counselor to identify alumni working in mental health. Conduct informational interviews with Hood College alumni pursuing mental health careers. |
| Work with a Career Center counselor to identify alumni working in mental health. Conduct informational interviews with Hood College alumni pursuing mental health careers. | Work with a Career Center counselor to identify alumni working in mental health. Conduct informational interviews with Hood College alumni pursuing mental health careers. | |
| Shadow professionals or alumni who work in the field. |
|
Prepare
For Post-Graduation Success
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Attend the Fall and Spring Community Engagement Fairs to learn about not-for-profit agencies that you could volunteer with to gain experience in the field and explore your interests. | Attend the Spring Internship & Career Fair to meet directly with employers in the mental health field who may need interns. | Attend the Spring Internship & Career Fair and/or STEM Career Expo to meet directly with employers. | Attend the Spring Internship & Career Fair and/or STEM Career Expo to meet directly with employers in the mental health field who may be recruiting psychology new hires. |
If you’re interested in going to graduate school, volunteer in a faculty member’s lab to gain research experience. | Regularly check the Handshake events page to see employers providing information sessions on campus. | Select part-time jobs and internships in your field of interest. | If you’re interested in going to graduate school, volunteer in a faculty member’s lab to gain research experience |
Consider what you’ll do in the summer. Could you engage in an opportunity to move your future career forward? | If you’re interested in going to graduate school, volunteer in a faculty member’s lab to gain research experience. | If you’re interested in going to graduate school, volunteer in a faculty member’s lab to gain research experience. | Attend conferences of professional associations. Consider presenting your research at a conference with the help of a faculty member. |
| If considering part-time employment, work with the Career Center and consult faculty to learn about opportunities within the field. | Attend conferences of professional associations. Consider presenting your research at a conference with the help of a faculty member. |
- Utilize resources at the Library and Learning Commons
- Meet regularly with your academic adviser
- Work with tutors at the Writing Center
- Complete the FAFSA and apply for scholarships
Learn more about careers in sociology: https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/sociology/
- Higher education research, teaching
- Education, K-12
- Research
- Advocacy, organizing
- Social statistics
- Program analysis
- Demography
- Public administration
- Policy analysis
- Program development
- Urban/City planning
- Federal Government:
- There are over 170 federal departments and
agencies. See https://gogovernment.org
- There are over 170 federal departments and
- State and local governments
- Social science research firms
- Federal government:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- National Center for Health Statistics
- National Center for Education Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau
- U.S. Agency for International Development
- Center for Disease Control
Explore more career opportunities in sociology: https://www.onetonline.org/
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