Study Sociology in USA

About Sociology

Sociology is a social science that examines human societies, relationships within them, and the mechanisms that both maintain and transform societies. Humans are the primary subject of study for sociology majors. Sociology students  investigate a variety of social interactions and behavior. Through the research of various institutions and groups, including families, religious groups as well as  gender and ethnicity, they aim to comprehend the human perspective. Furthermore, a sociologist can be employed in all branches of government, including management, administration, statistics, and data collection.

Study Sociology in USA

For international students, choosing which sociology programs to apply to can be a challenging decision because there are thousands of universities in the United States. Moreover, many of the US universities are offering internationally recognized degrees which will give students to apply for jobs anywhere in the world. Therefore, it should be noted that although there are excellent programs offered all across the United States, choosing a great sociology program for the university is a significant decision. Thus, by choosing universities such as UCLA, Stanford, or Columbia, you will benefit both socially and academically since these universities offer great social life and excellent sociology courses. 

Advantages of Study Sociology in USA

There are several benefits of studying sociology in the USA.  Firstly, it is notable that sociology became popular in the US soon after the Civil War due to the fact that the war and its results had shaken people’s social order to its very core. Therefore, the major started to be highly interested and valued. Secondly, a sociology degree in USA might offer a variety of career options both in America and in many other countries. Lastly, the United States of America is a socially rich country where students can find lots of fun activities when they are not busy with classes. 

Career Paths for Sociology Degree Majors

The most common job options  for sociology students can be listed as:

1. Social researcher
2. Case worker
3. Paralegal
4. Civil Service administrator
5. Public relations worker
6. Public policy researcher
7. Data analyst
8. Charity officer

What Skills Do I Need to Become a Sociologist?

The skills that a sociologist needs to have are communication skills, leadership, cross-cultural understanding and analytical skills.

Is Sociology Right for Me?

If you are a strong reader and writer, an open-minded person, like surveying, and enjoy doing long hours of research, studying sociology is the right choice for you.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Sociologist?

A Bachelor of sociology generally takes four years to complete in the USA while a Master in Sociology approximately takes two years. 

The Best Universities to Study Sociology in USA

In the USA, the best universities to study sociology are University of California (Los Angeles), Columbia University, Stanford University and University of Chicago. 

1. University of California (UCLA): UCLA is among the best universities in the USA and ranked 44th according to QS World University Rankings. The graduates of UCLA  are among the most employable graduates in the world and the school has distinctively good medicine, psychology, mathematics and arts and humanities programs which are ranked among the top 10 in the world.
2. Columbia University: Private Ivy League research institution Columbia University was founded in 1754 and is located in Upper Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is now the third most selective college in the country and the second most selective in the Ivy League, after Harvard, with an undergraduate admission rate of 5.8%.
3. Stanford University: Stanford is one of the world's pioneer research and teaching institutions. It has over 17,000 students from all around the world with high success rates. Along with four professional schools that specialize in graduate programs in law, medicine, education, and business, there are three schools with a total of 40 academic departments for undergraduate students. 
4. University of Chicago: A private research institution with its headquarters in Chicago, the third-most populated city in the US, the University of Chicago was founded in 1856. The University of Chicago is also one of America's best institutions outside of the Ivy League and consistently ranks in the top 10 in many national and international rankings.

Sociology Admission Requirement

For Bachelor’s degree, many American universities demands taking the ACT or SAT along with a minimum score of 6.5 from the IELTS. Also, you need a high GPA for the high school diploma (generally above 85 out of 100). On the other hand, in order to be eligible for studying a master in sociology, the best universities require an acceptable bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA score between 3.00-3.50. Moreover, a minimum score of 7.0 on IELTS and GRE is the required examination for a Master in Sociology in the USA.