What can you do with a Sociology degree from Stony Brook University?

First, some facts. Of the Sociology graduates from Stony Brook University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 68%, Sociology graduates from Stony Brook University have a slightly higher likelihood (+1%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 68%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 33% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Sociology graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Sociology graduate from Stony Brook University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 84%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Medical Scribe
CITYMD
Jul 2017 - Jun 2018
As a Medical Scribe, the individual may encounter medical terminology and patient interactions that relate tangentially to sociology, but the core qualifications of the job focus on documentation rather than the application of sociological principles.

Resident Physician
NYU Langone Health
Jul 2022 - Present
The role of a Resident Physician directly necessitates an understanding of sociology as it applies to patient care, social factors affecting health, and working within diverse communities, making it highly relevant to the sociology degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Sociology degree from Stony Brook University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


Looking at the job paths of Sociology graduates from Stony Brook University, it seems like there are a few common areas where people are landing. Many of them have moved into roles like Licensed Social Worker, School Social Worker, and Human Resources positions, which often do relate back to their sociology education. These roles typically involve understanding human behavior, social systems, and community dynamics, making them quite relevant to what they studied. On the flip side, we also see quite a few graduates ending up in jobs that stray pretty far from sociology, such as Help Desk positions or roles in IT management. While these jobs may touch on people management or organizational behavior, they primarily revolve around technical skills that aren't inherently linked to sociological concepts.

Overall, the trend indicates that graduates who have chosen careers in social work, education, or mental health counseling tend to utilize their sociology background effectively. Meanwhile, those venturing into corporate roles or technical fields are more likely to be applying only bits and pieces of their sociology knowledge, if at all. It's a mixed bag, really—some folks are doing great things that align with their studies, while others are navigating jobs that don’t directly connect to sociology. It just goes to show that while a sociology degree can lead to some meaningful career paths, it doesn't always lock you into a specific field.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Sociology graduates (this is across all Sociology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Stony Brook University):

What kind of career trajectories do Sociology graduates from Stony Brook University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Based on the profiles of graduates from Stony Brook University’s Sociology program, it seems like the career trajectories are quite varied, with a mix of successful and more unconventional paths. For many, the first steps after graduation often land them in roles that might not directly relate to their Sociology degrees, like help desk tech positions or various administrative roles in HR. However, as they gain experience, a lot of these individuals manage to ascend to more substantial positions, especially in areas like social work, HR, and even law. For example, those who started in technical support have moved into higher managerial roles, and social workers have found stable careers in educational settings, which aligns well with their academic background.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see some strong career growth. Many graduates are now holding significant positions, like directors in tech-related fields or respected roles in social services. While there are those who seem to have drifted into careers that are not directly relevant to Sociology, like customer service or account management, a good number are doing meaningful work that impacts society positively, such as licensed social workers and HR professionals focusing on workplace culture and employee welfare. So, overall, it looks like a mixed bag, but there’s definitely a cohort of graduates who have found their niche and are making strides in their respective fields, which is pretty encouraging for current students considering their next steps after graduation!

How hard is a Sociology degree from Stony Brook University?

Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in Sociology can be pretty manageable, especially at a place like Stony Brook University. The coursework usually involves a lot of reading and writing, and you'll definitely dive into interesting topics about society, culture, and behavior, which can be fun if you're into that kind of stuff. While it does require critical thinking and some research work, most students find it less intense compared to fields like engineering or the sciences. As with any degree, it largely depends on your personal interests and study habits, but overall, Sociology tends to offer a balanced workload that many find to be on the easier side of things.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Sociology.

Do Sociology graduates from Stony Brook University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Stony Brook graduates, it seems like there's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. The tech grad who climbed the ladder at Broadridge likely earns pretty well now as a Director, while the social workers and educators probably aren't raking it in, since those fields generally pay less. The HR and legal professionals seem to have found their way into more lucrative roles over time, especially those in senior positions. Overall, it looks like some of them could be doing quite well, while others are probably earning more modest salaries as they navigate their careers.

What buzzwords do Sociology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Sociology (this is across all Sociology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Stony Brook University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Sociology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Sociology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Sociology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Hunter College 79 12
California State University, Long Beach 76 25
Boston College 76 12
California State University-San Bernardino 75 25
Grand Canyon University 74 17
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 72 12
Montclair State University 71 10
DePaul University 70 11
University of California, Davis 69 14
Illinois State University 69 17
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 69 15
California State University San Marcos 69 16
San Francisco State University 68 16
University of North Florida 68 11
Stony Brook University 68 12
California State University, Fullerton 67 22
University of California, Riverside 67 53
University of West Georgia 67 13
Brigham Young University 65 19
San Diego State University 65 12
University of California, Santa Cruz 65 23
University of Maryland College Park 65 14
University of Central Florida 64 22
University of Wisconsin-Madison 64 13
California State University, Northridge 64 24
UC Irvine 64 15
Colorado College 64 11
University of Colorado Boulder 63 17
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 63 16
University of Virginia 63 16
California State University-Northridge 63 16
City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College 63 12
California State University - East Bay 62 17
Norfolk State University 62 10
California State University-Los Angeles 61 12
Texas A&M University 60 37
University of California, Berkeley 60 33
Louisiana State University 60 14
The University of Texas at San Antonio 60 12
The University of Texas at Austin 59 23
University of California, Santa Barbara 58 23
California State University-Dominguez Hills 58 21
University of Florida 57 24
Florida International University 57 10
University of California, Los Angeles 57 48
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 57 10
Sonoma State University 57 16
University of Michigan 56 11
California State University-Sacramento 55 37
North Carolina State University 54 10
California State University-Long Beach 54 14
California State University, Chico 54 13
University of Arizona 53 15
University of Utah 53 14
University of Massachusetts Amherst 53 14
Queens College 53 22
University at Albany, SUNY 53 23
The Ohio State University 52 13
San Jose State University 52 23
Texas Tech University 52 10
Kennesaw State University 52 15
Florida State University 51 22
Georgia State University 51 30
Arizona State University 50 29
University of North Texas 50 22
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 50 11
California State University, Los Angeles 50 17
Indiana University Bloomington 49 11
Florida Atlantic University 49 19
University of Oregon 49 22
Brigham Young University - Idaho 48 11
James Madison University 47 11
University of Oklahoma 47 12
Western Washington University 46 16
UC Santa Barbara 46 40
Christopher Newport University 46 11
University of Washington 45 30
UCLA 43 11
Towson University 42 16
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 42 14
Ashford University 41 20
The University of Georgia 39 10