If you're reading this, you've likely never taken or have yet to take a sociology course. In fact, sociology isn't a part of the U.S. K-12 curriculum, so there's a good chance you can go through your entire educational career, including college, without taking a sociology class. Until my current Ph.D. program, I've only taken one sociology course at the college level, and I found it both exciting and challenging. Now that I am required to take a Ph.D.-level sociological theory course, I wish I had taken more sociology courses throughout my K-16 education. I think everyone could benefit from taking at least one sociology course.
I say this because sociology is unlike most classes you'll ever take. It's a different perspective and framework on the everyday issues and structures you encounter in your life, so it's almost like learning a new language. However, as I discuss below, this new language can help you navigate your professional and personal lives. I hope this article convinces you to take at least one sociology course in your lifetime, no matter where you are in your educational journey, and which field your interests lie in.
To start, sociology is a rather old discipline of social science that studies social life, including human social behavior and interactions, social change, and culture. You can think of it as a level above psychology, focusing on the individual. Sociology stemmed from psychology to explain social phenomena that psychology alone can't explain. Once you have more than one person interacting with another, you need sociology to understand what's going on.
In this way, it's applicable to most majors, jobs, and fields of study. Sociology courses cover different sociological theories and perspectives that span from the individual to social institutions to culture and society as a whole, research methods, and special sub-topics. Overall, you'll learn about differing theories, the differences between the individual and society, and social institutions and their impact on people. This may seem more complex or abstract than what you're used to, but a sociological framework can be beneficial in many ways.
Firstly, taking a sociology class will offer you a "sociological imagination" framework. This means you'll gain a broader and more systemic understanding of the world around you, including whichever topic or major interests you. For example, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the social patterns, power, and factors at play in a specific place or institution, such as education or economics. In particular, you'll learn how individual behavior, practices, and problems are connected and often stem from societal factors. You will likely be relieved to learn that your own experiences and circumstances are not unique and that everyone's experiences are connected in some way but that they may lead to different outcomes.
A sociological imagination will also help you question the structure(s) you operate within. Sociology differs from psychology in this way, as sociology will help you better understand the context of human interactions, including differences and similarities in social behavior. You will learn how society has changed through time and place and the factors that produced these changes. Importantly, you'll learn your role in (or resistance to) these changes, and this understanding will help you better navigate the world around you.
You will likely also gain more empathy towards, or at the very least have a better understanding of, people with different experiences and backgrounds than you. Many sociological topics have an orientation towards social justice, advocacy, movements, and social change. Sociology will give you a better understanding of these social actions and movements across different fields if that interests you. Once you gain a better understanding of sociology and how the world works, you will most likely want to change something about it!
So, how can you take a sociology course? Most colleges and universities will have a major or minor in sociology. If anything, they likely offer an introduction-level course that would count towards an elective that is required for most majors. Courses at this level include overall sociological theory. They can span several specializations, such as race and ethnicity, gender, class, family, crime and punishment, education, religion, health, or media and culture. If you're interested in pursuing further education in sociology, master's and PhD programs in sociology are plentiful.
Moreover, many programs don't require a background in sociology, so you can always apply as long as it makes sense given your long-term goals. Also, a background in sociology can help you pursue a variety of other fields in graduate school, such as law, education, or anthropology. In terms of career, a sociology background can apply to most fields, such as social services, community work, business, health services, PR, government services, or education. If you wish to add to sociological theory or teach it, academia and research would be the right field for you. Of course, the salary and career progression will vary by field and role.
Our world is moving fast, and sociology is as well. For example, globalization has changed the ways in which people communicate and how we think about culture. This is to say that sociology will always be relevant and evolving, and you can always add to it. If you listen closely, people often like to theorize about the social issues that are affecting us most at the moment, but they may not have the training or background in sociology to do so. They are often practicing what we call "armchair theorizing." It's important to remember that sociology is a science based on evidence and research. While sociology may seem abstract and dense, especially when you read the older texts, it's an important framework to have so that you can parse out fact from fiction in today's most pressing issues, better understand systems, and know how you can make change.
