What can I do with my degree in Sociology?

Skills gained

As well as subject-specific knowledge and skills, a graduate in Social Policy will typically have gained:

• Decision-making skills in dealing with ethical implications of sociological enquiry
• Persuasion, influence and negotiating skills when appreciating the diversity of social situations while carefully communicating empirical information to make reasoned arguments
• Oral and written communication skills in a variety of contexts and modes
• Problem solving and analytical skills in assessing and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of contrasting theories and explanations
• Leadership skills when identifying the most effective research strategies and methods, requiring the necessary organisational skills of planning and time management for deploying teamwork-based skills in group work
• Research and critical thinking skills in employing learning and study skills to gather and synthesise the information required for scholarly work, using statistical/quantitative techniques and information retrieval skills for primary and secondary sources of information, which also depends on strong IT/numeracy skills

This is not an exhaustive list of skills – you will develop many skills from your course, extra-curricular activities and work experience. You can find out more about the skills employers look for and how you can develop them here.