SOCIOLOGY MAJORS, BEFORE AND AFTER GRADUATIONWhat Can I Do With a Bachelors Degree in Sociology?Surveying the Class of 2005Table of Contents
b. Wave I: The Senior Survey and Results c. Wave II: Post-Graduation Survey and Results d. Wave III: Final Survey and Results e. Key Findings from the Survey f. Faculty Manual and Dataset g. Surveying the Class of 2012 The Bachelors and Beyond Survey: An OverviewDeveloping the Survey Sociology majors, their parents and educators often ask, "What can
bachelors-level graduates do with their degrees in sociology?" To answer
this question, the American Sociological Association's (ASA) Department
of Research & Development developed a longitudinal study of
students in the class of 2005 who majored in sociology. Students were
surveyed three times: in their senior year of college (Wave I), nearly two years after graduation (Wave II), and nearly four years after graduation (Wave III).
This survey offers insight into students views of their experiences as
majors and their post-graduation paths, and demonstrates how sociology
programs enable these students as they pursue careers, enroll in
graduate and professional degree programs, or both. Our analysis, funded by the National Science Foundation's sociology program, has so far traced the paths students take from undergraduate sociology programs to forging careers, exploring predictors of job satisfaction and the closeness of these jobs to their studies. This research is intended to inform undergraduate sociology curricula, educate current and prospective sociology undergraduates in ways they can use their degree in their future endeavors, and provide a baseline for departmental assessments.
Sample Selection Funding and Support The Sociology Program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) has provided support for this study. The ASA sub-contracted with the Indiana University Center for Survey Research (CSR) to conduct the surveys proper and provide the ASA with the results for analysis. A committee of current and former chairs of sociology departments has advised all phases of the project.A Three-Phase SurveyOver 1,700 sociology majors surveyed in 2005 during their senior year
completed the first wave of this longitudinal study. Students were
asked why they chose the major, what skills and concepts they learned,
what activities they participated, and what they planned do after
graduation. The Wave I questionnaire is available in PDF format.
The Wave II survey, fielded in early 2007, asked graduates about their
experiences in graduate school and the workforce and how well they felt
the sociology major prepared them for both. About 780 respondents from
the first wave completed the second survey. The Wave II questionnaire is available in PDF format. Sociology graduates from the 2005 cohort were surveyed a third and final time in the spring of 2009. Four years after receiving their sociology BAs, these graduates are now further along in their careers, graduate programs, or both. The Wave III questionnaire is available in PDF format.Key Findings From the Survey
Launching Majors into Satisfying Careers: Faculty Manual and CD-Rom Student Datasetdepartments with a variety of easy-to-access resources, such as powerpoints, letters to parents of majors, sample resumes, and a codebook based on the American Sociological Association’s longitudinal Bachelor’s and Beyond study. It also provides curriculum ideas including data analysis suggestions, career links, and examples of alumni surveys. The purpose is to help students prepare for and navigate a difficult job market. These resources and curriculum ideas should increase the likelihood that they will find satisfying careers using their sociological knowledge and skills, without sacrificing the theoretical and conceptual core of sociology. In addition, the manual is designed to provide suggestions to departments to help them position themselves within their universities, including an assessment guide, given the increasing pressures on departments to assess student success both inside the academy and in students’ post-baccalaureate lives. Order Launching Majors into Satisfying Careers: Faculty Manual and CD-Rom Student Dataset online from the ASA Bookstore. (back to top) Surveying the Class of 2012A new longitudinal survey of the Class of 2012 funded by the National Science Foundation will replicate much of the 2005 study, but it also includes additional questions about job searching and networking. Visit the Social Capital, Organizational Context, and the Job Market for Sociology Majors webpage for more information, documentation, questionnaires, and a list of participating departments. |
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