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Importance of Sociology

by Samiksha

Sociology is a discipline and a structured or scientific study of society, human behavior and the
influence of certain events and activities on society. Sociologists analyze and review patterns of
human behavior, review cause and effect situations, and formulate theories about why things happen
in a certain way. The importance of sociology may not always be clear because sociology has many
fields and branches. In many cases, a sociology degree may not even lead to a position as a
sociologist.

Sociology offers a distinctive and enlightening way of seeing and understanding the social world in
which we live and which shapes our lives. Sociology looks beyond normal, taken-for-granted views
of reality, to provide deeper, more illuminating and challenging understandings of social life.
Through its particular analytical perspective, social theories, and research methods, sociology is a
discipline that expands our awareness and analysis of the human social relationships, cultures, and
institutions that profoundly shape both our lives and human history. It may be said that sociological
knowledge lends itself to helping an individual and his society achieve results in terms of better
social relations.

1. It provides a basic understanding of human society, how social system work, how people’s
behavior is modified by their circumstances.

2. It broadens the range of our perspective from which we try to understand the social world.

3. It gives us an insight into our daily life like a tourist guide.

4. It helps in removing ignorance about human relationships.

Diversity in Sociology

Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociology’s subject matter is
diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and
social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in
whole societies. Unifying the study of these diverse subjects of study is sociology’s purpose of
understanding how human action and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding
cultural and social structures.

Sociology is an exciting and illuminating field of study that analyzes and explains important matters
in our personal lives, our communities, and the world. At the personal level, sociology investigates
the social causes and consequences of such things as racial and gender identity, family conflict,
deviant behavior, aging, and religious faith. At the societal level, sociology examines and explains
matters like crime and law, poverty and wealth, prejudice and discrimination, schools and education,
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business firms, urban community, and social movements. At the global level, sociology studies such
phenomena as population growth and migration, war and peace, and economic development.

Scope of Sociology

Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field
whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs. Sociologists
understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and the
workings of social systems. Sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities for a
wide range of career paths.

Over 3000 colleges and universities in the United States offer sociology courses. A bachelor's degree
in sociology provides excellent liberal arts foundation from which graduates embark on a wide range
of career paths. A BA in sociology is excellent preparation for future graduate work in sociology in
order to become a professor, researcher, or applied sociologist. But while teaching and conducting
research remain common careers held by the thousands of professional sociologists today, other
forms of employment are growing both in number and significance.

Graduate Preparation – in any of the social sciences; in medicine, as doctors, nurses, and
physicians assistants; in counseling and therapy, as practitioners and professionals

Social Services – in rehabilitation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly,
recreation, or administration

Community Work – in fundraising for social service organizations, nonprofit, childcare or

community development agencies, or environmental groups

Teaching – in elementary and secondary schools, in conjunction with appropriate teacher

certification

College Settings – in admissions, alumni relations, or placement offices

Medicine & Health Services – in family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation counseling, health
planning, hospital admissions, and insurance companies

Government, Government Services, & Law – in federal, state, and local government jobs in such
areas as transportation, housing, agriculture, and labor; in policy making and policy analysis; in law
firms as case managers or research specialists

Publishing, Journalism, and Public Relations – in writing, research, and editing

Business – in advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance, real estate, personnel work,
training, or sales