Students studying in Social Sciences Building

What can I do with my studies?

Sociology

Program overview

Program requirements

Acquired skills

University education stimulates the development of many valuable skills transferable to the workplace. Employers increasingly demand a set of skills from their employees; communication, research, data use, analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organizational, responsibility, adaptability and autonomy, and teamwork skills are sought after. While they can seem limited to each program of study, skills are adaptable and extendable to a variety of situations and they can also be used to acquire other aptitudes and abilities hence ensuring the development and advancement of ones career (to further develop your skill set, see Experience section). The list of skills below can then help in the process of choosing occupations that best fit your education and aptitudes and it can also be used to communicate your employability.

General Skills

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to analyze and explain complex social phenomena
  • Ability to conduct original social research using multiple methods
  • Ability analyze and evaluate social policy

Specific Skills 

  • In-depth understanding of social issues and social problems
  • Ability to analyze a wide range or collective behaviours, from small groups to large organizations
  • Ability to collect and analyze large datasets using statistics
  • Ability to collect and analyze qualitative data using interview, experimental and observational techniques

Further studies

Many graduate programs are available for people with an undergraduate degree interested in expanding their knowledge, specializing or conducting research. The graduate programs below are examples selected from the list of graduate programs offered by the University of Ottawa. While they are related to this program of study, it is important to consult the admission requirements of the programs as not all types of degrees qualify one for admission. Moreover, additional programs and other universities could be considered depending on your career plan.

Graduate programs

Potential occupations

Universities studies lead to multiple occupations. Furthermore, certain professions require talent, special aptitudes, additional skills and experience beyond degrees themselves. By targeting a profession, it can make decisions easier during your schooling, throughout your job search and, finally, when choosing among job offers. The choices can change over time based on academic, personal, and professional paths and on the knowledge of occupations and of the labour market.

In order to list your choices, visit the Job Bank Canada website and, using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, view job postings, wages, employment prospects and other important information that can help you make a decision. If need be, additional and complementary information can be found via two online career exploration tools (Careercruising and Choices Planner)* also designed to facilitate your career advancement. The occupations found below are examples derived from the National Occupational Classification. They are presented by their occupational group title, in bold, followed by bulleted occupational titles specific to the program of study. Immediately after the occupational titles, the hyperlinked NOC code for the occupational group is provided. Overall, the occupations are presented side by side with their employment requirements and the establishments where to find a job.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 is the authoritative resource on occupational information in Canada providing a standard taxonomy and framework for dialogue on Labour Market Information. It gathers more than 30,000 occupational titles into 500 Unit Groups, organized according to skill levels and skill types.

*To obtain the access codes of these websites, visit your InfoWeb account.

Occupations related to this program

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers

  • Aboriginal issues lobbyist
  • Community social development officer
  • Employment insurance policy analyst
  • Human rights officer
  • International aid and development project officer
  • Labour policy analyst
  • Lobbyist
  • Pollster
  • Poverty researcher
  • Research officer
  • Social policy analyst
  • Social policy researcher
  • Women's issues lobbyist

A bachelors degree in a social science or related discipline; a masters degree in related social science discipline or business administration may be required

Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers

  • Health policy development officer
  • Health policy research analyst

A bachelor's degree or college diploma in health science, public administration, recreation administration or hospital administration, or a bachelor's degree in social science, is required

Probation and parole officers and related occupations

  • Correctional classification officer
  • Parole officer
  • Probation officer

A bachelors degree in sociology or in a related discipline; a master's degree in social work, criminology, psychology or other related social science discipline may be required; preference is given to applicants with prior experience in the social services; additional requirements will vary by province

Social and community service workers

  • Child and youth worker

A bachelors degree in a related social science discipline; social service workers may be required to be a member of a provincial regulatory body in some provinces; management positions will likely require a masters degree; experience working with children is usually necessary

Employment insurance, immigration, border services and revenue officers

  • Employment equity policy consultant
  • Immigration consultant
  • Immigration officer

A bachelors degree in sociology or a related discipline; applicants must take a federal public service exam provided by the Federal Public Service Commission (PSC); on-the-job training is also provided for newly hired immigration officers

Executive assistants

  • Committee clerk
  • Constituency aid
  • Legislative assistant
  • Ministerial assistant
  • Parliamentary assistant

A bachelor's degree in public administration, political science or a related discipline is usually required; experience in a related administrative occupation is usually required

Police officers (except commissioned)

  • Police officer

A bachelors degree in the social sciences is usually required; a three- to six-month police training program is provided; physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met, and psychological or other tests may also be required

Statistical officers and related research support occupations

  • Social research assistant (except university)
  • Social science research assistant (except university)

A bachelors degree in a social science or a related field; progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience; progression to professional occupations in statistics and research usually requires completion of a post-graduate degree

Human resources managers

A bachelors degree in a field related to personnel management; several years of experience as a personnel officer or human resource specialist are required Private and public sectors

Senior managers health, education, social and community services and membership organizations

  • Non-governmental organization (NGO) executive director

A bachelors degree in a discipline related to the service provided; several years of experience as a middle manager in a related institution or organization are usually required

Other managers in public administration

  • Federal-provincial relations director
  • Intergovernmental affairs director

A bachelor's degree in a social science discipline; several years of experience in government policy development, research or program administration, or in a professional occupation in social science, law or business administration are usually required

Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

  • Post-secondary research assistant

Enrolment in a university or college program is required

Managers in social, community and correctional services

  • Volunteer services director

A bachelors degree in a social science discipline; a masters degree in a social science or administrative discipline; several years of experience in a related occupation, such as a community and social service worker, social or health policy researcher, consultant or program officer, probation or parole officer, or social worker

Family, marriage and other related counselors

  • Family counsellor
  • Family therapist
  • Marriage counsellor

A bachelors degree in a social science discipline; a masters degree in the field of counselling, mental health or a related social service discipline is usually required; membership with a provincial association for marriage and family therapists or clinical counsellors is required to use the title "Registered Marriage and Family Therapist" or "Registered Clinical Counsellor"

Program officers unique to government

  • Federal and provincial relations officer
  • Foreign service officer
  • Intergovernmental affairs officer

A bachelors degree in a social science discipline; a masters degree in a related discipline is usually required; several years of experience as a researcher, consultant or program administrator may be required; foreign service officers are accepted on the basis of competitive examination

Educational counselors

  • Academic counsellor
  • Career counsellor education
  • Student services counsellor

A bachelors degree in a related social science discipline; a master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work is usually required; educational counsellors in colleges and universities may require licensing from a provincial regulatory body governing psychologists, educational counsellors or social workers

Government managers health and social policy development and program administration

  • Governmental employment programs director
  • Public administrator

A bachelor's degree in a social science discipline, such as sociology or economics, or an administrative discipline, such as public administration, is required;  a graduate degree in a social science or an administrative discipline may be required;  several years of experience as asocial policy researcher, consultant or program officer are usually required

College and other vocational instructors

  • College teacher

A bachelor's degree in the field of instruction is required; a master's degree in the field of instruction may be required; a certificate, diploma or degree in adult education may be required

Other professional occupations in social science, n.e.c.

  • Anthropologist
  • Cultural Anthropologist
  • Linguistic anthropologist
  • Social anthropologist

A master's or doctoral degree in the discipline is usually required

Other professional occupations in social science

  • Sociologist

A bachelors degree in sociology or a related discipline, such as social work or psychology; a masters degree or doctoral degree in sociology is required

Administrators post-secondary education and vocational training

  • Assistant dean
  • Dean
  • Faculty administrator

Faculty administrators require a graduate degree in a field related to the academic faculty and several years of experience as a university professor or college teacher

Related field

Although many students believe that they will pursue a career path directly connected to their university studies, quite often, graduates tend to work in related fields. Below is a list of possible related fields of work based on a given program of study. These fields present opportunities that are not typically considered as first choices when choosing a career path based on a program of study. Hopefully, this list will allow students to further consider the various fields that are loosely connected to their program of study. These results were compiled through a research of the University of Ottawa's alumni profiles which were found on the business-oriented social networking service, LinkedIn. 

Related Fields

  • Education
  • Human Resources
  • Operations
  • Media and Communication
  • Consulting

Acquiring experience

Experience is acquired by participating and trying new personal, educational and professional activities, where it is possible to discover preferences, increase confidence and improve skills. As for professional experience, it is acquired through volunteering, internships, self-employment and full-time or part-time jobs. And certainly, experience working on campus or in other settings adds to the set of skills acquired in your degree (see Acquired Skills section). The Employability Skills 2000+ presenting the skills employers look for in their employees as well as its complementary checklist can help target experience opportunities that will improve your skill set necessary for employment. In addition to developing these skills, performing work related to your program of study can strengthen your expertise and increase your employability.

All examples of volunteer experience and potential employers were selected specifically for this area of study and according to occupational groups in which it is possible to acquire experience. Examples of volunteer organizations in Canada and abroad are preceded by a list of directories that can help to find more volunteer opportunities. Examples of potential employers in Canada and abroad have been compiled in light of events held in partnership with employers, searches in company directories and well-established rankings.

Volunteer opportunities

In addition to providing an opportunity to apply theories and knowledge learned during your university studies outside the classroom, in real world situations, volunteering is a way to help the community and its many organizations. The Community Service Learning also allows students to contribute to their community by participating in projects that are related to their program of study.

Directories

Canada Abroad

Potential employers

The following examples of employers can offer internships or employment opportunities related to students’ program of studies. The examples are presented according to geographic location: Ottawa and Gatineau, Ontario, Quebec and other provinces.

In Canada

Ottawa/Gatineau Region Ontario

Quebec Other provinces and territories

Abroad

The requirements for working abroad consider factors like administrative laws, professional standards and work permits in some countries. To learn about requirements in various countries, visit Skill Clear or MyWorldAbroad (registration with a @uOttawa.ca email is required to use MyWorldAbroad).

Established globally

North America (excluding Canada)

South America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Others

Job search resources

The job search resources are designed to stimulate networking activities, develop marketing strategies and facilitate access to job postings. Networking events offer employers the opportunity to learn about the available workforce, and they give students a chance to be considered in the recruitment process. Career Development Centre offers helpful tips on networking, interview preparation techniques and different tools that can also be used to help with the preparation of resumés and cover letters.

Professional organizations

Examples of professional organizations, presented by location, provide essential information on professional development opportunities and networking activities, the examples can also provide access to publications and job opportunities.

Canadian Provincial and territorial

American International

Job search sites

Here are a few websites posting jobs available in Canada and abroad related to this field of study.

Canadian International

General Job Search Websites

Date modified: 2016-07-14