Tufts Blogs

As a senior majoring in sociology, I get the question all the time: “what is sociology??” It’s such a valid question, and to be honest, I had no idea what it was when I started at Tufts. I remember researching it as I searched for schools but I never really grasped the concept. It wasn’t until I took an introductory class my first semester that I realized how much I loved it. I’m so glad that I chose to go to Tufts for sociology—I sing the department’s praises constantly because I’ve had such a good experience with the classes and professors.

So, what is sociology? Well, in academic terms, sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. But in terms that make sense, I like to think of sociology as the study of how we create society and how society creates us. I use this definition because as much as society molds who we are, we also play active and passive roles in making society what it is. Plus, it shows how broad this field of study is: anything that is studied through the lens of “society” is sociological.

Of course, because the field is so broad, it is also very interdisciplinary. In the classes I take, I see aspects of psychology, anthropology, economics, law, criminology, FMS (film & media studies), WGSS (women's, gender, & sexuality studies), religion, literature, and history in the work we do and the writings we study. That being said, it is still its own distinct discipline with unique theories and methods of studying the world around us. You could find yourself taking a class on anything from social movements to gender to sports to social media. Some of my favorite classes have been “Body, Culture & Society,” “Race and the Criminal Justice System,” and “Sociology of Latinxs.” My current course load includes “Race, Caste, and Capitalism” and a seminar called “Unmasking Masculinities.” The Tufts Sociology department (and its professors) has an incredible range and depth of knowledge, and I have never once regretted taking a class. The professors are truly the kindest, most brilliant, thoughtful, and refreshingly realistic people I have ever met. Though I have one Sociology major advisor, I speak with several different professors regularly about my life, my coursework, and my career aspirations. Professors I have never met before have even sat down with me to talk for hours and give me advice on my academic and professional tracks.

The major is pretty flexible, so you have the freedom to take whatever electives and seminars you’d like in addition to the intro class and a research requirement. For the research requirement, you have the option of taking separate qualitative and quantitative research courses, or one class that encompasses both. Quantitative research is what people often think of when they think of research—collecting and analyzing numerical data and surveys—while qualitative research is more like interviews and observations. A lot of people take the combined class for the sake of time, but I highly recommend taking the classes separately. My qualitative research project was the biggest independent research project I’ve ever done and my first taste of original research. I was allowed to pick whatever topic most interested me and I received excellent guidance throughout the process. It was a lot of hard, rewarding work and I was so proud of the results! It’s also a great achievement to have under your belt if you apply to graduate programs. The quantitative research class taught me how to do original research using a massive public dataset, and I learned how to run a variety of tests on different hypotheses. It was also my first taste of numerical research, and it was an eye-opening way to test hypotheses and explore new avenues of research.

In terms of career options, there really isn’t a “most popular career” for graduates. Sociology can take you in any direction: folks end up in non-profits, law firms, corporate jobs, consulting firms, schools, and more. You name it, a sociology graduate has done it. This past summer, I worked in the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Department at the American Bankers Association. How I ended up in the banking industry is truly beyond me, but it was a better internship than I ever could have imagined! All of the knowledge and skills you gain by majoring in sociology can set you on the path for nearly any career that interests you. This flexibility is part of why I love the discipline so much: I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and I know my career will follow many different paths, but I feel prepared for any industry with this degree under my belt. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had as a sociology major, and my only regret is not having the time to take every class the department has to offer!