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Criminal
Justice and Law
Social Work
Applied
Social Research
Demography
Medical
Sociology
Urban Planning
Academic
Teaching
Elementary
or Secondary Education
Public Health
Administration
Law
Business
Career opportunities in many academic fields have been adversely affected by the current economic situation. However, some areas are more "open" than others. In order to help you in your later employment efforts, we list the following as a guide. The job market in the 21st-century may look quite different than it appeared in the late 1980s, or early 1990s. Thus, it is advisable to try to combine your areas of interest with current projected trends. To obtain the latest employment outlook information from the U.S. Bureau Labor Statistics Office of Employment Projects, access their Internet Web site at stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm. A free booklet, Careers in Sociology, published by the American Sociological Association, and is available from them at publications@asanet.org.
To obtain internet resources for careers and jobs, visit the College's
Web site at www.qc.edu/career.
The Sociology major provides a good foundation for students seeking careers in criminal justice, law, and related fields. Some jobs (e.g., in law enforcement and juvenile custody and control) are available with a B.A. degree, but students interested in more advanced careers will need to consider post-graduate education. All post-graduate programs are competitive. Students with GPA's over 3.0 will have more choices, although scores on standardized tests are very important; and letters of recommendation are also considered.
The City University of New York, through John Jay and the Graduate Center, offers both M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Criminal Justice, with specialties in criminology, forensic psychology, law enforcement, corrections, public administration, research, and program evaluation. There are several other graduate programs in criminology and criminal justice in New York state and many others around the country. Students interested in attending graduate school should take the Graduate School Exam (GRE) by fall semester of their senior year.
The City University of New York Law School is located on the Queens College campus (65-21 Main Street, Flushing, 718-575-4200). Other law schools in the New York City area include Fordham, St. John's, Hofstra, Brooklyn, New York University, and Columbia University; a number of other public and private law schools are located throughout New York State. Students interested in attending law school should take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) by fall semester of their senior year. Application for the test can be obtained in the Pre-Law Advisement Office.
Most post-graduate institutions provide financial assistance to qualified students.
Sociology Electives in Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Law
Sociology 209: Criminal Justice
Sociology 217: Crime and Juvenile Delinquency
Sociology 247: Sociology of Law
Other Related Electives
Sociology 213: Deviance and Social Pathology
Sociology 225: Sociology of Drugs
Sociology 240: Drugs and Alcohol
Sociology 211: Ethnic and Race Relations
Sociology 222: Social Welfare as a Social Institution
Students may also consider doing a sociology internship in a legal or criminal justice agency.
Related Courses in Other Departments
(Note: Students are advised to check the Queens College
Undergraduate Bulletin before registering for these courses)
Accounting 361: Business Law I
Business and Liberal Arts 302: Law and Ethics of Business
Communication Arts and Sciences 246: Freedom of Speech
Communication Arts and Sciences 351: Communication and the Legal
System
Communication Arts and Sciences 357: Media, Law, and Ethics
History 282: American Constitutional History to 1865
History 283: American Constitutional History since 1865
Philosophy 121: Philosophy of Law, Ethics, and Medicine
Philosophy 223: Philosophy of Law
Political Science 100: American Politics and Government
Political Science 213: The Legislative Processes in America
Political Science 214: The Judicial Process
Political Science 215: Constitutional Law I
Political Science 216: Constitutional Law II
Psychology 222: Psychology and the Law
Writing Courses
It is extremely beneficial for students to improve their writing skills while an undergraduate, and is especially important for students considering going to law school:
English 110: English Composition I
English 120: English Composition II
English 201: Essay Writing for Special Fields
Additional Information
For advisement in the Sociology Department, please contact Dr. Lynn Zimmer (Kissena 235) or Dr. Bernard Cohen (Kissena 227). For more information on graduate programs and graduate entrance exams, consult the Graduate Admissions Office, located in Powdermaker 100F, (718-997-5200). For information on applying to law school, please visit the Pre-Law Advisement Office, located in Powdermaker 170C, (718-997-5082).
Many students who have majored in sociology pursue postgraduate careers in social work. The demand for social workers typically has fluctuated with the expansion and contraction of public spending for health care, mental health, treatment of substance abusers, rehabilitation of criminal offenders, and family services (e.g., child welfare, foster care). Although approximately 40 percent of social workers are public employees, many social workers have found employment in private sector institutions (e.g., in corporate based Employee Assistance programs designed to offer counseling to employees suffering from substance abuse or other mental health problems, in nursing homes, mental health clinics, hospitals, home health agencies) or are self-employed licensed psychotherapists.
Employment Outlook
In 1994, social workers held about 557,000 jobs. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, the demand for social workers would increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. The growth in the population of aged Americans, single-parent families, and the immigrant population, will create a continuing need for social services and social work practitioners. Social workers with bilingual skills are particularly in demand in urban areas, and there is a dearth of qualified personnel in rural areas.
Requirements
Whereas a generation ago, the possession of an undergraduate degree in sociology, psychology or a related field enabled someone to obtain employment in a social service field with a promise of advancement, in recent years, a bachelor's degree is of limited value in this job market. Opportunities do exist, particularly in small social service agencies, for counselors or case managers in substance abuse rehabilitation programs (particularly if B.A.s augment their undergraduate training with a certificate in counseling alcoholics) as well as in foster care placement, adoption agencies, nursing homes and the growing home health care field. Typically, these positions involve starting salaries between $16,000-$20,000 and require prior volunteer or paid work experience with the relevant population. In some cases, agencies will train employees.
The Mayor's Voluntary Action Center is a clearinghouse for social agencies requesting volunteer workers (51 Chambers Street, Suite 1231, New York, NY 10007). All you have to do is call 212-788-7550 for an appointment.
In today's social service sector, a Master's in Social Work (M.S.W.) is a prerequisite for almost all social work positions. A Ph.D. in Social Work is increasingly necessary for an academic career -- teaching and/or conducting research in schools or departments of social work. The doctorate is also beneficial if one wishes to consider a career in the administration of social service agencies.
The M.S.W. degree can be earned in two years of full-time work which includes 21 hours of field work in social service agencies as well as graduate courses. The time demands preclude part-time employment, although some graduate programs allow persons already employed in social service organizations to utilize their work settings as field work placement (e.g., Hunter School of Social Work).
Most accredited social work graduate programs expect undergraduates to have 3.0 undergraduate grade point averages and extensive course work in social sciences, particularly sociology, psychology, or urban studies. Most M.S.W. programs do not require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). In addition, admission chances will be greatly enhanced if applicants can present a record of work or volunteer experience in social service agencies.
Finally, it is important to get at least three letters of recommendation
from professors and/or volunteer work supervisors. Simply getting
good grades or listing work experience on a resume is not enough.
Admissions committees are most likely to be impressed by an applicant
whose performance can be amplified by a detailed recommendation
from someone who has genuine familiarity with the quality of his/her
work.
In the New York area, the best graduate programs are in Manhattan
at (1) Hunter College School of Social Work at 123 East 79th Street,
(2) Columbia University on Broadway and 116th Street, and (3)
New York University at Washington Square. Yeshiva University,
Fordham University, and Adelphi University also have accredited
programs. Hunter College's program is the largest, least expensive,
but also the most selective, accepting only 20 percent of applicants.
Hunter is particularly anxious to recruit students who want to work in social agencies as opposed to those seeking to work as psychotherapists in private practice. (For this reason, unlike NYU and Columbia, it looks less favorably upon admission applications from psychology majors). Nevertheless, Hunter's program does have a casework (also known as clinical social work) concentration which emphasizes exposure to psychodynamic psychotherapy and field work assignments in mental health settings in which graduate students interested in becoming psychotherapists learn appropriate techniques working with in-patient or out-patient clients.
Salaries
Starting salaries for social workers with M.S.W. degrees average between $25,000-$30,000 in the New York City area. Based on the results of a survey conducted by the National Association of Social Workers, social workers with M.S.W. degrees had a median earnings of $30,000 in 1993. The median earnings for those with B.S.W. degrees were between $17,500 and $20,000. The average salaries for social workers who worked full-time in hospitals were about $33,300 in 1994. For those who worked for the federal government, their average salaries were about $44,000 in 1995.
Undergraduate Preparation
It is recommended that students interested in pursuing a career in social work take the following courses:
In Sociology:
Sociology 222 -- Social Welfare as a Social Institution
Sociology 223 -- Introduction to Social Work Method
Sociology 211 -- Ethnic & Racial Relations
Sociology 213 -- Deviance & Social Pathology
Sociology 217 -- Crime & Juvenile Delinquency
Sociology 225 -- Sociology of Drugs
Sociology 244 -- Sociology of Women
Sociology 246 -- Sociology of Human Sexuality
Sociology 271 -- The Black Family
Sociology 272 -- Blacks in American Society
In addition to courses in sociology, future social workers can benefit from courses in other related departments: Anthropology, Political Science, Psychology, and Urban Studies.
In Anthropology:
Anthropology 214 -- Peoples of New York City
In Political Science:
Political Science 211 -- Urban Politics
Political Science 223 -- Introduction to Public Administration
Political Science 224 -- The Public Service
In Psychology:
Psychology 218 -- Psychology of Aging
Psychology 221 -- Psychopathology (Abnormal Psychology)
Psychology 224 -- Child Psychology
Psychology 232 -- The Psychology of Personality
Psychology 317 -- Behavior Modification
Psychology 336 -- Humanistic Psychology
Psychology 341 -- Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychology 347 -- Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Psychology 349 -- Psychological Disorders of Childhood & Adolescence
Psychology 360 -- Contemporary Psychotherapies
In Urban Studies:
Urban Studies 102 -- Urban Issues: Services & Institutions
Urban Studies 105 -- Socioeconomic & Political Power in the
City
Urban Studies 113 -- Urban Health Issues
Urban Studies 220 -- Studies of Selected Urban Service Institutions
Urban Studies 221 -- Public Policy & Implementation
Finally, students interested in becoming more familiar with specific subcultures with whom they might wish to work as social workers might benefit from course offerings in the various ethnic/interdisciplinary studies programs: Irish, Italian-American, Jewish, Puerto Rican, and Women's.
Not all listed courses will be given every semester or academic year. Students should consult the relevant department or program.
Faculty Advisors
Within the sociology department, Professors Milton Mankoff (Ph.D., M.S.W.) and Dean Savage (Ph.D.) serve as advisors to students wishing to pursue careers in social work. For further information, please contact Dr. Mankoff (718-997-2804) or Dr. Savage (718-997-2829).
Additional Information
An annual Directory of Accredited B.S.W. and M.S.W. Programs is available for a nominal charge from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), 1600 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3421, (703-683-8080). They have a wealth of resources at their website www.cswe.org.
For information about career opportunities in social work, students should contact the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), IC-Career Information, 750 First Street NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002-4241, (1-800-638-8799, ext. 377). www.naswdc.org.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook contains information on social workers including nature of social work, working conditions, earnings and employment, training, qualifications, and advancement.
There are good jobs for those who specialize in statistics and survey research. People with such qualifications are needed for research in industry; advertising and market research; social research with private and public agencies; government agencies (some skills in working with quantitative data); and academic research institutes. (Please turn to an earlier section of this handbook -- Master of Arts in Sociology -- for more information on the M.A. degree in sociology with a concentration in applied social research.)
We suggest the following undergraduate preparatory courses: elementary and advanced statistics (if currently not offered, you can ask for a tutorial); sociological analysis; methods of social research; workshop in sociology research; population problems; economics; computer courses (programming, sampling, data analysis, technical writing); and vocabulary building. We also encourage students to do research with faculty members.
The universities that offer the best advanced training are Pennsylvania, Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, Michigan, Wisconsin, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina, Indiana, Washington at Seattle, Illinois, and Washington State.
Demography is defined as the study of the size, distribution, and composition of a population and its components of change: fertility, mortality, and migration. Population studies attempt to explain and ultimately predict population processes by examining historical, economic, social, psychological, and biomedical determinants and consequences of these processes.
Unlike some other disciplines, population studies is a rapidly expanding area with numerous and varied employment opportunities. Currently, the demand for demographers is greater than the supply. Employment can be found in research institutes (e.g., United Nations, Population Council, East-West Population Institute), in the U.S. Census Bureau, and other government agencies, life insurance companies, as well as in universities. An M.A. degree is the minimum requirement. Of course, opportunities are greater for those with a Ph.D.
We suggest the following undergraduate preparatory courses: methodology, statistics, history, calculus, economics, social psychology, and population problems.
Many universities offer advanced training in population studies including Pennsylvania, Chicago, Cornell, Duke, Fordham, Michigan, Minnesota, Princeton, and Washington. Schools differ in their emphasis on foreign vs. domestic population processes; and in the quantitative skills required. Most universities offer an M.A. or Ph.D. in sociology (or economics) with a specialization in population studies. A few offer advanced degrees in demography. Since the schools differ somewhat in their emphases, one should make this a major consideration in applying to graduate schools with these programs. For further information on demography or the various programs the schools offer, please contact Dr. James Beshers (Kissena 246), Dr. Zai Liang (Kissena 255), or Dr. Joanne Miller (Kissena 229). You can also obtain additional information from the Population Association of America, 721 Ellsworth Drive, Suite 303, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301-565-6710).
In recent years, we have focused more and more of our attention on our health care delivery system as well as increased our personnel and monetary allocations enormously. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are job opportunities in this area. Medical schools, hospitals, and medical research institutions are currently recruiting medical sociologists to either teach or do research. Now the demand for such far exceeds the supply. A Ph.D. is required! We suggest the following undergraduate preparation: methodology, statistics I and II, theory, sociology of medicine, deviance, social psychology, and courses in psychology. The schools which offer programs in this area include Columbia, Pennsylvania, N.Y.U., Adelphi, CUNY-Grad Center, SUNY-Stony Brook, Brandeis, Brown, U.C.L.A., Chicago, Harvard, North Carolina, and Rutgers.
There are job opportunities in urban planning of American cities and in social and economic planning of developing countries. If you are interested in urban planning, it would be wise to take such courses as urban sociology and population problems, as well as courses in economics, computer science, and urban studies. The schools that have the best programs in this area are Harvard, Pennsylvania, Berkeley, Columbia, Michigan, N.Y.U., Wisconsin, Chicago, North Carolina, and CUNY-Hunter College. For further information, please contact Dr. James Beshers (Kissena 246).
Teaching positions at the university level have become difficult to obtain in recent years. But there are always some openings for the nation's best students. For details on current openings, consult the Employment Bulletin of the American Sociological Association, published monthly. On-line information is also available through World Wide Web site: www.asanet.org/.
Elementary or Secondary Education
To complete a Queens College/CUNY B.A. leading to certification in elementary or secondary education, a student must major in a Liberal Arts and Sciences program. For more information, see the Undergraduate Bulletin: Elementary and Early Childhood Education or Secondary Education.
To pursue a major in sociology to prepare for a teaching career is a great choice for many students. Sociology allows individuals to develop a broad understanding of American society and its current social issues. Therefore, it provides an excellent foundation for a teaching career. The Sociology Department offers a variety of courses that interest education majors. Some of these courses are:
Sociology 215 -- Sociology of Education
Sociology 103 -- Sociology of American Life
Sociology 208 -- Social Problems
Sociology 211 -- Ethnic and Racial Relations
Sociology 216 -- Social Psychology
Sociology 217 -- Crime and Juvenile Delinquency
Sociology 219 -- Social Class in American Society
Sociology 225 -- Sociology of Drugs
In addition, each semester there are selected topics in sociology, the Sociology 240 series, that are also of great interest. These include subjects like:
Sociology 240 -- Beliefs and Believers
Sociology 240 -- Women and Film
Sociology 240 -- Sociology of Gambling
Sociology 240 -- Sociology of Disability
Sociology 240 -- Sociology of Children
Sociology 240 -- Social Impact of Computers
Sociology 240 -- Sociology of Literacy
Sociology 240 -- Science and Technology
The Department also offers a variety of senior seminars (Sociology 381, 382) and special problems (Sociology 391, 392) on topics related to educational issues: Gender and Education, Seminar on Higher Education, and Research Problems.
For additional information about careers in elementary or secondary education, please contact Dr. Sophia Catsambis (Kissena 207).
There is a great demand for public health administration. At this time, the government is funding health programs for the aged and rehabilitation programs. If you are interested in this field, we advise you to take a double major in sociology and health education. If you decide to major only in sociology, then Health Education 231 is a must. The course is titled "Organization and Administration of Community Health Programs." You should also consider taking courses in economics, urban studies, accounting, and communication arts and sciences.
An M.A. degree is a must. Graduate schools with solid programs in public health administration are Minnesota, Iowa, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, N.Y.U., Berkeley, U.C.L.A., the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CUNY-Baruch College, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
As a sociology major, you may want to consider law. A combination of courses or at least exposure to philosophy, political science, economics, accounting, business history, or English literature will stand you in good stead. Each year there is an increase in the extraordinary variety of tasks which lawyers are asked to perform and, therefore, a diversity of skills are brought into play. The American Bar Association considers it unwise to prescribe particular undergraduate law courses. Law courses in undergraduate instructions should not be taken for the purpose of learning "the law," although they can be very helpful in undergraduate curricula for teaching students "about law" and quite possibly for helping students estimate whether they might be interested in law study. The quality of the undergraduate program and the development in prelaw students of basic skills and insights are the major concerns of law schools.
Applicants are required to participate in the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) and to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Registration forms are found in the Law School Admission Bulletin. In addition, the applicant must arrange to have the registrar of each college and each graduate school attended send a transcript to LSDAS. (All of this information and more can be found in the LSA Bulletin).
Suggestions for Prospective Students
It is recommended that the LSAT be taken as early as possible during the last year in college or the previous summer. The test is given in July, October, December, February, and April--check the LSA Bulletin for exact dates. The test cannot be taken experimentally or provisionally, since the first score is often given preponderant weight.
There are several preparatory courses for the LSAT. The best, the most comprehensive and the most expensive is offered by Stanley Kaplan. The Educational Testing Service maintains that these cram courses are ineffectual. But if you are a poor test-taker, they can only help. At the very least, familiarize yourself with the test format and be able to gauge and allocate your time adequately, because time is your worst enemy. Also be sure to get a good night's sleep prior to the exam, eat a substantial breakfast, take some quick energy food with you, and above all, stay cool!
The Prelaw Handbook provides a complete profile of all the ABA-Approved Law Schools. You can order it through the Educational Testing Service.
Visit a few local law schools, sit in on several classes and take the time to speak to the law students in attendance; they can give you insights into their law programs that no bulletin can provide.
Although the schools claim that application for financial aid does not affect admission, it may be that in times of depression/recession, requests for aid will hinder your chances. Thus, we advise you to apply early to the schools and after you have been accepted put in your application for financial aid.
Letters of recommendation or appraisal from deans, professors, pre-law advisors and/or former employers can often make the difference when several candidates have the same LSAT score and grade point average. Thus, it is wise to get to know your professors and advisers so they can write insightful letters describing your talents.
Of course, industry is always clamoring for skilled managers. Since industry spans many fields, and within each field there are many different types of administrative responsibilities, it may be advisable to look to industry for a career. There are, however, different degree programs being offered. For example, Yale and Princeton offer a Masters in Administrative Science. In effect, this is a management trainee program whose faculty is drawn from the top business and financial communities. This degree will afford you entrance into the middle management level.
Then, there is the M.B.A. degree. This degree varies greatly depending upon the school you attend, and the schools' prerequisites vary as well. We suggest you go to Queens College Rosenthal Library's Reference Section (Desk 16) and look through the current editions of business school guide for a complete profile of all business schools and their requirements. The best schools in the N.Y. area for an M.B.A. are N.Y.U., Columbia, Rutgers, SUNY-Binghamton, Buffalo, Albany, and the University of Rochester. Baruch is considered a middle-range school. Hofstra, Adelphi, and L.I.U. are on the bottom of the heap. Out-of-state there are Pennsylvania (Wharton), Harvard, Michigan, Chicago, Illinois-Urbana, U.C.L.A., Stanford, Berkeley, Texas-Austin, and University of Utah.
We suggest the following undergraduate preparatory courses: a minimum of introduction to accounting, economics, sociology, and psychology. Also Sociology 224 and 228, and Psychology 226. A computer science course is very helpful. At the very least Accounting 361--Business Law I--should be taken. Of course, if you have good grades with a good liberal arts background, many of the prestigious schools will seriously consider you--with the understanding that you will make up their prerequisites. If, however, you are a sophomore or junior, you have time enough to prepare