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Careers & Alumni
Graduates from our programs have the broad liberal arts knowledge and skills most consistently sought by employers: working on teams, critical thinking, analyzing and interpreting data, hands-on experiences, strong writing and speaking, and the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds (AACU 2021).
Alumni report that their coursework and applied experiences helped them be successful in a wide variety of careers. By the time you complete your degree, you will have experience with designing and conducting your own research, performing data analysis, reading and writing at a high level, and making many formal and informal presentations. You will be well prepared to enter law school, a Master’s or Ph.D. program, or transition directly into the workforce.
Sociology prepares students to be transformative leaders in a variety of locations, from community activism and policy research to legal advocacy and law enforcement. Above all, students will have a solid foundation to work and effect social change.
Related job titles
- Admissions Counselor
- Attorney/Mediator
- Community Organizer
- Diplomat
- Drug Counselor
- Employment Counselor
- Health Services Consultant
- Population Analyst
- Researcher
- Urban Planner
Criminology & Justice Studies prepares students to be transformative leaders in a variety of locations, from community activism and policy research to legal advocacy and law enforcement. Above all, students will have a solid foundation to work and effect social change.
Graduates have solid skills that look good on a resume, but also have the critical thinking skills to be successful in a wide variety of careers. Employers tell us this is a desirable skill in a variety of professions. You will be able to use your sociological imagination to understand issues faced by people and groups that interact with the criminal justice system.
Students pursuing traditional criminal justice careers in law enforcement, probation, and prisons will have a solid foundation to work and effect change. Because of the breadth, adaptability, and practical applications of a liberal arts degree in CJS, graduates choose to work in many different sectors. These include, for example, non-profit, private industry, social services, education, health services, public relations, criminal justice and government, as well as graduate studies.
Related Job Titles
- Attorney
- Community Organizer/Activist
- Conflict Mediator
- Criminalist
- Crisis Response Team Worker
- Domestic Violence Service Provider
- Drug Counselor
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Advocate
- Public Defender
The knowledge and skills students gain through the Cannabis Studies program can be applied to many different careers that specialize in cannabis and other industries. These include compliance officers, research and environmental scientists, attorneys, and accounting specialists.
Related Job Titles
- Attorney
- Community Organizer/Activist
- Conflict Mediator
- Criminalist
- Crisis Response Team Worker
- Domestic Violence Service Provider
- Drug Counselor
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Advocate
- Public Defender
Whether you are a recent graduate or a working professional, our Master's Degree in Public Sociology can take you, and your career to the next level. Our Masters program is unique, with an explicit focus on Public Sociology. Public Sociology takes sociological knowledge and skills beyond the confines of the academy into the communities where these resources are much needed. In other words, we teach students to translate their work for the non-academic world and impact communities. You will choose an experience emphasis with a Teaching Sociology or Field Site Practicing Placement, and develop a capstone project portfolio or thesis. Our program is a good fit for students who need a bridge to career advancement. We also provide great preparation for students who plan to pursue a doctorate.
Related Job Titles
- College and University Professors
- Director, Career Center
- Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications
- Executive Diversity Officer
- Grant Writer
- Harm Reduction Research Analyst
- Healthcare Data Analyst
- Organizing Director, Community Organizing Network
- Policy Analyst
- Program Director, Non-profit
- Professional Advisor, College and Universities
- Research Analyst
- Research Director, Institutes and Agencies
- Senior Health Education/Health Equity Coordinator
Marketable Skills
Human Relation
- Sensitivity to people and problems
- Understanding of social processes
- Ability to represent others
- Assessing people's needs
Developing/Organizing/Managing
- Planning/designing projects
- Organizing ideas/materials/objects
- Decision-making
- Developing/generating ideas
- Adapting ideas
Communication
- Informing/explaining
- Interviewing
- Writing
Research
- Gathering information
- Analyzing & Problem solving
- Clarifying
- Organizing ideas and materials
- Reviewing/evaluating projects/ideas
- Knowledge of survey research methods
Featured Alumni
Degrees in Sociology, Criminology & Justice Studies, and Cannabis Studies have given alumni opportunities to work in their fields around the world.
Sociology Alumni
Criminology & Justice Studies Alumni
Alumni Updates
Vanessa Vrtiak
Sociology, 2017
Vanessa Vrtiak, Sociology, 2017, recently gave a Ted Talk about her life, and would like to share it with the Humboldt State Family. "Thank you for being there for me and helping me shape the woman I am today. I'm so grateful I was able to go to a University with people that truly believe in their students and champion their success." Watch the Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/vanessa_vrtiak_how_to_save_a_life?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare&fbclid=IwAR154LL1hsMJPaH4_68QAGF1gUqQveVUG8UBAD5QMamSoeuIn_TpNxws_vM
Stacy Bricco
Sociology, 2013
Stacy is a social worker for the county of Humboldt.
Ali R. Chaudhary
SociologySociology (BA-2002), 2009
Ali R. Chaudhary, 2009 Sociology, went on to earn a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of California, Davis. In 2013, Chaudhary advanced to candidacy and started dissertation research on migrant-serving non-profit organizations in London, Toronto and New York. While conducting fieldwork, Chaudhary has been hosted as a visiting scholar at the Munk School of Global Affairs, the University of Toronto and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In fall 2013 Chaudhary was a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford's International Migration Institute. Chaudhary’s first sole-authored, peer-reviewed journal publication will appear in the International Migration Review in summer 2014.