It takes courage to advocate for change in today’s complex society.
Our online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is designed for individuals who are brave enough to believe they can create a better world. Courses cover current events to stimulate discussion and timely reflection on modern societal challenges. To help you find your path in an expansive field of opportunity, we offer career-related concentrations in social work, social justice, and criminology.
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Sociology deals with contemporary issues facing communities and organizations in every industry. Today’s employers seek critical thinkers who are versatile in addressing complex challenges. Our direct career focus and emphasis on these in-demand skills are what truly set our online sociology degree apart from others.
Our bachelor’s degree in sociology is designed to give you options. You are encouraged to choose courses that matter to you personally and professionally. Our curriculum covers a broad range of topics, such as community responsibility, mental illness, human sexuality, juvenile delinquency, terrorism, race, ethnicity, and crime. Additionally, your experience is further enriched by an opportunity to get involved in research projects tailored to your areas of interest.
Flexible, affordable, customizable
100% online coursework.
No campus visits required.
Research and
project-based.
Complete your senior seminar in an area that interests you.
Supportive faculty.
Engage with expert faculty to help you connect the curriculum to your career vision.
Study at a respected school.
Join Maryville University, which ranks among Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges” and the best values in private colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
A sociology major can prepare you to pursue a diversity of job opportunities in human, social, and community services. At Maryville, your online bachelor’s degree in sociology can launch a career trajectory that takes you to the top of a nonprofit organization, or it can serve as a foundational step in your educational journey toward starting your own private practice. Our comprehensive degree program can give you the skills and knowledge to grow your career in any number of directions.
You can work in a variety of settings, including:
Career opportunities for bachelor’s degree in sociology grads include:
Rapid job growth.*
Overall, the job market in community and social service is projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to grow twice as fast (14%) as the average in other industries. There’s even more projected growth for jobs like substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors (23%), social and community service managers (18%), and social and human service assistants (16%).
Increased earnings in government.*
Workers in government report higher median earnings than many outside of government. While salaries vary depending on factors like experience and location, BLS data indicates median pay from local governments is higher for positions like social/community service manager ($82,100), probation officer ($54,990), and substance abuse/behavioral disorder counselor ($50,600).
Demand for senior services and treatment.*
The BLS reports that a growing elderly population is a large factor driving job growth for social and community service managers. Additionally, demand for narcotics-related treatment and services is on the rise as drug offenders are increasingly sentenced to treatment instead of jail time. Your degree can be customized to help you provide these social services and more.
*Career growth and salary figures from data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
At Maryville, our online sociology degree prepares you for a career path that’s aligned to your passion. Our courses cover relevant, real-world topics that often spark new areas of interest. Each of the concentrations is uniquely designed to guide you into different areas of opportunity. The ultimate goal of our curriculum is to help you learn and grow in ways that are relevant to what you want to do next.
Maryville offers a distinct focus on enhancing your research skills and improving your application of scientific methodology. Graduates can assess research, think critically, conduct meaningful data analysis, and accurately convey findings — all of which gives you the potential to shift sentiments and powerfully impact worldviews.
Dr. Kent Bausman has served as a leader in Maryville University’s sociology program for close to 20 years, sharing a seasoned perspective from extensive research published in top peer-reviewed journals. He has also served as a media authority on social issues, providing critical commentary on social problems like child abduction and crime control.
Professor of Sociology
At Maryville University, Dr. Bausman is a strong example of how our faculty supports the next generation of sociology majors. His research digs deeper into challenging issues from examining right-to-work legislation to investigating mass shootings. As you begin researching issues that move you, Dr. Bausman’s experience can help guide you.
Dr. Bausman brings incredible dedication to his online courses, driving innovation in curriculum development and ensuring that your sociology courses are relevant, rigorous, and engaging. With his long history of helping students advance as sociology experts, he remains a key resource for Maryville students who wish to communicate new ideas effectively and help drive progress in any area.
The online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is designed to give you control over selecting your sociology courses. Tailor your studies to support your specific interests and career goals.
Choose your track:
General
Build your sociology degree across many disciplines.
Criminology
Focus on criminal justice and learn to help address criminal and violent activity in your community.
Social Justice
Study social issues and mental illness and seek community solutions.
Social Work
Prepare to become a vital resource for families and individuals.
What is a sociology major and how does it compare to a psychology major? Maryville’s online sociology degree helps you develop a broad social perspective. We offer the flexibility to select a concentration and tailor your research projects to help you better define the way you want to serve society.
This broad societal view differs from what you’ll learn in a psychology degree program, which largely examines the individual. At Maryville, we offer an online bachelor’s degree in psychology that blends the biological, scientific aspects of psychology with the clinical and social aspects. Course content focuses mainly on the scientific study of personal behavior and thought processes rather than identifying patterns in society at large.
Each of these majors is ideal for students interested in studying people. Though there are some aspects of these degrees that overlap, the most important differentiator really comes from you. Where do you want your degree to take you next? Let your potential career outcomes be your guide.
Earning your bachelor’s degree in sociology can take your career in many directions. As you advance, new opportunities may inspire you to initiate change and extend your authority in areas like public health, senior services, data management, nonprofit management, and academic leadership.
At Maryville, your sociology degree can qualify you for early access to graduate degree programs such as health administration, management and leadership, and more.
When you’re ready to go even further with your pursuit of knowledge, consider these online graduate program options:
Master’s in Health Administration, with your choice of four concentrations: data management, healthcare strategies, population management, or senior services.
Master’s in Management and Leadership, with options to customize the degree to your area of interest.
Master’s in Strategic Communication and Leadership, with a highly customizable curriculum and opportunities to pursue valuable industry certifications.
Learn more about the online bachelor’s degree in sociology at Maryville University.