Studies & Degrees in Sociology
Sociology Study Programs
Sociology is the study of how society is organised and how people experience life within it. Sociologists examine the groups, cultures, social institutions and processes that develop when people interact and work together. Typical topics are inequality, family, education, work, migration, crime, religion, health and political life.
The discipline has been taught at universities for more than a century. In Britain, according to the British Sociological Association, it was first taught at the London School of Economics and soon after at Liverpool University, at the very beginning of the twentieth century.
What students learn
A sociology degree has two sides. The first is theory: the main explanations of how societies hold together and change. The second is research methods. Students learn to collect data through surveys, observations and interviews, to analyse them with statistics, and to write up the results. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid sums up the aim as developing the theoretical and empirical foundations for the scientific knowledge of societies.
Later years allow specialisation. At Binghamton University, for example, the curriculum looks at political life, social movements, social conflicts and issues of social justice. Ghent University lets master's students choose a major in health and social demography, culture and education, or political sociology.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree in Spain. A bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The grado en Sociología of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid is taught at its Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología; the university has offered sociology studies for more than 40 years.
- Bachelor's degree in the United Kingdom. Three years is usual in England. The BSc Sociology of the University of Southampton lasts three years, with a typical offer of ABB at A-level. The BA (Hons) Sociology of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge lasts three years, or four years with a placement.
- Bachelor's degree in the United States. Sociology is studied as a major within a broader bachelor's degree. At The Pennsylvania State University, students choose between a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science; the B.S. is intended for those with a strong interest in quantitative skills, and the B.A. requires a minimum of 123 credits.
- Master's degree. In Spain, official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster en Políticas Sociales y Acción Comunitaria of the Escola de l'IGOP has 60 ECTS credits, is taught in Spanish and Catalan in a blended format, and leads to an official degree awarded by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The Master of Science in Sociology of Ghent University takes one year and 60 credits, and exists in a Dutch-taught and an English-taught version.
- Doctorate. A PhD is the route to an academic career, and some employers prefer it for research posts.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 409 active schools for sociology. The United States has 188, the United Kingdom 34, Spain 25 and Canada 18. Germany follows with 11, France with nine, Australia with seven, Argentina with six, Chile, Finland and Belgium with five each, and Mexico with four.
The list includes, in the United States, the University of Michigan, The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, The Pennsylvania State University and Binghamton University. In the United Kingdom it includes the University of Aberdeen, the University of Southampton, the University of Westminster and Anglia Ruskin University. Ghent University in Belgium and the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada are also listed.
The language of instruction is normally that of the country, although some universities add programmes in English, as Ghent University does at master's level. Sociology in Spain is taught mainly in Spanish, and in Catalonia also in Catalan.
Careers
Few graduates hold the job title of sociologist. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 2,700 sociologist jobs in the United States in 2025, and notes that the occupation typically requires a master's degree. Educational services employed 31% of them, scientific research and development services another 31% and state government 25%. The BLS projects employment of sociologists to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Most graduates use their training in other roles: social and market research, public administration, social policy, human resources, non-governmental organisations, journalism and teaching. The skills that carry over are research design, data analysis and clear writing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a sociology degree take?
In Spain a bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits. In England three years is usual, as at the University of Southampton and Anglia Ruskin University. A master's degree adds 60 to 120 ECTS credits.
Do I need mathematics to study sociology?
You need to be comfortable with statistics. Research methods and statistics are part of sociology programmes, and some universities, such as The Pennsylvania State University, offer a more quantitative Bachelor of Science.
Can I take a master's degree in sociology with a different bachelor's degree?
Often yes. According to the BLS, master's programmes typically require a bachelor's degree, but candidates may not need to have majored in sociology or a related social science. Check the requirements of each programme.
Can I study sociology in English outside English-speaking countries?
Yes, in some places. Ghent University in Belgium offers its Master of Science in Sociology in an English-taught version as well as in Dutch.