Social and Market Research

Select any of the following concentrations:

• Inequality and Social Change
• Global Sociology
• Deviance, Crime and Social Control
• Childhood and Youth

Take the following classes:

• SOCI 213: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
• SOCI 312: Qualitative Research Methods
• SOCI 352: Social Problems and Solutions
• SOCI 391: Big Data, Technology, and Society
• SOCI 405: Analysis of Social Data
• SOCI 410: Social Surveys and Attitude and Opinion Measurements
• SOCI 485: RS: Sociological Analysis and Practice
• SOCI 499: Independent Research in Sociology

For this career pathway, there are many relevant minors from diverse disciplines:

• Learn to use quantitative analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, SAS), and qualitative analysis software (e.g., Dedoose, NVivo, Atlas Ti)
• Learn database, spreadsheet, and presentation programs (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Canva).
• Participate in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program at Mason, or complete original research through an independent study class (e.g., SOCI 499), or the Capstone course (SOCI 485).
• Present your research at Mason’s Celebration of Student Scholarship or at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
• Consider working with the OSCAR Research Assistant Program (Federal Work Study) or volunteer to help a professor with a research project.
• Complete an internship or summer job with a research organization. Check out:  
  • Science Research Job Resources
  • Search for jobs and internships through Handshake
• Join the Social Science Research Lab.
• Work with the Sociology and Anthropology Department’s Center for Social Science Research (CSSR).
• Get an advanced degree in sociology for more skills and marketability.
• Network with professionals working in areas of interest.