Career prospects

Are you interested in people and society? Do you like questioning conditions and circumstances? Do you enjoy taking part in discussions and are you able to deal with different opinions and perspectives? Reading and building up an own opinion and perspective is something you enjoy doing? Then a degree in sociology is just right for you!
Are you wondering what you can do with a degree in sociology and what careers you can pursue afterwards? The answer is as varied and complex as sociology itself!

Sociologists are highly demanded on the labour market. They deal with the structures of how people live together in a society. Global crises, profound and permanent change, social challenges, social disintegration, inequality, authoritative structures, increasing diversity, consumption and human behaviour, digitalisation and Industry 4.0, social media, big data... These are all aspects of our modern society that need to be questioned, analysed, understood and mastered.

During your studies, you will fill and expand your own personal ‘toolbox’ in order to be able to scientifically answer societal questions with sociological knowledge, theories, methods, data and critical thinking.
Studying sociology does not prepare you for a specific profession, but rather allows you to specialise in different areas and focus on individual topics. Therefore, your success primarly depends on what you make out of the sociological content and the study programme, what you are interested in and where your personal strengths lie.

In addition to sociological content, you can also learn new languages and acquire additional professional certificates during your studies (e.g. in the fields of art and culture, media and journalism, human resources and organisation, project management) or learn how to use specific software and data processing programs. A compulsory internship and other voluntary internships are a first good opportunity to get some work experience and to start a career in a professional field of your choice.

Our students (internship) and our graduates work in very different areas:

- Companies (e.g. in the areas of HR/personnel development/recruiting, public relations/PR, marketing, equality, diversity, project
  and change management)
- Management consulting
- Market and opinion research, advertising agencies
- Associations and organisations
- Public authorities, ministries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations
- Journalism
- Political parties and state institutions
- Public administration (e.g. universities, city councils, district councils)
- Cultural, media and educational institutions, foundations
- Research at universities and at state research institutions

For a career in academia and for further specialisation, you can complete a Master's degree and then do a doctorate.

A university library is a link between a library, research and teaching. If you are considering working as a specialised university librarian, you must first complete a librarian traineeship in the higher administration service for Baden Württemberg.

A traineeship (in German: Volotariat) is usually required for a career in journalism.

Many national and international companies and organisations offer trainee programmes and programmes for young professionals.