Sociology Rhodes University

Overview

Key features

• Sociologists may specialise in urban cultures, youths, different neighbourhoods, old age, rock music, Rastas, and so on.

• Others are interested in industrial issues such as labour relations, personnel, trade unions, management strategies, public relations. In fact, anything to do with the workplace.

• Still others may specialise in rural sociology, the position of women in society, the environment, development, the family, the state, deviance, inequality, class, revolution, conflict management,race relations - as long as it involves social interaction of some sort.

Careers for sociologists

At the Sociology program of Rhodes University students do a core year of general sociology and then specialise at second year, choosing either sociology or industrial sociology.

SOCIOLOGY, which specialises in social theory, method, social research, and selected topics of general sociological interest (women, family, state, religion, rural issues, etc.) provides the graduate with a wide choice of careers. Any job that requires an understanding of people and social behaviour will be on interest. Public relations, journalism, social work, community development, personnel, law, management, social research, politics, education, advertising, market research, social and economic development, the diplomatic corps, health policy, housing, recreation, public administration, are but a few examples.

INDUSTRIAL SOCIOLOGY, which specialises in issues pertaining to the workplace (industrial relations, management strategies, trade unions, industrial research, etc.) prepares the student for a career in industry. A wide variety of jobs are possible, including management related ones (personnel, labour relations, public negotiations, coordination). Another area that is becoming increasingly popular with industrial sociology graduates is industrial conflict mediation and consultancy.

It is worth noting that many large corporations and multinationals favour social science graduates for management training, as they are regarded as having the appropriate characteristics for a leadership role: flexibility, an in-depth understanding of human behaviour, and the ability to innovate.