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Assistant professor of sociology education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an assistant professor of sociology. Assistant professors of sociology usually study sociology, anthropology, or political science. 43% of assistant professors of sociology hold a bachelor's degree, and 33% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 141 real assistant professor of sociology resumes to see exactly what assistant professor of sociology education sections show.

The most common colleges for assistant professors of sociology are the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania.

There are also many online assistant professor of sociology courses to help get the education required to be an assistant professor of sociology.

What education do you need to become an assistant professor of sociology?

What degree do you need to be an assistant professor of sociology?

The most common degree for assistant professors of sociology is bachelor's degree, with 43% of assistant professors of sociology earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are doctoral degree degree at 33% and doctoral degree degree at 19%.
  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • Doctorate, 33%
  • Master's, 19%
  • Associate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an assistant professor of sociology?

You should major in sociology to become an assistant professor of sociology. 56% of assistant professors of sociology major in sociology. Other common majors for an assistant professor of sociology include anthropology and political science.

Most common colleges for assistant professors of sociology

Assistant professors of sociology often get their degrees at University of Pennsylvania, Florida State University, and Ohio State University. Here are the most common colleges for assistant professors of sociology in the US based on their resumes.
Assistant professor of sociology common collegePercentages
University of Pennsylvania5.71%
Florida State University5.71%
Ohio State University5.71%
University of Akron5.71%
American University5.71%

Best majors for assistant professors of sociology

RankMajorPercentages
1Sociology56.0%
2Anthropology5.5%
3Political Science5.5%
4Business2.8%
5Criminal Justice2.8%

Best colleges for assistant professors of sociology

The best colleges for assistant professors of sociology are University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and Emory University.

An assistant professor of sociology with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for assistant professors of sociology. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become assistant professors of sociology.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

3. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

4. Colgate University

Hamilton, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,870

Enrollment

2,934

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Enrollment

32,072

6. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

7. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

9. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for assistant professors of sociology

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1. Classical Sociological Theory

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This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will offer the participants an introduction into the most important classical sociological readings between the 18th and 20th century. Highly influential social science scholars, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, will be discussed during 8 sessions. Combined with small tests, based on the video’s and recommended readings, the participants will be encouraged to dive deeply into the complex texts and get familiar with classical sociological...

2. Foundations of Health Equity Research

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Introduces students to the core principles of health equity research. Covers topics such as defining health equity, engaging community and policy stakeholders, patient-centeredness, cultural competence, and dissemination of research findings. Content will recognize different geographic, cultural, and social contexts where health inequities occur...

3. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

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Learn to Speak About Criminal Psychology and the Sociology of Crime Like an Expert...

4. Research Methodology: Complete Research Project Blueprint

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4.6
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Research Methodology From A-Z. A Step-by-Step Guide Through Research Design, Data Collection, Analysis, & Interpretation...

5. Studying Cities: Social Science Methods for Urban Research

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Welcome! Are you looking to learn more about how to conduct scientific research, specifically in an urban or local context? Then you have found the right course: Studying Cities: Social Science Methods for Urban Research by the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam. During the course you will gain more insight in the different steps of the research cycle, and build a firm foundation for your own future research endeavors. Before any (urban)...

6. Quantitative Methods

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Discover the principles of solid scientific methods in the behavioral and social sciences. Join us and learn to separate sloppy science from solid research! This course will cover the fundamental principles of science, some history and philosophy of science, research designs, measurement, sampling and ethics. The course is comparable to a university level introductory course on quantitative research methods in the social sciences, but has a strong focus on research integrity. We will use...

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8. Research Methods and Statistics: An Introduction (2023 Ed.)

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A Primer in Research Methodology and Statistics in the Social Sciences (2023 Edition)...

9. Social Psychology

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Ever wonder why people do what they do? This course—which includes more than $1,000 of video and reading materials—offers some answers based on the latest research from social psychology. Students taking the course for a Certificate will also receive free membership in Social Psychology Network (SocialPsychology.org). COURSE DESCRIPTION FROM PROFESSOR PLOUS: Each of us is dealt a different hand in life, but we all face similar questions when it comes to human behavior: What leads us to like one...

10. Psychological Research

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This specialization is primarily aimed at first- and second-year undergraduates interested in psychology, data analysis, ethics in research, and quantitative research methods along with high school students and professionals with similar interests.\n\nLearners will develop knowledge about the fundamentals of research design for quantitative studies in psychology, analysis of data from quantitative studies in psychology, and ethical standards for conducting psychological research. Learning...

11. Research Methods For Business Students

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A-Z guide to writing a rockstar Research Paper with a bulletproof Research Methodology!...

12. The Beginners Course for Clinical Research

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The Essentials of Clinical Trials - Clinical Research for Beginners...

13. Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis

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Learn how to model social and economic networks and their impact on human behavior. How do networks form, why do they exhibit certain patterns, and how does their structure impact diffusion, learning, and other behaviors? We will bring together models and techniques from economics, sociology, math, physics, statistics and computer science to answer these questions. The course begins with some empirical background on social and economic networks, and an overview of concepts used to describe and...

14. Understanding Research Methods

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This MOOC is about demystifying research and research methods. It will outline the fundamentals of doing research, aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the postgraduate level. It places the student experience at the centre of our endeavours by engaging learners in a range of robust and challenging discussions and exercises befitting SOAS, University of London's status as a research-intensive university and its rich research heritage. The course will appeal to those of you who require an...

15. Learn Social Psychology

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Understand How People Think, Feel, and Behave in this Complete Introduction to Social Psychology...

16. Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

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Learn the basics of conducting qualitative research. Learn to design interviews, conduct observations, and analyze data...

17. Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1

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This course seeks to turn learners into informed consumers of social science research. It introduces concepts, standards, and principles of social science research to the interested non-expert. Learners who complete the course will be able to assess evidence and critically evaluate claims about important social phenomena. It reviews the origins and development of social science, describes the process of discovery in contemporary social science research, and explains how contemporary social...

18. Being a researcher (in Information Science and Technology)

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The course provides a broad view of how to become and progress as a researcher. It spans over a wide range of topics, from the historical development of scientific thought to research methodology, to the pragmatics of publication, research funding, evaluation, and promotion in a researcher’s career. It also stresses the ethical aspects of research. Although the course speaks about scientific research in general, it especially focuses on the field on Information and Communication Science and...

19. Market Research: Dekker's Complete Marketing Research Course

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Competitor Analysis, Market Research Analysis, Marketing Analytics, Consumer Analytics, Conversion Rate Optimization...

20. Marketing Research: support your marketing decisions

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Discover the extra advantage of any Business. A practical step by step guide to Marketing Information and Research...

Top 10 most affordable universities for assistant professors of sociology

The most affordable schools for assistant professors of sociology are Florida State University, baruch college of the city university of new york, and queens college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for assistant professors of sociology are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for assistant professors of sociology.

1. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

4. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

7. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for assistant professors of sociology

The hardest universities for assistant professors of sociology to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and Emory University.

Some great schools for assistant professors of sociology are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for assistant professors of sociology based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

3. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

4. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,449

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Colgate University

Hamilton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

25%

SAT average

1,443

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

8. Princeton University

Princeton, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,503

9. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for assistant professors of sociology

The easiest schools for assistant professors of sociology to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, felician university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an assistant professor of sociology without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for assistant professors of sociology.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

5. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

6. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

7. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

8. Albertus Magnus College

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

931

9. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

10. College of Mount Saint Vincent

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,021

Average assistant professor of sociology salary by education level

According to our data, assistant professors of sociology with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $75,562 annually. Assistant professors of sociology with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $63,598.
Assistant professor of sociology education levelAssistant professor of sociology salary
Master's Degree$63,598
Doctorate Degree$75,562

Assistant professor of sociology education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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