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Instructor of sociology education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an instructor of sociology. Instructors of sociology usually study sociology, psychology, or criminal justice. 48% of instructors of sociology hold a bachelor's degree, and 37% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 439 real instructor of sociology resumes to see exactly what instructor of sociology education sections show.

The most common colleges for instructors of sociology are the Marshall University and the Marshall University.

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

What education do you need to become an instructor of sociology?

What degree do you need to be an instructor of sociology?

The most common degree for instructors of sociology is bachelor's degree, with 48% of instructors of sociology earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 37% and master's degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 48%
  • Master's, 37%
  • Doctorate, 9%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become an instructor of sociology?

You should major in sociology to become an instructor of sociology. 52% of instructors of sociology major in sociology. Other common majors for an instructor of sociology include psychology and criminal justice.

Most common colleges for instructors of sociology

Instructors of sociology often get their degrees at Marshall University, Harvard University, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for instructors of sociology in the US based on their resumes.
Instructor of sociology common collegePercentages
Marshall University7.79%
Harvard University7.79%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.79%
Illinois State University6.49%
Ohio University6.49%

Best majors for instructors of sociology

RankMajorPercentages
1Sociology52.1%
2Psychology7.9%
3Criminal Justice5.5%
4Social Work4.1%
5Anthropology3.8%

Best colleges for instructors of sociology

The best colleges for instructors of sociology are Northwestern University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St Louis.

An instructor 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 instructors 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 instructors of sociology.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$47,350

Enrollment

3,962

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

7. Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$46,950

Enrollment

9,407

8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

20 best online courses for instructors 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. 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...

3. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

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4.5
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Learn to Speak About Criminal Psychology and the Sociology of Crime Like an Expert...

4. Introduction to Behavioral Economics & Consumer Psychology

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4
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Learn how to apply some of the most powerful principles from consumer psychology to increase conversions...

5. Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact

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I am an adult developmental psychologist by training and a career counselor by trade, currently the Director of the Gordon Career Center at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. In this course, I draw from my decades of experience as well as research from the fields of psychology, organizational behavior, and sociology to help you understand best practices for making career decisions. This content will help you develop the tools you need to make the right choices for you, from deciding an area of...

6. Animals and Society

coursera

Animals matter for human existence in so many ways that it is difficult to imagine the entity we call “society” without them. They figure heavily in our language, food, clothing, family structure, economy, education, entertainment, science, recreation, and other areas of social life. In this specialization, we will investigate a range of topics, many of them controversial. Although this is a sociology course, the field of human-animal studies is interdisciplinary. Many of the suggested readings...

7. TESOL - Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages

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Teaching Skills and Classroom Management...

8. The Ultimate Unofficial Udemy Online Course Creation Guide

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Learn the tips and tricks of one of Udemy's top instructors - how to create online courses that sell. (Unofficial)...

9. 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...

10. Creating Behavioral Change

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In this course you will learn about understanding and changing mental and physical health behavior. We will examine both the historical context and the current science. Major topics will include fundamental behavioral principles and basic elements of empirically supported individual treatments (e.g., motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapies). Lectures and examples will illustrate both the theory and the practice of evidence-based approaches to behavior change. You will engage...

11. Microsoft Project ADVANCED: Project Management Technics 3PDU

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MS PROJECT 2016 ADVANCED Project Management Techniques -incl Enterprise level. HANDS-ON from #1 BESTSELLING INSTRUCTOR...

12. Abnormal Behavior & Clinical Psychology (Certificate)

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4.4
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Guiding students into the field of mental health services for either personal and/or professional development...

13. Graphic Design Theory - Psychology of Design

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Unlock the Secrets of How We See and React to Visuals...

14. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery

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Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...

15. Project Management Office (PMO) Setup Guide

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PMO Step-by-Step Implementation Plan...

16. Primavera P6 Complete Course of Project Planning 2022

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Complete course from program inception to reporting...

17. Mastering Agile Scrum Project Management

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Review and master agile development & scrum methodologies for your career...

18. Project Management Essentials

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A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...

19. Project Management Training

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Project Management Certification Training with 4 Full Practice Tests...

20. Psychology of Attraction and Likability

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4.5
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Use Psychology for Personal Development and Self-Improvement by Increasing Social Skills and Achieving Goal Success...

Top 10 most affordable universities for instructors of sociology

The most affordable schools for instructors of sociology are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for instructors 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 instructors of sociology.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for instructors of sociology

The hardest universities for instructors of sociology to get into are Northwestern University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St Louis.

Some great schools for instructors 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 instructors 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

3. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

4. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

5. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

7. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

8. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

9. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,287

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for instructors of sociology

The easiest schools for instructors of sociology to get into are Wayland Baptist University, felician university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an instructor 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 instructors of sociology.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

5. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

9. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

10. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

Average instructor of sociology salary by education level

According to our data, instructors of sociology with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $59,600 annually. Instructors of sociology with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $49,090.
Instructor of sociology education levelInstructor of sociology salary
Master's Degree$49,090
Doctorate Degree$59,600

Instructor 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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