Can You Double Major in Sociology & Business?

Sociology and business majors are both popular college majors that have many career applications. Students can double major in both topics to create a custom degree to help them stand out in the field.

Find out more about sociology degrees, business degrees, and double majoring in college to create your own unique degree program.

What Is Sociology?

Sociology is the study of human relationships and social institutions. Sociologists analyze the past, present, and future of institutions like the healthcare system, the criminal justice system, social services, and the public policies impacting these sectors.

Sociology can be a great degree for students interested in understanding and impacting the world they live in. Sociology can be applied in fields such as:

• political science
• social work
• law enforcement
• English literature
• criminology

Studying sociology will enrich students' perspectives by giving them a bird's-eye-view of society. Sociology is typically a Bachelor of Arts degree that provides students with a strong education in the humanities.

While sociology is a rich field of study in its own right, combining it with a business degree can create new career possibilities.

What Is Business?

Business involves transactions between individuals or corporations. A bachelor's degree in business administration is one of the most popular degrees. A business degree teaches students about:

• management
• marketing
• finance
• economics
• accounting
• supply chains & logistics
• data analysis

One of the strengths of a business degree is that it qualifies graduates to work in many organizations across different industries. The broadly applicable skill set gained in a business degree enables career flexibility and professional development.

College students who pursue a double major with a business degree can optimize this flexibility by adding more targeted coursework in another field of study.

Is It Possible To Double Major in Sociology and Business?

Yes, a double major in sociology and business is possible at most universities. The exact rules and required courses will vary by institution, but most modern degree programs will support students who wish to create a double major.

While most bachelor's degrees require 120 credit hours, a double major may require students to complete additional courses to fulfill the requirements of both majors; however, they can still graduate in four years. General education will typically only need to be taken once, and electives can also be applied to the entire degree.

Like a single major, students must complete the major requirements for each program and maintain a suitable GPA in core classes. It's important to consider how both majors complement each other.

Make sure to speak with an academic advisor about your plans for the degree, grad school, and long-term career. Academic advisors are trained to help you create a realistic degree plan to give you the skills to achieve your dreams.

How Sociology and Business Work Together

Pairing a sociology major with a business major can be advantageous for several reasons. Here are some ways to utilize a business-sociology double major.

Consumer and Organizational Behavior

Sociologists emphasize the collective nature of behavior and the influence of large-scale factors on individual decisions. Businesses often need to consider and understand individuals' thought processes as they are shaped by societies and organizations within them.

Businesses often want to understand how their products are perceived within the social landscape to create effective marketing campaigns. Sociology will be helpful in understanding viral products, large-scale trends, and even public relations failures. Consumers rarely act in isolation, and sociology can provide deep insights into viral trends, fads, and other forms of herding behavior.

Workplace Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are important values in the modern business world, and the social sciences have played a major role in this trend. Students with an understanding of sociology will be able to identify power structures, spot biases, and advocate for fair business and employment practices.

Graduates with a business and sociology degree will be well-positioned to work as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officers or human resources managers. In addition to understanding social trends, these students will have a strong understanding of business ethics and employment law.

Societal Implications of Technological Advancements

The rapid advance of technology has both economic and social implications. Students who study both sociology and business will be able to see the way new technologies and platforms influence society and create new markets.

Technology can bring tremendous efficiency and economic benefits, but there can also be negative effects in some cases. Businesspeople who understand sociology can reduce risks associated with new technologies and take maximal advantage of the positive factors.

Career Paths for Sociology and Business Double Majors

Students with a degree in both business and sociology will have a unique and valuable qualification. Here are some common career paths for sociology and business double majors.

Market Research Analyst

If you excel in research methods, critical thinking, and identifying big-picture trends, a career as a market research analyst might be a great fit. Market research analysts will collect and analyze data on market trends, price points, and public perception.

Successful market research analysts will need to understand research methods in data science, as well as finance and economics. Sociology can help market research analysts find narratives in their data and craft engaging reports and figures. Students who want to attain advanced positions in market research may benefit from going to graduate school and completing a master's degree.

Human Resources Specialist

A student who double majors in business and sociology can become a human resources specialist, an important part of any company or organization. The unique blend will allow students to see patterns in behavior and form strong professional relationships.

Double majoring in sociology and business can help aspiring human resources specialists stand apart from the crowd and gain a competitive advantage in the job market. Human resources specialists will need to understand ethics and employment law and be able to handle conflict effectively.

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are creative business professionals who start businesses. Running a successful start-up requires a diverse skill set that can be supported by a sociology-business dual degree. Becoming an entrepreneur is an exciting challenge that can be rewarding for ambitious students.

Entrepreneurs will need to understand aspects of business, such as human resources, marketing, finance, accounting, and logistics. Supplementing this knowledge with an in-depth understanding of culture and society can help entrepreneurs situate their products and services optimally within the market.

Lawyer

Lawyers can also benefit from the skills offered by a sociology and business double major. While professional practice may require students to complete law school, a liberal arts degree can provide a solid foundation in social systems thinking and the criminal justice system.

Lawyers will benefit from a broad foundational education that covers the history and development of society. Students can also target specific areas of law such as business law or employment law.

Journalist

Journalism is a broad field that covers many topics and utilizes many different platforms and formats. A sociology and business double major can give students a fresh perspective on topics, such as business and economics. Sociology can help journalists to write effectively and understand diverse audiences.