Best institutions to study Applied/Public Sociology
A program that focuses on the application of sociological theory, methods, skills, and research to resolve particular issues in real-world settings.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 125 Applied/Public Sociology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.1102, a specialization of Sociology (CIP 45.11), and leads most directly to the Sociologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3041).
About Applied/Public Sociology programs
A program that focuses on the application of sociological theory, methods, skills, and research to resolve particular issues in real-world settings. Includes instruction in data collection, group and organizational dynamics, participatory action research, program evaluation, sociological research methods, and sociological theory.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Applied/Public Sociology program focuses on the practical application of sociological theories and methods to address real-world issues. This program is designed for students interested in understanding and resolving social problems through research and community engagement. It prepares graduates to work effectively in various settings, including non-profits, government agencies, and academic institutions.
Students in this program gain essential skills in data collection, group dynamics, and participatory action research. Coursework emphasizes sociological research methods and theory, equipping students with the tools needed to analyze social behavior and evaluate programs effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Applied/Public Sociology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree96 graduates / yr · 5 institutions77%
- Master's degree24 graduates / yr · 5 institutions19%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year5 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.0%
Graduates over time
Applied/Public Sociology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 36 |
| 2021 | 49 |
| 2022 | 77 |
| 2023 | 96 |
| 2024 | 104 |
| 2025 | 125 |
CIP 45.1102 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 10 institutions for Applied/Public Sociology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 44 | 55% | — | $37,263 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicBachelor's | 34 | 63% | — | $31,928 |
| 3 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TXPublicBachelor's | 12 | 48% | — | — |
| 4 | Emporia State University Emporia, KSPublicMaster's | 9 | 56% | — | $29,313 |
| 5 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicMaster's | 8 | 61% | — | $31,410 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicBachelor's | 7 | 54% | — | $37,338 |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 56% | — | $32,323 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicMaster's | 3 | 76% | — | — |
| 9 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicBachelor's | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 10 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJPublicMaster's | 1 | 44% | — | $35,528 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Sociology field (CIP 45.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states
Where Applied/Public Sociology graduates come from. Each state links to all Sociology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4 | 66 | Texas State University44 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 34 | East Carolina University34 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 9 | Emporia State University9 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 8 | Northern Arizona University8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 5 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania5 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 2 | Michigan Technological University2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | William Paterson University of New Jersey1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3041, Sociologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Applied/Public Sociology program can pursue careers as sociologists, social science research assistants, or sociology teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for sociologists is about as fast as average, with an estimated 300 annual openings and a median wage of $101,690, typically requiring a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.1102
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sociologistsprimary SOC 19-3041 | $106,030 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Science Research Assistants SOC 19-4061 | $61,990 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~5,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1067 | $84,290 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Applied/Public Sociology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach sociology.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
Tools and technology used
Other Sociology specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Sociology (CIP 45.11).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, writing, critical thinking, and data analysis.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a sociologist, social science research assistant, or sociology teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for sociologists?+
The job outlook for sociologists is about as fast as average, with a median wage of $101,690.
What is the CIP code for Applied/Public Sociology?+
Applied/Public Sociology is CIP 45.1102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Sociology (CIP 45.11). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of sociological theory, methods, skills, and research to resolve particular issues in real-world settings. Includes instruction in data collection, group and organizational dynamics, participatory action research, program evaluation, sociological research methods, and sociological theory.
How many institutions offer Applied/Public Sociology programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Applied/Public Sociology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 125 credentials in the year. That is 0.4% of all Sociology graduates.
How much do Applied/Public Sociology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Sociologists occupation, which Applied/Public Sociology most directly leads to, pays a median of $106,030 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Sociology field report median earnings of $32,323 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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