Career Opportunities with a Degree in… Policital Science &  Sociology

Your Skills and the Employment Market

Possible Career Opportunities

Sample Jobs

Further Study Opportunities

What Past Graduates Have Done

Resources in the Careers Information Room .

Your skills and the employment market

Sociology is a social science that embraces the whole range of human activities. Sociology graduates can find challenging career opportunities in a wide number of areas and there is great scope for initiative and creativity to really make a difference in peoples’ lives. Graduates have developed skills in observing, analysing, defining, testing and explaining human behaviour. The subject provides an ideal grounding for people who provide care, protection and support in society.

Likewise the study of Political Science develops graduates towards being at ease in careers that require investigative skills, good communication skills, problems solving, critically evaluating issues, handling information from a variety of sources, decision-making and the ability to work with diverse groups.  A degree in Politics is rarely a prerequisite for a job but it does equip the graduate with skills, knowledge and perspectives that can be used in many areas of work

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Possible Career Opportunities

Note: Further qualifications may be needed for certain positions. This list is a sample of positions available.
*Particularly relevant to teaching Civic, Social and Political Education (currently a Junior Certificate subject only)

Up to 40% of graduate employment opportunities are open to graduates of all disciplines.  In most cases, however you will need further postgraduate study or professional training. 

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Sample Jobs

Some jobs advertised that may suit students / graduates (these jobs are NOT currently available and are shown here for illustration purposes only for job search help click here).

Internship in Conflict Resolution Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs. 11months. A first or second class honours degree in Politics or another relevant discipline is required. strong interest in conflict resolution is desirable. High level of oral / written communication skills essential. Good interpersonal, administrative and organizational skills. Flexibility and capability to work independently and in a team  Ref0909

Internship UNICEF. Knowledge Community on Children in India. Suit postgrad in Sociology (among other subjects). Ref1208.

Volunteer Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), for survey on social awareness and perceptions of Civil Legal Aid. Ref0908.

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Further study opportunities

For certain career choices, employers may look for candidates with further qualifications and training.  Some of the range of opportunities available in NUI Galway include:

• MA in Community Development
• MA Social Work
• MA/MPhil/PhD by research
• MA in Culture & Colonialism
• MPhil in Irish Studies
• MA Journalism(samples of work required on application)
• HDip in Systems Analysis
• HDip in Business Studies
• LLB (Bachelor of Laws)

For a full list please visit www.nuigalway.ie/courses .

The Careers Information Room has sections on Ireland and the UK (including individual prospectuses), USA (with guides to applying, funding and lists of courses), studying in EU countries as well as further afield.

Further study links:

http://www.postgradireland.com/ contains useful information on postgraduate courses in Ireland

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ is an excellent site for researching opportunities in the UK

http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus covers the EU

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What past graduates have done

Some of the jobs and careers taken by graduates in the year after graduation include:

• Executive Research Officer, Dept of Justice
• Development Officer, Le Gaeilge Teo, Gaillimh
• Youth Advocate, Galway
• Legal Secretary, Galway
• Garda Trainee, Templemore
• Third Secretary, Dept of Foreign Affairs
• Secretary Refugee Centre
• Youth Project Worker, SCP School Completion Programme
• Youth Worker, Galway Diocesan Youth Services

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Resources in the Careers Information Room

 We have valuable information resources, experienced career development advisers and information staff on hand to help you with your queries.

Reference material in the Information Room includes:

• Careers with an Arts Degree
• What can I do with a degree in Social Sciences?
• Getting into Counselling
• Careers in Social Care
• B – Social and Probation Work
• B – Community Work
• General Arts
  

Drop into our information room and we will be happy to assist you.

For useful links see www.nuigalway.ie/careers/students/virtual, www.delicious.com/careersinfo/sociology or  www.delicious.com/careersinfo/politics  

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