Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Sociology Professor
What sociology professors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a sociology professor?
Teach intro sociology. From there, the day usually includes teach sociology courses, teach research methods, and conduct surveys and interviews. Teaching, research and service with flexible hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a sociology professor working full time.
- Teach intro sociology.
- Hold office hours.
- Code interview transcripts.
- Teach social inequality.
- Meet a research assistant.
- Review a journal article.
- Write a grant.
Where sociology professors work
Faculty work in classrooms, offices and communities where they conduct research.
Hours and schedule
Teaching, research and service with flexible hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Teach sociology courses
- Teach research methods
- Conduct surveys and interviews
- Analyze social data
- Publish research
- Mentor students
- Serve on committees
Tools you’ll use every day
- Survey software
- R and Stata
- Qualitative analysis software
- Learning management systems
- Census data
- Presentation tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Insightful, relevant subject
- Mix of methods
- Flexible schedule
- Community research
What’s hard
- Competitive job market
- Publication pressure
- Funding limits
- Sensitive topics
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m curious about society
- I like data and interviews
- I enjoy discussion
- I want to teach
- I care about inequality
- I’m willing to earn a doctorate
Not sure? Take the free Sociology Professor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Protect participant confidentiality
- Follow IRB rules
- Maintain respectful classrooms
- Protect student privacy