Sociology as a pathway to employability: integrating career competencies in introductory courses

Stacye A. Blount

Chapter 11 in Teaching Introduction to Sociology, 2026, pp 122-132 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Colleges and universities are under increased pressure to document the return on investment for their graduates. Students tend to desire careers where they can use their education, skills, and training in the labor force market. The incorporation of career readiness into an Introduction to Sociology course gives an early opportunity for students to begin the practice of engaging in developing career readiness capital. In this chapter, I provide rationale for including career readiness in Introduction to Sociology. Next, I describe how my department came to require a 15-week, three-credit hour course designed to assist students with developing and refining their career readiness skill set. Finally, I connect career readiness to the Sociological Literacy Framework (SLF) and discuss how the SLF and career readiness can be incorporated into Introduction to Sociology courses.

Keywords: Career Readiness for Sociology Students; Employability of Sociology Graduates; Market Readiness of Sociology Students; Return on Investment on Sociology Degree; Transferable Skills for Sociology Majors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035355778
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