For as long as she can remember, Bellville native Tyann Luedke, 18, has been fascinated by what makes people tick.
“As a little girl, I loved observing people and that brought my focus into sociology,” she said. “It’s just been a blast ever since I’ve gotten into it. Sociology can branch into so many different things, which is something that really drew me in.”
After completing her high school education at 16, Luedke wasn’t ready to begin her college career at a large university. With its proximity to her family, small classes sizes, supportive faculty, and robust club offerings, the Blinn-College Brenham Campus felt like the perfect place for her to continue her education before transferring to a four-year institution.
“I love everything about Blinn and the Sociology Program,” she said. “My mom actually went to Blinn and it was the perfect choice for me since its close to home and I wasn’t ready to go to a big university after graduating high school at such a young age.”
In addition to her academics, Luedke connected with several on-campus clubs, including the Blinn College Lions Club and Beta Alpha Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She held leadership positions for both clubs.
“I wanted to get involved with organizations that would impact me as a college student and the community around me,” Luedke said. “Blinn offers so many clubs that there’s something for everyone and these organizations help you connect with your peers doing activities you enjoy.”
The club leadership positions and knowledge she gained through her sociology courses have motivated Luedke to pursue a career in human resources.
“I accomplished the goals I set for myself as an incoming freshman. I joined clubs, experienced college, and made a difference,” she said.
Blinn’s Associate of Arts in Sociology prepares students to pursue a four-year degree with a curriculum that studies people and groups and the importance each contributes to human society. Through the program, students learn to address real-world problems by developing realistic and equitable solutions by using critical thinking, data analysis and interpretation, and collaboration skills.
Blinn professor Brent Ur believes the dynamic nature of sociology makes coursework adaptable and beneficial to any field.
“An associate degree in sociology can get you into things like teaching and research. Sociology can get you into areas like demography, criminology, and any criminal justice program at the local, state, and federal level,” Ur said.
“Sociology is literally everywhere you go and in everything you do. The definition is the study of human behavior in a society. Taking a step back and asking why do people do what they do isn’t just beneficial academically, it can help you all throughout your life.”
Earning a degree in sociology prepares students for careers in numerous fields that require analytical, research, and communications skills, including social worker, human resource specialist, policy analyst, health services manager, criminologist, nonprofit manager, and positions in education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, sociologists earn a median salary of $101,770 per year.
Now a Blinn graduate, Luedke is excited to continue her academic journey at the University of Texas at Austin, where she plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in sociology.
“My long-term goal is to achieve my master’s in sociology and begin my career,” Luedke said. “Sociology is forever changing, which means I will always be learning something new and different. I am excited to use everything I have learned in sociology to eventually become a manager in the human resources field.”
For more information about Blinn’s Sociology Program, visit www.blinn.edu/sociology.
About the Blinn College District
With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn’s academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
Courtesy of Director of Communications, Media Relations and Marketing Richard Bray
