Request Info
Visit
ApplyProgram Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Degree Plans | Courses
Program Description
The Master of Arts in Sociology is a completely online program designed to provide students with advanced and up-dated instruction in quantitative and qualitative techniques of sociological research, statistics, and theory, and sociological elevtives. Students will develop the advanced professional skills necessary to analyze social issues in applied settings and advance their careers. These skills include research grant writing, program evaluation, impact assessment, and community-based research.
Admissions
Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Sociology must submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- Graduate Application
- Application fee
- Official transcripts from the baccalaureate degree granting institution (minimum 3.0 overall GPA)
- Official GRE scores. Under certain circumstances, we will consider waiving the GRE requirement. A written request justifying the waiver (e.g., existing Masters degree, etc. ) must accompany the application
- Two letters of recommendation
- Essay detailing interest in the program.
A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed on a competitive basis.
Note: Admission to the MA Program in Sociology is competitive and the number of available positions is limited. Because of this, only degree seeking students are accepted into this program.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Sociology requires a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit, 30 of which must be in Sociology and must be in courses numbered 5000. M.A. candidates in Sociology are expected to develop the advanced professional skills necessary to analyze social issues in applied settings. These skills include research grant writing, program evaluation, impact assessment, and community-based research.
Students can select between a Thesis Option and a Non-Thesis Option.
Requirements
- Thesis Option (36 semester hours):
- Minimum of 18 hours of core graduate course work
- Must complete 15 hours of Core Requirements including SOCI 6098 and SOCI 6099
- Must complete 3 hours of the Applied Core Requirements
- Minimum of 12 credit hours of Sociology Electives
- Minimum of 6 hours of additional Sociology or non-Sociology Electives
- Non-Thesis Options (36 semester hours):
- Minimum of 12 hours of core graduate course work
- Must complete 9 hours of Core Requirements
- Must complete 3 hours of Applied Core Requirements
- Minimum of 18 hours of Sociology Electives
- Minimum of 6 hours of additional Sociology or non-Sociology Electives
Required Courses
Students pursuing a Master's Degree in Sociology must take the following core courses:
- Seminar in Sociological Theory (SOCI 5310)
- Seminar in Sociological Research (SOCI 5312)
- Social Statistics (SOCI 5314)
- Thesis Proposal/Practicum (SOCI 6098)*
- Thesis (SOCI 6099)*
Students must also take at least one among the remaining applied core courses:
- Research Proposal Writing in the Social Sciences (SOCI 5378)
- Social Impact Assessment and Program Evaluation (SOCI 5380)
- Applied Research Methods (SOCI 5376)
- Qualitative Research Methods (SOCI 5313)
*Courses SOCI 6098 and SOCI 6099 are only required for students who choose the thesis option MA Degree Plan.
