Sociology (Master of Arts)
Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Admission

Entering graduate students are expected to have had some preparation in the social sciences; deficiencies must be remedied. Following admission to graduate study, students should meet with the graduate advisor to plan a program of study; alterations or substitutions in program requirements require approval by the graduate advisor.

Requirements

To earn the MA in sociology, students may choose to take 10 courses (30 semester hours), including three semester hours of thesis, or take 12 courses (36 semester hours). There are six courses required for all graduate students in sociology. Each must be taken the first time it is offered after the student has been admitted to the program. Students should consult with the graduate advisor before deciding on the thesis or no thesis option.

Students must maintain a grade point average of B or higher. Up to six semester hours of transfer credit may be counted upon approval by the sociology faculty, providing these credits are in compliance with University requirements. Graduate sociology courses must comprise at least
24 semester hours. Up to six semester hours in related disciplines may be included with the approval of the sociology faculty.

All students must take comprehensive written and oral examinations.
Students must apply to the graduate advisor for these examinations after completing 24 semester hours of graduate work. The examinations are given each fall and spring. Notices concerning these examinations are distributed each fall and spring term, but it is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the examination dates and register for them through the School of Policy Studies at designated times. Students must pass the comprehensive exam within three attempts.

Thesis option

Students must submit a written thesis proposal, including a proposed bibliography. Both the proposal and the completed thesis must be approved by a committee of three faculty members. At least two members of the thesis committee must hold full-time appointments in sociology.

• Soc 402 Seminar in Urban Studies 3
• Soc 403 Quantitative Methods 3
• Soc 406 Seminar in Sociological Theory 3
• Soc 432 Seminar in Evaluation Research 3
• Soc 480 Seminar in Research Methods 3
• Soc 496 Suburban Policy Issues
  or Soc 497 Urban Policy Issues 3
• Three electives approved by the graduate advisor 9
• Soc 490 Thesis 3

No thesis option

• Soc 402 Seminar in Urban Studies 3
• Soc 403 Quantitative Methods 3
• Soc 406 Seminar in Sociological Theory 3
• Soc 432 Seminar in Evaluation Research 3
• Soc 480 Seminar in Research Methods 3
• Soc 496 Suburban Policy Issues
  or Soc 497 Urban Policy Issues 3
• Six electives approved by the graduate advisor 18

Also see:

• Sociology B.A.

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College of Arts and Sciences | Department of Sociology and Anthropology