DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
The Department of Sociology is committed to high quality instruction and research in sociology. Students who enter the graduate program will receive advanced and updated instruction in quantitative and qualitative techniques of sociological research, social statistics, classical and contemporary sociological theory, and major substantive areas in the field. The primary objective of the Department is to provide students with the advanced professional skills to analyze social issues in applied settings.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Sociology must submit the following:
1. a completed Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies,
2. official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred,
3. official GRE scores,
4. a personal statement of goals, and
5. a sample of scholarly writing
In addition, students must arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted on their behalf from a mix of faculty involved in their most recent degree program.
Non-Sociology majors/minors must complete the following undergraduate stem courses with a grade of B or better: SOC 366 Research Methods in Sociology; SOC 343 Social Statistics; SOC 386 Sociological Theory
A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements
A student majoring in Sociology may choose from the following plans: Master of Arts, Plan I or Master of Arts, Plan II.
Master of Arts, Plan I. Plan I requires 30 hours of graduate credit, 24 of which must be in Sociology and must be in courses numbered 500 or above with the exception of SOC 698 and SOC 699. A thesis of 6 semester hours (SOC 698 and SOC 699) in Sociology is also required. This program is designed for students who wish to continue graduate education or whose professional interests require the enhancement of analytical skills.
Students majoring in Sociology who select the Master of Arts, Plan I are required to write a master’s thesis. The thesis is an original research work which is designed to demonstrate the candidate’s theoretical, methodological and substantive skills in the discipline.
Master of Arts, Plan II. Plan II requires a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit, 24 of which must be in Sociology and must be numbered 500 or above. This plan does not require a thesis and is designed for students who wish to concentrate on the development of their applied professional skills.
Students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sociology must successfully complete the following core courses:
SOC 585 Seminar in Sociological Theory (Credit 3)
SOC 567 Seminar in Sociological Research (Credit 3)
SOC 543 Social Statistics (Credit 3)
Students must also successfully complete at least one of the remaining core courses:
SOC 532 Applied Research Methods (Credit 3)
SOC 568 Techniques of Research Proposal Writing in the Social Sciences (Credit 3)
SOC 577 Social Impact Assessment and Program Evaluation (Credit 3)
Students must also select at least one of the following specializations:
Specialization #1 – Sociology of Community and Natural Resources
Students must successfully complete Sociology of Community (SOC 576) and at least one of the following courses: Environmental Sociology (SOC 564) or Social Change and Development (SOC 589).
Specialization #2 – Health and Aging
Students must successfully complete Medical Sociology (SOC 537) and at least one of the following courses: Seminar in Race and Ethnic Studies (SOC 565); Social Inequality (SOC 582); Gender and Society (SOC 587); or, Social Change and Development (SOC 589).
Specialization #3 – Social Change and Development
Students must successfully complete Social Change and Development (SOC 589) and at least one of the following courses: Seminar in Race and Ethnic Studies (SOC 565); Sociology of the Family (SOC 572); Sociology of Community (SOC 576) or Gender and Society (SOC 587).
Courses listed under two different specializations may be simultaneously employed to satisfy the requirements of each of these specializations.
Comprehensive Examinations
After completing coursework and before completing the master’s thesis, students are required to take their comprehensive examinations. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered. The comprehensive exams for the Master’s Degree in Sociology are divided into three parts.
The first exam consists of a written examination in theory and methods. This exam requires students to demonstrate a mastery of key concepts and pertinent theories, methodologies, and statistical procedures in sociology. It is administered in an eight-hour session twice a year.
The second exam consists of a written examination in the specialty area(s) selected by the student. Students must select at least one of the specialties offered in the Sociology program. If the student elects to have more than one specialty area, he/she will take one eight-hour exam for each of the selected specialties.
The third exam is an oral exam which is designed to address the student’s ability to explain the meanings and implications of issues relating to key concepts, pertinent theories and methods in sociology and in the specialty area(s) selected by the student. The timing of the oral examination is at the convenience of the student and the committee that administers it.