Program of Study

The M.A. program in sociology requires 30 credits of course work. Most courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate students who are working during the day.

Community Fellows Program is for those who are more oriented toward community-based work after their Masters is completed. We encourage you to explore this option -- click on the link to get more information. The CF Program is completed in one year which includes attending classes during the summer.

Required courses for the Masters degree are:

• Classical Social Theory
• Advanced Research Methods I & II
• Statistics
• Research Practicum
• 5 electives, or a thesis and 3 electives

Classical Social Theory is designed to provide students with a strong theoretical basis for analyzing social phenomena and insights into how this knowledge can be applied to solving problems of social and organizational life. During this course all the faculty in the program participate in order to acquaint students with their research areas and projects. Advanced Computer Applications focuses on the process of doing applied social science research using computer software for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Following the end of student's first year, there is a comprehensive exam based on the material covered in the two research courses and SSP 401. Part-time students are expected to take the comprehensive after they have completed these three courses.

Research Practicum. Generally timed for the second year, students have one semester during which they may either be placed with an agency or firm to carry out a needed research project, or work in a research apprenticeship with a faculty member.

If the former, the supervising faculty member matches the student to an agency or firm where quality research is needed and can be accomplished, and provides oversight on the students projects. The second option is encouraged especially for students who are oriented towards a Ph.D. and academic career or who have intellectual interests which are close to the work of a faculty member. In either case, the student writes a research paper or report at the end of the semester.

In addition to the above courses, students take at least three electives, drawing on courses offered in the department as well as, in consultation with the graduate advisor, those in their areas of interest available from other departments, including additional statistics courses. Students choose whether to pursue a thesis for six credits or to take an additional six credits of courses.

Those who are most directed toward the Ph.D. are encouraged to pursue a thesis and to work in collaboration with a faculty member in his or her research area. The thesis is expected to be a work of publishable quality, demonstrating an understanding of theory and its application to the chosen research problem, as well as showing ability to use appropriate methodological, measurement, and analytical techniques. The student will present the completed thesis to the department faculty and other students.