MA in Sociology
The Master of Arts in Sociology program provides a solid grounding in the following three areas of specialization:
- social inequality
- criminology
- urban sociology
Sample Courses
Race and Urban Development; Race, Gender, and Class; Women, Welfare, and Policy; The Law of Race and Slavery
General Requirements
All students must satisfactorily complete at least 30 credit hours of graduate course work plus a thesis (SOC 6998 and SOC 6999). The following courses are required for the degree:
Methods
Three courses:
SOC 6230: Research Methods
SOC 6231: Data Analysis
SOC 6232: Qualitative Methodology OR SOC 6240/MGT 6383: Field Research in Organization Settings
Theory
Two courses:
SOC 6238: Development of Sociological Theory
SOC 6239: Contemporary Sociological Theory
Substantive Courses
Two courses in a major field and one course in a minor field must be completed. Currently available fields of specialization are social inequality, criminology, and urban sociology.
| Social Inequality | Criminology |
Urban Sociology |
| SOC 6245 SOC 6246 SOC 6265 SOC 6271 SOC 6272 SOC 6273 SOC 6286 |
SOC 6258 SOC 6259 SOC 6260 SOC 6261 SOC 6262 SOC 6263 SOC 6264 SOC 6266 SOC 6273 |
SOC 6248 SOC 6250 |
With the consent of an advisor, one graduate course in a related department or program can be used for either one of the major courses or for the minor course requirement.
The Master's Thesis
The thesis is expected to be a research paper of publishable quality. The thesis committee will consist of two members, at least one selected from the sociology faculty.
Time to Complete Degree
Normally it takes two years for full-time students to complete their degrees. A part-time option (with a minimum of six credits per semester) is also available.
Program of Studies Form
All MA candidates must complete a Program of Studies form no later than the end of the first semester of residence. Forms are available in the department's MA Information Packet.
Meet a Professor: Amitai Etzioni
University Professor Amitai Etzioni has served as Senior Advisor to the White House and as a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution. He has authored 19 books and is referred to by the press as the "guru" of the communitarian movement. He is frequently featured in the leading news media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.