48 credit hours (12 courses) and a writing final project are required for the degree.
Courses: Students entering with a non-social science background, returning to school after a five or more year absence, entering without undergraduate courses in introductory statistics and/or sociological theory, or entering with conditional acceptance as based on their undergraduate performance are required to take one or both prerequisite courses, SOC 401 Advanced Introduction to Sociology and/or SOC 402: Statistics for the Social Sciences. SOC 401 and 402 carry graduate credit and can be counted among the twelve courses for the degree.
All students are required to take three courses, SOC 405, SOC 411 and one of either SOC 412 or SOC 413. SOC 405: Sociological Perspectives focuses on sociological theories and their link to research. SOC 411: Social Research Methods covers logic of inquiry, research design, and proposal writing. SOC 412: Data Analysis involves interpretation of quantitative data, intermediate and advanced statistical techniques, and research report writing. SOC 413: Qualitative Methods covers ethnographic research, interpretive frameworks, and research report writing.
Those students desiring to complete the Thesis Option may take SOC 500 Thesis Research as one of their twelve courses.
Students receiving more than two incompletes will not be allowed to register for courses until the incompletes are resolved. Students receiving more than two grades of less than B- may be asked to withdraw from the program.
THE WRITING PROJECT
There are three options for completing the writing project for the Master of Arts in Sociology program.
Option 1: Master of Arts in Sociology with Thesis
SOC 405 Sociological Perspectives
SOC 411 Social Research Methods
SOC 412 Data Analysis OR SOC 413 Qualitative Methods
SOC 500 Thesis Research
Eight additional courses.
Thesis: The design for the thesis project may be developed in SOC 411 and SOC 412 or SOC 413. A student selects an advisor and together they set up a committee with two additional faculty members. A thesis proposal hearing is required at the start of the project and an oral presentation at its completion.
Option 2: Master of Arts in Sociology with Research Project
SOC 405 Sociological Perspectives
SOC 411 Social Research Methods
SOC 412 Data Analysis OR SOC 413 Qualitative Methods
Nine additional courses.
Research Project: Students design and carry out a research project and prepare a final research report. The student selects an advisor and a second reader. This project can be based on research begun in Soc 412, Soc 413, or a substantive course. Option 3: Master of Arts in Sociology with Literature Review or Analytical Essay
SOC 405 Sociological Perspectives
SOC 411 Social Research Methods
SOC 412 Data Analysis OR SOC 413 Qualitative Methods
Nine additional courses.
Literature Review or Analytical Essay: The student prepares a literature review or analytical essay indicating mastery of a body of literature. It is often started in conjunction with one of the specialized courses. The student selects an advisor and a second reader. This project can be developed in SOC 414 Literature Review Writing Project.
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