Master of Arts in Sociology

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 1

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology welcomes student applications with the following materials. Additional details are found on the department website.

1. Complete the Graduate School’s Online Application.
2. Pay the application fee ($50).
3. Submit official transcripts.
4. International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test.
5. Upload Supplemental Application materials for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to the link provided by the online application.

• Statement of purpose. 1-2 single-space page about what areas of sociology interest you and why, what questions to explore, whether you envision working with a particular faculty member, and career goals
• Writing sample:Please submit an essay, a paper, or other example of your academic writing that shows your ability to make an argument, advance a hypothesis, or explore a question
• Two letters of recommendation: provide contact information for two recommenders  

Students in the M.A. in Sociology complete 33 credit hours and choose a thesis or nonthesis option. The required courses include

• Soc 501: Statistics 
• Soc 502: Research Methods 
• Soc 601: Studies in Social Theory 
• Soc 635: Teaching Sociology 
• Soc 621, 622: Professional Development I and II 
• Soc 623: Collaborative Research Seminar 
• 12 credit hours of sociology electives
• 6 credit hours of thesis or internship

Thesis option students will have a public defense of the proposal and the final thesis.

Non-thesis option students will have an internship with an organization or have a teaching internship. They will provide a public defense of a report or portfolio. 

The Department strives to fund as many qualified students as possible. Most students accepted into the program receive funding in the form of teaching and research assistantships. Opportunities for summer research assistantships are sometimes available.

Assistantships with 10 hours of service a week are currently $6,500 for a 9-month stipend and 75% tuition scholarship for regular semesters. Assistantships with 20 hours of service a week are currently $13,000 for a 9-month stipend and 100% tuition scholarship for regular semesters. Students with a graduate assistantship also receive subsidized health insurance.

The Larry W. DeBord Award, established in 1996 by the friends and colleagues of the late Dr. DeBord, former University professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, recognizes the outstanding graduating student in the Sociology M.A. program.

The Graduate School’s financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities, including summer support and a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence and access to graduate education to groups who are historically underrepresented.