Sociology (MA)
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Sociology requires 30 credit hours and a master's thesis or portfolio. Students may choose between a general or applied sociology track.
General Sociology Requirements
The Master of Arts in Sociology general track is designed to equip students with a broad foundation in general sociology and a particular focus in a more specialized field of relevance to the student's career interests in teaching, research, governmental work, or public service. Requirements include 30 credit hours of course work (5 required courses and 5 electives) selected with the approval of the Graduate Program Director or the student's faculty advisor, and the preparation of a Master's Thesis or a Portfolio (consisting of two class related papers, one of which must be empirical).
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Sociology Required Courses | ||
Introductory Courses | ||
SOCL 405 | History Sociological Thought | 3 |
SOCL 406 | Modern Sociological Theory | 3 |
Methods and Research Courses | ||
SOCL 410 | Logic of Sociological Inquiry | 3 |
SOCL 412 | Qualitative Methods in Social Research | 3 |
SOCL 414 | Statistical Methods Analysis I | 3 |
Choose Five Electives | 15 | |
Statistical Methods of Analysis II | ||
Demography | ||
Theories Social Change | ||
Social Movements | ||
Inequality and Society | ||
Sociology of Gender | ||
Political Sociology | ||
Poverty and Social Welfare | ||
Socialization Thru Life Cycle | ||
The Family | ||
Community Change | ||
Organizations & Organizational Change | ||
Sociology of Religion | ||
Religious Conflict & Change | ||
Knowledge, Power & Expertise | ||
Sociology of Culture | ||
Technology & Material Culture | ||
Complex Organizations | ||
Occupations and Professions | ||
Race & Ethnicity | ||
The Urban Metropolis | ||
Sociology & Natural Environment | ||
Sociology of Deviance & Control | ||
Criminology | ||
Medical Sociology | ||
Workshop: Applied Sociology | ||
Sociological Discourse | ||
Internship | ||
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Directed Study | ||
Total Hours | 30 |
All PhD students and students in thesis-based Master's degree programs must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship or other approved coursework in responsible conduct of research as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.
Applied Sociology Requirements
Although all aspects of the department's curriculum aim to provide students with a better understanding of social structures and processes, the track in Applied Sociology puts special emphasis on the application of sociological knowledge and methods to the development of policies and programs. It provides students with the research skills in both qualitative and quantitative analysis and the substantive sociological background needed to pursue careers in applied research.
This degree can be particularly useful for students planning jobs with such organizations as a corporation, a hospital, an urban police department, a metropolitan archdiocese, a social service agency, a labor union or a community organization.
In addition to five electives within the Sociology Program, this track consists of five required courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Applied Sociology Required Courses | ||
SOCL 405 | History Sociological Thought | 3 |
SOCL 410 | Logic of Sociological Inquiry | 3 |
SOCL 412 | Qualitative Methods in Social Research | 3 |
SOCL 414 | Statistical Methods Analysis I | 3 |
SOCL 494 | Internship | 3 |
Choose Five Electives | 15 | |
Modern Sociological Theory | ||
Statistical Methods of Analysis II | ||
Demography | ||
Theories Social Change | ||
Social Movements | ||
Inequality and Society | ||
Sociology of Gender | ||
Political Sociology | ||
Poverty and Social Welfare | ||
Socialization Thru Life Cycle | ||
The Family | ||
Community Change | ||
Organizations & Organizational Change | ||
Sociology of Religion | ||
Religious Conflict & Change | ||
Knowledge, Power & Expertise | ||
Sociology of Culture | ||
Technology & Material Culture | ||
Complex Organizations | ||
Occupations and Professions | ||
Race & Ethnicity | ||
The Urban Metropolis | ||
Sociology & Natural Environment | ||
Sociology of Deviance & Control | ||
Criminology | ||
Medical Sociology | ||
Workshop: Applied Sociology | ||
Sociological Discourse | ||
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Directed Study | ||
Total Hours | 30 |
All PhD students and students in thesis-based Master's degree programs must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship or other approved coursework in responsible conduct of research as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.
The internship is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and to make professional contacts that will facilitate their careers. Interns have worked in a variety of organizations-the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, American Medical Association, Better Government Association, and the Midwest Women's Center-as well as for several metropolitan newspapers, fair housing commissions, city government departments, and major corporations. Students in this track are also required to complete a thesis or submit a portfolio (including the internship report).
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supercede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
This Master of Arts in Sociology prepares students for positions as research staff in government, non-profit, and for profit sectors. The General Track also prepares students for application to PhD programs.
Students in the General track will learn to:
- identify the broad theoretical orientations of the discipline
- frame sociological research questions
- synthesize social scientific literature
- select appropriate data sources
- collect and present data in accordance with ethical and professional standards
- use one or more data collection methods to carry out a research project, such as interviews, participant observation, surveys, or archival evidence
- analyze quantitative or qualitative data
- write a sociological research report
Students in the Applied track will learn to:
- apply sociological knowledge to governmental, non-profit, or for-profit organizational activities
- contribute to the work of a governmental, non-profit, or for-profit organization through an internship
- frame a research question relevant to an organization
- select appropriate data sources
- collect and present data in accordance with ethical and professional standards
- use one or more data collection methods, such as interviews, participant observation, or surveys
- analyze quantitative or qualitative data
- write a sociologically-informed report that is relevant to an organization