Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Sociology

Lee Maril, Chairperson, A-415 Brewster Building
Bob Edwards, Director of Graduate Studies, A-402 Brewster Building

MA in Sociology

In addition to a traditional liberal arts master’s program, students may choose to pursue one of three areas of concentration: health services and research, social issues in regional development, and environment and society. Through graduate assistantships, practica, and participation in faculty research, students in these concentrations are expected to become affiliated with one of the following university institutes: the Center for Health Services Research and Development, the Center on Aging, Regional Development Services, or the Institute for Coastal and Marine Resources.

Admission Requirements: Two letters of recommendation and meet the admission standards of the Graduate School. Where an admission examination is required, it is the Graduate Record Examinations.

The MA degree requires 33 s.h. if a student elects to complete a capstone practicum or thesis; otherwise, the degree requires 39 s.h.

1. Research skills: All degree candidates must earn at least a B in SOCI 6312, 6313.
2. Required core courses: SOCI 6212, 6213, 6312, 6313, 6430, 6459, 6488 - 15 s.h.
3. Electives: With approval of the director of graduate studies, students select elective courses that are relevant to their concentration or to their career interests - 12 s.h.
4. Capstone course: SOCI 6992 or SOCI 7000 - 6 s.h.
   Students selecting one of the three concentrations will normally do a practicum in affiliation with a university institute described above. Students who choose not to do a practicum or a thesis must complete the degree by taking an additional 12 s.h. of elective courses with the approval of the graduate program director.
5. All students must pass a written comprehensive examination following the completion of their required core courses.