Master of arts program in sociology

The Master of Arts Program in Sociology provides students with advanced training in sociological theory and social science research methods for enhanced understanding of several specialized subject areas of sociology: applied sociology, crime and deviance, family, gender, medical sociology, social psychology, social stratification and labor markets, and the sociology of religion. In addition to working closely with sociology graduate faculty, students can collaborate with graduate faculty in anthropology and social work and can simultaneously pursue a graduate certificate in gerontology. The Master of Arts Program in Sociology can prepare students for doctoral-level study or for careers in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service.

Students can apply for admission to the Master of Arts Program in Sociology to begin study in the Fall or Spring semester. However, it is highly recommended that students apply for admission to begin study in the Fall semester as per the academic structure of the Master of Arts Program in Sociology. See below, and the Graduate School, for important application deadlines.

The following Requirements for Admission to the Master of Arts Program in Sociology supplement the categories of admission as stipulated by the Graduate School.

Requirements For Admission

Regular Admission

1. Baccalaureate degree or coursework in a social science discipline from an accredited institution of higher education.
2. Applicants to graduate programs in Arts and Sciences typically have a minimum GPA of at least a 3.0 on all undergraduate work. In exceptional cases, applicants may be considered with at least a 2.5 GPA on all undergraduate work, or at least a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
3. Completion of the University of South Alabama on-line Graduate Application for Admission.
4. Official academic transcripts from each college or university attended, even if the applicant did not earn credit at the institution.
5. Submission of a statement of purpose—approximately two (2), single-spaced pages in length—that provides an intellectual autobiography of the applicant, an indication of the applicant's areas of specialized interest within sociology, and a description of the applicant's academic and career goals.
6. One (1) writing sample, preferably generated for evaluation in completed coursework toward the baccalaureate degree.
7. Two (2) letters of recommendation that detail the applicant's capacity for success in, and for timely completion of, a master's program of study.  Each letter of recommendation should also address the applicant's ability and willingness to work cooperatively within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work and cooperatively among the University of South Alabama's broader academic community. Both letters of recommendation must be written by college or university faculty members who are familiar with the applicant's academic work.

Applicants who wish to be considered for financial assistance through a Graduate Assistantship must submit a Graduate Assistant Appointment Form directly to the Master of Arts Program in Sociology, care of the Graduate Coordinator. Applicants who wish to be considered for Fall admission to the Master of Arts Program in Sociology, and for a Graduate Assistantship, should submit all pertinent application materials to the appropriate recipient by March 1. Review of admission and Graduate Assistantship applications will begin immediately thereafter and continue until all available Graduate Assistantships are awarded.

Non-Degree Admission

Applicants with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education who prefer not to earn the terminal master's degree in sociology can apply for admission to the Master of Arts Program in Sociology as a Non-Degree student. A suitable academic background for coursework in sociology is expected. After completing the University of South Alabama on-line Graduate Application for Admission, permission to enter graduate-level courses in sociology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work should be obtained from the Department's Graduate Coordinator. Non-Degree students subsequently seeking admission to the Master of Arts Program in Sociology must follow and meet the requirements for admission as above outlined. No more than twelve (12) credit hours of graduate-level coursework completed as a Non-Degree student can be applied toward coursework requirements for the Master of Arts degree in sociology.

Program requirements

To earn the Master of Arts degree in sociology, students must complete thirty (30) credit hours of graduate-level work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. At least twenty-four (24) credit hours of graduate-level work must be in sociology. A student who receives two (2) grades of "C" or lower in any graduate-level course while enrolled in the Master of Arts Program in Sociology will be recommended to the Dean of the Graduate School for academic dismissal.

Program requirements, both for master's students planning to ultimately pursue doctoral-level study and for master's students planning to ultimately pursue a career in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service, are as follows:

1. Core Coursework

Contemporary Sociological Theory (SY 506), Social Research Design (SY 507), and Social Research Analysis (SY 509).

2a. Master's Practicum Report Proposal, SY 592

For master's students planning to ultimately pursue a career in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service, completion of Master's Practicum Report Proposal (in conjunction with course co-requisite SY 596, Sociology Internship) to generate a practicum report proposal, directed by a member of the sociology graduate faculty, that the student must formally defend. The practicum report proposal and practicum report proposal defense must be approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University's graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the practicum report proposal defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the practicum report proposal within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive practicum report proposal defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology.

2b. Master's Thesis Proposal, SY 598

For master's students planning to ultimately pursue doctoral-level study, completion of Master's Thesis Proposal focused on the specialized subject area of research interest in sociology to generate a thesis proposal, directed by a member of the sociology graduate faculty, that the student must formally defend. The thesis proposal and thesis proposal defense must be approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University's graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the thesis proposal defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the thesis proposal within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive thesis proposal defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology.

3a. Master's Practicum Report, SY 593

For master's students planning to ultimately pursue a career in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service, completion of Master's Practicum Report based on work in SY 596, Sociology Internship, that satisfied the practicum report proposal. The practicum report must be defended and approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University’s graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the practicum report defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the practicum report within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive practicum report defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology. Upon passing the practicum report defense, students must provide the Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work with a PDF copy of the practicum report for approval. Students must follow all thesis preparation deadlines and approval guidelines as outlined by the Graduate School.

3b. Master's Thesis, SY 599

For master's students planning to ultimately pursue doctoral-level study, completion of Master's Thesis focused on the specialized subject area of research interest in sociology that satisfies the Master's thesis proposal. The thesis must be defended and approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University’s graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the thesis defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the thesis within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive thesis defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology. Upon passing the thesis defense, students must provide the Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work with a PDF copy of the thesis for approval. Students must follow all thesis preparation deadlines and approval guidelines as outlined by the Graduate School.

Program of Study

First Year	Credit Hours
Core Coursework	9 hrs
SY 506
SY 507
SY 509
Elective Coursework	9 hrs

Second Year	Credit Hours
Elective Coursework	3 hrs
Master’s Practicum Report Proposal or Master’s Thesis Proposal	6 hrs or 3 hrs
SY 592 and SY 596 or SY 598
Master’s Practicum Report or Master’s Thesis	3 hrs or 6 hrs
SY 593 or SY 599

The Master of Arts Program in Sociology also offers an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degree in sociology.  For general information see the Graduate School, Admission Requirements and Procedures, Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program.

Program Requirements

To earn an accelerated Master of Arts degree in sociology, students must complete thirty (30) credit hours of graduate-level work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. At least twenty-four (24) credit hours of graduate-level work must be in sociology. A student who receives two (2) grades of "C" or lower in any graduate-level course while enrolled in the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program in sociology will be recommended to the Dean of the Graduate School for academic dismissal from the program. 

Program requirements, both for students planning to ultimately pursue doctoral-level study and for students planning to ultimately pursue a career in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service, are as follows:

1.  Core Coursework

Contemporary Sociological Theory (SY 506), Social Research Design (SY 507), and Social Research Analysis (SY 509) completed as an undergraduate.

2a. Master's Practicum Report Proposal, SY 592

For accelerated master's students planning to ultimately pursue a career in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service, completion of Master's Practicum Report Proposal (in conjunction with course co-requisite SY 596, Sociology Internship) to generate a practicum report proposal, directed by a member of the sociology graduate faculty, that the student must formally defend. The practicum report proposal and practicum report proposal defense must be approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University's graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the practicum report proposal defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the practicum report proposal within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive practicum report proposal defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology.

2b. Master's Thesis Proposal, SY 598

For accelerated master's students planning to ultimately pursue doctoral-level study, completion of Master's Thesis Proposal focused on the specialized subject area of research interest in sociology to generate a thesis proposal, directed by a member of the sociology graduate faculty, that the student must formally defend. The thesis proposal and thesis proposal defense must be approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University's graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the thesis proposal defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the thesis proposal within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive thesis proposal defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology.

3a. Master's Practicum Report, SY 593

For accelerated master's students planning to ultimately pursue a career in teaching, private industry, government, or community and social service, completion of Master's Practicum Report based on work in SY 596, Sociology Internship, that satisfied the practicum report proposal. The practicum report must be defended and approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University’s graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the practicum report defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the practicum report within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive practicum report defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology. Upon passing the practicum report defense, students must provide the Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work with a PDF copy of the practicum report for approval. Students must follow all thesis preparation deadlines and approval guidelines as outlined by the Graduate School.

3b. Master's Thesis, SY 599

For accelerated master's students planning to ultimately pursue doctoral-level study, completion of Master's Thesis focused on the specialized subject area of research interest in sociology that satisfies the Master's thesis proposal. The thesis must be defended and approved by a faculty committee, the Chair of which must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty. The faculty committee must also include one member of the graduate faculty from within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and one member of the University’s graduate faculty from outside of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. The faculty committee will evaluate the thesis defense as Pass or Fail, the latter score initiating one (1) opportunity to re-defend the thesis within three (3) calendar weeks from the original score notification. Two consecutive thesis defenses evaluated by the faculty committee as Fail will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts Program in Sociology. Upon passing the thesis defense, students must provide the Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work with a PDF copy of the thesis for approval. Students must follow all thesis preparation deadlines and approval guidelines as outlined by the Graduate School.  

Program of Study

Graduate-Level  Credit as an Undergraduate	Credit Hours
Core Coursework	9 hrs
SY 506
SY 507
SY 509
Elective Coursework	3 hrs

Year of Graduate Study	Credit Hours
Elective Coursework	9 hrs
Master’s Practicum Report Proposal or Master’s Thesis Proposal	6 hrs or 3 hrs
SY 592 and SY 596 or SY 598
Master’s Practicum Report or Master’s Thesis	3 hrs or 6 hrs
SY 593 or SY 599