Investigate Critical Questions About the Workings of the Social World
The Department of Sociology offers a five-year B.A./M.A. program to eligible students with outstanding academic records (minimum 3.5 GPA). A student starts with a recommendation and sequence of courses from the department chair. The student must then get approval from the department and the dean of undergraduate studies by submitting an application for the B.A./M.A. program.
Once admitted into the program students are allowed to begin work toward a master's degree during both semesters of their senior year. Certain courses within and outside the major field may be waived in favor of graduate courses, which will be counted toward the courses necessary for the bachelor's degree. All requirements for the bachelor's degree must be completed within four years of matriculation and before credits towards the master's degree may be applied. All master's degree credits must be completed within five years of matriculation; otherwise, the double course credits are forfeited.
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Bachelor's Degree Requirements
For the bachelor's degree, courses in sociology comprise 36 credit hours and a comprehensive exam or thesis:
- Six required courses:
SOC 101
SOC 102
SOC 202/501
SOC 301/503
SOC 352/512
SOC 452 - Six electives courses
Up to four courses can be taken at the 500 level and counted toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees - Students are required to take a comprehensive exam or write a thesis paper in their senior year
- Six required courses:
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Master's Degree Requirements
- Four required courses:
SOC 501
SOC 503
SOC 512
SOC 604
- Six elective courses
- Thesis or two research papers by the fifth year
- Four required courses:
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Suggested Graduate Course Sequence
Junior Year
SOC 501 - Research Design and Methods
SOC 512 - Theories of Comparative Societies
Other 500 level electives
Senior Year
SOC 503- Social Statistics- Fall
SOC 452 - Senior Coordinating Seminar - Spring
Other 500 level electives
Senior Thesis Option
Fifth Year
SOC 604 - Intermediate Social Statistics or equivalent
Remaining 500 or above level electives
Complete two seminar papers and either graduate thesis or comprehensive exam