Sociology (MA)
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Sociology provides advanced training in social analytics and data-driven decision-making, specifically designed for careers in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors. The program bridges sociological theory with advanced research methods to equip students with the training and skills to tackle complex social challenges. Students can customize their degree through specializations in Gender and Sexuality, Racism and Social Inequality, Human Rights, Policy, or Research Methods. This program culminates in a professional capstone portfolio that showcases the student's mastery of social research and practical application, or for students with Concurrent Enrollment in the Sociology Ph.D. program, a M.A. thesis.
Location
- Storrs Campus
Modality
- In Person
Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. Required Core Graduate Courses | ||
| SOCI 5001 | Proseminar | 1.5 |
| SOCI 5002 | Proseminar | 1.5 |
| SOCI 5201 | The Logic of Social Research | 3 |
| SOCI 5251 | Core Theorists | 3 |
| Methods Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Research I | ||
| Qualitative Research I | ||
| B. Required Elective Courses | ||
| Choose at least 2 courses (6 credits) in consultation with the major advisor covering a range of substantive topics from the following list: | 6 | |
| Topics in Culture | ||
| Topics in Deviance and Crime | ||
| Sociology of Work | ||
| Topics in Stratification and Inequality | ||
| Racism | ||
| Topics in Racism and Ethnic Group Relations | ||
| Sociology of Immigration | ||
| Gender and Society | ||
| Theories of Intersectionality | ||
| Sexual Citizenship | ||
| Population in a Changing World | ||
| Topics in Political Sociology | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Gender, Politics and the State | ||
| Investigation of Special Topics | ||
| Independent Study for Graduate Students | ||
| C. Additional Electives | ||
| Choose 12 additional credits from the graduate sociology courses above, or courses from the Additional Electives table below. Students may choose different elective courses after consultation with the major advisor. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Additional Electives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Courses | ||
| PP 5318 | Financial Management for Public Organizations | 3 |
| PP 5319 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| PP 5323 | Leading and Governing Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| PP 5324 | Grant Writing and Government Contracting | 3 |
| PP 5326 | Public Investment Management | 3 |
| PP 5328 | Business Functions of Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| PP 5329 | Nonprofit Advocacy, Government Relations, and Law | 3 |
| PP 5335 | Nonprofit Marketing and Stakeholder Communications | 3 |
| PP 5336 | Fund Development and Nonprofit Sustainability | 3 |
| PP 5349 | Public Procurement and Contracting | 3 |
| PP 5357 | Policymaking and Legislation | 3 |
| PP 5363 | Local Government Management and Leadership | 3 |
| PP 5364 | Public Finance and Budgeting | 3 |
| PP 5365 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| Data Science and Data Analysis Courses | ||
| Data Science and Data Analysis Courses can be applied toward the Additional Electives requirement with advisor approval. | ||
| AH 6005 | Multilevel Mediation-Moderation Modeling for Health Sciences | 3 |
| ARE 5353 | Data Ethics and Equity in the Era of Misinformation | 2 |
| CSE 5709 | Machine Learning for Data Science | 3 |
| CSE 5710 | Data Mining for Data Science | 3 |
| CSE 5717 | Big Data Analytics | 3 |
| EPSY 5641 | Causal Inference and Measurement for Data Science | 2 |
| EPSY 6611 | Hierarchical Linear Modeling | 3 |
| EPSY 6615 | Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
| EPSY 6637 | Item Response Theory | 3 |
| EPSY 6651 | Introduction to Methods for Causal Inference Using Educational Data | 3 |
| GRAD 5100 | Fundamental Skills for Data Science | 3 |
| GRAD 5900 | Special Topics in Graduate Education | 1-3 |
| OPIM 5605 | Data Visualization and Communication | 2 |
| PSYC 5554 | Advanced Nonlinear Dynamics for the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| STAT 5405 | Applied Statistics for Data Science | 3 |
| STAT 5410 | Statistical Computing for Data Science | 3 |
| STAT 5415 | Statistical Methods for Data Science | 3 |
| STAT 5825 | Applied Time Series | 3 |
| Sociology Courses | ||
| The following 6000-level SOCI courses can be applied toward the Additional Electives requirement with advisor approval. | ||
| SOCI 6005 | Advanced Topics in Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 6203 | Quantitative Research II | 3 |
| SOCI 6231 | Qualitative Research II | 3 |
| SOCI 6265 | Advanced Topics in Sociological Theory | 3 |
D. Advisory and Capstone Requirement
Major Advisor
Students are responsible for selecting a Major Advisor from the Sociology graduate faculty. This faculty member will guide the students’ course selection, approve their Plan of Study, and evaluate their final capstone requirements.
Final Capstone Requirement
A portfolio evaluated by your Major Advisor consisting of a minimum of three papers that together illustrate knowledge of sociological theory, research methods, and at least one substantive area.
M.A. Thesis
Students with Concurrent Enrollment in the Sociology Ph.D. program will earn a M.A. degree upon completing a master’s thesis, which includes submitting a written thesis and passing a formal thesis defense. Students must register for 9 thesis credits.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate appropriate breadth and depth of disciplinary knowledge and comprehension of the major sociological topics, theories, and issues.
- Use disciplinary methods and techniques to apply knowledge, critically analyze, and achieve advanced productive and creative accomplishments.
- Communicate proficiently and effectively to a specialist and non-specialist audience, verbally and in writing a structured, coherent academic presentation, representation, or argument that cogently summarizes their research or creative pursuit, relevant literature, and its significance at the level appropriate to discipline.
- Conduct themselves in accordance with the highest ethical and responsible standards, values, and, where these are defined, the best practices of the discipline.
Up to 12 credits of required graduate coursework taken while the student is an undergraduate may be used toward both the B.A. and M.A. Plans of Study. Undergraduate students enrolled in Sociology must apply for the accelerated track at the end of their junior year and then apply to the M.A. program during their senior year.