Mar 28, 2024  
Ohio University Graduate Catalog 2017-19 
    
Ohio University Graduate Catalog 2017-19 [Archived Catalog]

Sociology - MA


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Degree Title: Master of Arts

Program Name and Number: Sociology - MA4251

Department/Unit: Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall

Program Mission: Sociologists at Ohio University study how social behavior becomes organized, institutionalized, and transformed at the macro level of societal change, the micro level of individual belief and action, and everything in between. The program supports the mission of the University and the College of Arts and Sciences “to advance the interrelated areas of teaching, research, and outreach in a learning-centered community” that “foster(s) creativity, scholarly discovery, and academic excellence.” In so doing, the goal is to provide training in foundational critical learning, analytical, and research skills combined with breadth and depth of knowledge about social, cultural, and behavioral processes and the diversity of human experience to prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to be productive community members and citizens of the society in which they live.

Program Learning Objectives:

  • Students will demonstrate an advanced understanding and ability to use sociological paradigms, theories, and concepts.
  • Students will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the logic, methods, and applications of sociological inquiry.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to independently critically evaluate and apply sociological theories and research methods to specific sociological problems.

Program Overview: The Masters of Arts program in Sociology at Ohio University seeks to train students for advanced graduate training or employment in a variety of applied settings. The department maintains a strong emphasis in the theories and methods of the discipline while maintaining strengths in the areas of criminology/deviance, gender studies, and inequality.

A variety of opportunities exist for students to obtain training and experience both inside and outside the classroom. Sociology faculty members are actively engaged in research and publication, provide leadership in regional and national professional associations, and have received numerous awards for teaching excellence. We encourage students to apprentice with faculty members on research projects, teaching internships, and related professional experiences. Students also may choose to work at various institutes and centers in the university or to participate in an interdisciplinary program such as international and area studies, women’s studies, and environmental studies.

Ohio University’s graduate program in sociology is designed to offer flexibility that permits students to maximize their unique interests and capabilities. The low student-to-faculty ratio promotes individualized attention and contributes to the high completion rate of students in the program. After completing the M.A., many students successfully pursue doctoral or law degrees, teach at two-year colleges, or find employment in various government and private agencies.

Link to Program: http://www.ohio.edu/socanth/sociology/graduate/index.html

Graduation Requirements:minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit is required for the master’s degree. Many students are able to complete the program in two semesters plus a summer (that is, a calendar year). Others may take longer, as provision must be made for the master’s thesis, comprehensive examinations, or applied/policy project.

Students must take 30 hours of graduate-level sociology courses:

●   3 Required Graduate Courses:

  1. SOC 6160 (Theory)
  2. SOC 6540 (Methods)
  3. One of the Following:
    1. SOC. 6010 (Qualitative Methods)
    2. SOC 5500 (Data Analysis)
    3. POLS 6010 (Quantitative Methods)
    4. PSY 5111 (Advanced Statistics for the Behavioral Science)
    5. PSY 6111 (Advanced Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

●   2 Graduate Seminars (6000 Level Sociology Courses: Seminar in Teaching not counted)

●   2 Graduate Courses: Seminars OR Dual-Listed

●   2 Additional Hours of:

SOC 5930 (Specialized Readings)
SOC 5931 (Research Problems)
SOC 6920 (Practicum)
SOC 6931 (Independent Study)
SOC 6950 (Thesis)

Culminating Experience: Candidates are expected to demonstrate competence at the master’s level in sociological theory and research methods, and to show proficiency in their chosen areas of concentration through a thesis, comprehensive exam, or applied/policy project.

  • Thesis – Independent research on a topic selected by the student that integrates knowledge and skills to contribute to the research literature in the field.
  • Comprehensive Exams: The written exams are in two general areas of sociology related to the student’s specific interests and result in a demonstration of depth and breadth of knowledge.
  • Applied/Policy Project: Through the systematic evaluation of a social issue, the student proposes and presents pragmatic recommendations to shape meaningful social/public policy. 

Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with 20 hours of undergraduate work in the social sciences, with a preference for sociology. The department is quite flexible in evaluating undergraduate experience. However, we recommend the 20 hours should include statistics, sociological methods and theory (with a g.p.a. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Applicants must have earned an overall g.p.a. of at least 3.0.  GRE scores are recommended but not required. These scores are one component of a larger evaluation of an application and offer additional information in the overall assessment. To apply, a completed application for admission and transcripts of all academic work must be submitted with your online application. Please attach to the online application a written statement describing areas of interest and reasons for wanting to study sociology, a writing sample such as a term paper, and letters of reference from three persons qualified to evaluate capability for graduate study in sociology (at least two letters should come from college instructors). International students whose native language is not English must also submit Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) scores.

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