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MA Degree

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Master's Degree Program

The University of Oklahoma Department of Sociology offers a Master’s Degree in Sociology. We designed this program to be completed in 2 years and to provide rigorous theoretical training in graduate level sociology/criminology, state-of-the-art approaches towards social scientific research methods, and a strong foundation in producing publication quality sociological/criminological research. Those who complete this degree will be well positioned to pursue a PhD in sociology, criminology, or related fields as well as be in a competitive position for a non-academic research jobs both at the local and national level. 

 

Applications Due December 15th, 2024

 

Application Requirements

Materials:

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Three Recommendation Letters
  • Writing Sample
  • College Transcript(s)

 

Test Scores:

 

Funding

We strive to provide up to 2-years of funding to most of our MA students through graduate assistantship positions. This includes a monthly stipend (for 9 months), a tutition wavier, and student health insurance. We also offer competative opportunities for summer funding through our Grasmick/Riddle Summer Research Fellowships. To assist with travel to national and international conferences, the department and university also provide travel grants to graduate students who are presenting their own research.

Why complete an MA Degree in Sociology?

The MA degree in Sociology is centered on providing students with a wide variety of tools to produce high quality academic and non-academic social scientific research. This degree will focus on building a strong foundation for research, starting with a blank slate and moving students towards producing publication quality work. Students who have completed our MA degree have gone on to pursue PhD degrees in our department as well as other highly ranked sociology departments such as Duke, Indiana, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and Colorado as well as criminology departments such as the University of California-Irvine and University of Maryland. Many of our MA graduates also go on to work as researchers in a wide variety of public and private agencies including the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Curriculum:

  • Complete 34 hours of graduate course work
    • Sociological Theory -  3 credit hours
    • Social Research Methods -  3 credit hours
    • Three Course Social Statistics Sequence - 9 credit hours
    • Professionalization Seminar - 1 credit hour
    • Master's Thesis Research -  3 credit hours
    • Elective Coursework - 15 credit hours

 

12 or more hours must be housed in the Department of Sociology at the 5000-level or above. The remaining 3 hours of electives may be Directed Readings (SOC 5960), a cross-listed course housed outside the department or another course outside the department. 

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Basic Timeline to Complete MA Degree

MA YEAR ONE
FALL SemesterSPRING Semester
Fundamentals of Social Statistics - 5283Advanced Regression Analysis - 5483
Sociological Theory - 5933Advanced Methods of Social Research - 5293
Professionalization Seminar - 5821Graduate Elective Course
Graduate Elective Course 
  •  Apply of Summer Research Funding in April
  • Chose an MA Thesis advisor and begin discussing thesis and MA thesis committee
MA YEAR TWO
FALL SemesterSPRING Semester
Cat, Panel, and Advanced Soc Stats - 5683Research Hours for Master's Thesis - 5980
Graduate Elective CourseGraduate Elective Course
Graduate Elective Course 
  • Form MA Committee by September
  • Defend MA Proposal by November
  • Apply to graduate in January
  • Defend Thesis by mid-late April