Master of Arts in Sociology
Website: https://twu.edu/sociology/graduate-programs/ma-in-sociology/
The mission of TWU's sociology graduate programs is to provide sociological training primarily for non-traditional, female, minority, and underserved students, though students from all backgrounds are welcome.
The objective of the sociology program is to produce intellectually well-rounded graduates capable of (1) analyzing human social groups and relationships between groups, (2) evaluating the influence of social factors on social situations, and (3) functioning effectively in either an academic milieu or a sociological practice setting.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
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Explain in oral or written form main sociological theories and use them in analyzing social phenomena, interpreting social events, and solving social problems.
- Identify and use quantitative and qualitative research methods for research and present results in a research report.
- Choose appropriate statistical techniques to answer basic research questions, perform basic statistical analysis using computer software, and interpret results.
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours Required
Thesis Option: 30 semester credit hours (SCH), including 6 SCH for thesis
Non-thesis Option: 30 semester credit hours
Thesis Option (30 semester credit hours)
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOCI 5113 | Statistical Methods in Sociology (or equivalent) | 3 |
| SOCI 5313 | Research Methods and Design | 3 |
| SOCI 5473 | Foundations of Classical Sociological Theories | 3 |
| or SOCI 5483 | Foundations of Contemporary Sociological Theories | |
| Electives | ||
| Select five of following | 15 | |
| Race and Ethnic Groups in the United States | ||
| Feminist Theories | ||
| Seminar on Research Methods | ||
| Intermediate Social Statistics | ||
| Global and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Social Psychology Theory | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Sociology of Terrorism | ||
| Health and Illness | ||
| Criminology Theories | ||
| Globalization, Crime, and Justice | ||
| Comparative Criminology | ||
| Deviant Behavior | ||
| Contemporary Criminology | ||
| Race, Crime, and Justice | ||
Other electives may be chosen, subject to approval by graduate advisor or advisory committee. | ||
| Thesis | ||
| SOCI 5983 | Thesis | 3 |
| SOCI 5993 | Thesis | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 30 | |
Non-thesis option (30 semester credit hours)
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOCI 5113 | Statistical Methods in Sociology (or equivalent) | 3 |
| SOCI 5313 | Research Methods and Design | 3 |
| SOCI 5473 | Foundations of Classical Sociological Theories | 3 |
| or SOCI 5483 | Foundations of Contemporary Sociological Theories | |
| Electives | ||
| Select seven of the following | 21 | |
| Race and Ethnic Groups in the United States | ||
| Feminist Theories | ||
| Seminar on Research Methods | ||
| Intermediate Social Statistics | ||
| Global and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Social Psychology Theory | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Sociology of Terrorism | ||
| Health and Illness | ||
| Criminology Theories | ||
| Globalization, Crime, and Justice | ||
| Comparative Criminology | ||
| Deviant Behavior | ||
| Contemporary Criminology | ||
| Race, Crime, and Justice | ||
Other electives may be selected, subject to approval by graduate advisor or advisory committee. | ||
| Total SCHs | 30 | |
Required
9 semester credit hours, 3 SCH each in sociological theory, social science research methods, and social statistics.
Major/Emphasis
15 or 21 semester credit hours, depending on thesis option or non-thesis option.
Minor
Optional, 6 semester credit hours may be taken from another discipline to count toward the M.A. degree in sociology. Subject to approval by the department.
Final Examination
Written examination; may be repeated twice.
