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."

  1. Explain in oral or written form main sociological theories and use them in analyzing social phenomena, interpreting social events, and solving social problems.

  2. Identify and use quantitative and qualitative research methods for research and present results in a research report.
  3. 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)

Required Courses
SOCI 5113Statistical Methods in Sociology (or equivalent)3
SOCI 5313Research Methods and Design3
SOCI 5473Foundations of Classical Sociological Theories3
or SOCI 5483 Foundations of Contemporary Sociological Theories
Electives
Select five of following15
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 5983Thesis3
SOCI 5993Thesis3
Total SCHs30

Non-thesis option (30 semester credit hours)

Required Courses
SOCI 5113Statistical Methods in Sociology (or equivalent)3
SOCI 5313Research Methods and Design3
SOCI 5473Foundations of Classical Sociological Theories3
or SOCI 5483 Foundations of Contemporary Sociological Theories
Electives
Select seven of the following21
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 SCHs30

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.