Sociology, M.A.

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The Master of Arts degree in Sociology provides advanced study in sociological theory and methods of research with a variety of subject matter emphases that students plan with a graduate advisor. The program prepares students for doctoral studies, teaching at the secondary or community college level, or working in a professional capacity in government agencies or private organizations. Three Culminating Experience options are offered. Option A requires a thesis; Option B requires a comprehensive examination; and Option C requires a portfolio.

Admission to the Program

Fall is the admission term for the MA Program in Sociology. In addition to the university application, students who graduated from a school other than CSULA must submit copies of their official transcripts directly to the Sociology Department. Students will be accepted until the deadlines established by the university for Fall term admissions. The Sociology Department has two admissions requirements in addition to University requirements. One admission requirement is a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or better in a set of nine specified prerequisite courses or their equivalents.

Prerequisites to admission are course equivalents to SOC 2010 , 2100 , 3100 either 3900 or 3910 , 4120 , and the four other most recently completed, upper-division* sociology courses not including independent supervision courses. Satisfactory equivalents will be determined by the Graduate Studies Committee in sociology. Applicants must have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 in this coursework. Applicants must also achieve a GPA of 2.75 or above in an additional 24 semester units of upper-division coursework* in the undergraduate program in addition to meeting university requirements for admission to graduate study.

* (If more than 24 additional upper-division semester units of coursework have been completed, those courses least relevant to the Sociology MA Program will be omitted from the GPA calculation).

Requirements for the Degree (30 units)

A total of 30 units is required, with at least 27 in 5000-level courses.

Required Courses (18 units for Option A and 21*units for Options B and Option C)

SOC 5000 - Introduction to Graduate Studies, the Discipline, and the Profession (3)
SOC 5010 - Qualitative Research Methods in Sociology (3)
SOC 5011 - Quantitative Research Methods in Sociology (3)
SOC 5012 - Advanced Statistics (3)
SOC 5020 - Seminar: Classical Sociological Theory (3)
SOC 5021 - Seminar: Contemporary Sociological Theory (3)
* SOC 5030 - Seminar: MA Capstone Transition (3)
*The capstone course is required for Options B and C; it is not required for Option A.

Electives ( 9-12 units)

Option A students take 12 elective units that must include a minimum of 6 units of 5000-level courses specifically designated as SOC seminars and 4 units of thesis. Option B and Option C students take 9 elective units that must include a minimum of 6 units of 5000-level courses specifically designated as SOC seminars.

Note:

SOC 5940 ,5941 , 5970 , and 5980 are independent supervision electives and do not count as seminars.

Thesis or Comprehensive Examination or Portfolio (4, 0, 0 units)

Students enter the Program under Option B, Comprehensive Examination. Students who successfully fulfill the criteria may elect to change to Option A, remain in Option B or change to Option C, in accordance with college and department policy. Thesis work totals to 4 units. Comprehensive exams and portfolios do not earn units.

Option A: Thesis ( 4 units)

An approved thesis proposal is required for enrollment. Human subjects review clearance may be required. Oral defense of thesis is required. Students must comply with college requirements and the department requirements detailed in department documents.

SOC 5990 - Thesis (4)

Option B: Comprehensive Examination (0 units)

The comprehensive examination (SOC 5960) is a written examination in three fields of concentration: theory, methods, and one other field selected by the candidate and approved by the advisor. Students should expect to take the comprehensive examination the semester they complete all coursework on their program and must comply with college and department requirements. Students are allowed a maximum of two attempts to complete the comprehensive examination successfully.

SOC 5960 - Comprehensive Examination (0)

Option C: Portfolio (0 units)

An approved portfolio summary is required for enrollment. The portfolio is a collection of four demonstrations of advanced scholarly achievement, which are generally completed beyond the classroom. Demonstrations include presentation, research skills, and the writing of an article that is journal-submission ready. Mapping their experiences to Program SLOs is required. Students should expect to submit the portfolio the semester they complete all coursework on their program, although they may elect later submission. Students must comply with college requirements and the department requirements detailed in department documents.

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