Graduate Program – Suggested Sequence of Courses

 

The Department of Sociology curriculum is organized along three tracks or principal fields: (1) Crime, Justice and Pre-Law; (2) Global and Comparative Processes; and (3) Public Policy Analysis.  Students not interested in any of these three tracks may work with the faculty in their area of interest.  The master’s degree requires 30 semester hours of graduate work, six of which can be fulfilled by writing an M.A. thesis.  As an option to the thesis, two significant written reports of a research nature may be submitted.  Students finishing their M.A. course work must also pass a comprehensive examination.  There is no language requirement for the M.A. Candidates for the M.A. must pass the following core requirements:

 

CORE REQUIRED COURSES

 

SOC 501  Research Design and Methods

 

SOC 503  Social Statistics

 

SOC 512  Theories of Comparative Societies

 

SOC 604  Intermediate Social Statistics

 

All majors must complete the above core requirements with a grade of “B” or better and an additional five elective courses offered by the department.  To fulfill the requirements for one of the tracks, students must take at least three courses within the track and pass these courses with a minimum grade of “B” or better.  Majors who complete the course requirements for one or more tracks will be awarded a certificate of completion upon graduation.

 

I- CRIME, JUSTICE AND PRE-LAW TRACK

 

The Crime, Justice and Pre-Law track is ideal for students interested in careers in the field of criminal justice, crime investigation, law enforcement, pre-law, national security and transnational crime.

 

At least one of the courses taken in this track must have an international component.

 

SOC 504  International Crime and Its Control

 

SOC 505  Sociology of Crime

 

SOC 509  Sociology of Law

 

SOC 510  Policing and Its Control

 

SOC 515  Crimes in Urban Society

 

SOC 517  Crime and Its Control: a Survey of Crime and Delinquency

 

SOC 520  Analysis of Terrorism Here and Abroad

 

SOC 522  Sociology and the Military

 

SOC 524  Minority Relations

 

SOC 535  Crime Prevention: Implementation and Evaluation

 

SOC 565  Keeping America’s Borders Safe

 

SOC 571  Social Deviance

 

SOC 579  Graduate Sociology Internship

 

SOC 580  Graduate Sociology Internship

 

SOC 607  Survey of Violent Crime

 

SOC 608  Terrorism and Religion

 

SOC 801  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 802  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 803  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 804  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 805  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 806  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 901  Advanced Research Seminar I

 

SOC 902  Advanced Research Seminar II

 

SOC 995  Master’s Thesis Guidance

 

SOC 996  Master’s Thesis Guidance

 

 

II – GLOBAL AND COMPARATIVE PROCESSES TRACK

 

The Global and Comparative Processes track serves students with an interest in international affairs, non-profit organizations, and public service.

 

 

SOC 516  Eradication of Poverty Policies

 

SOC 520  Analysis of Terrorism Here and Abroad

 

SOC 522  Sociology and the Military

 

SOC 524  Minority Relations

 

SOC 534  Economic Sociology

 

SOC 541  Religion and Society

 

SOC 549  Social Fragmentation

 

SOC 560  Political Sociology

 

SOC 563  Modern Social Movement

 

SOC 573  Cross-Cultural Gender Studies

 

SOC 579  Graduate Sociology Internship

 

SOC 580  Graduate Sociology Internship

 

SOC 601  Social Organizations

 

SOC 608  Terrorism and Religion

 

SOC 623  Social Change and Development

 

SOC 624  Conflict Resolution

 

SOC 630  European Cities

 

SOC 801  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 802  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 803  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 804  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 805  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 806  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 901  Advanced Research Seminar I

 

SOC 902  Advanced Research Seminar II

 

SOC 995  Master’s Thesis Guidance

 

SOC 996  Master’s Thesis Guidance

 

 

SOC 998  Doctoral Dissertation Guidance

 

III – PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS TRACK

 

The Public Policy Analysis track is ideal for students interested in policy research and evaluation, social trend analysis and public administration and service.

 

(All courses in this field will include some policy analysis and implications.)

 

SOC 507  Advanced Sociology of Education

 

SOC 516  Eradication of Poverty Policy

 

SOC 524  Minority Relation

 

SOC 525  Sociology of Aging

 

SOC 534  Economic Sociology

 

SOC 536  Global Public Policy

 

SOC 541  Religion and Society

 

SOC 545  Sports and Society

 

SOC 550  Cyberspace and Society

 

SOC 565  Keeping America’s Borders Safe

 

SOC 573  Cross-Cultural Gender Studies

 

SOC 579  Graduate Sociology Internship

 

SOC 580  Graduate Sociology Internship

 

SOC 583  Global Policies of Disability

 

SOC 601  Social Organization

 

SOC 629  Death, Society, and the Human Experience

 

SOC 631  Social Policy Analysis

 

SOC 801  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 802  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 803  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 804  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 805  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 806  Independent Research or Reading

 

SOC 901  Advanced Research Seminar I

 

SOC 902  Advanced Research Seminar II

 

SOC 995  Master’s Thesis Guidance

 

SOC 996  Master’s Thesis Guidance