Sociology, M.A.

I. Contact Information

Berch Berberoglu, Ph.D., Professor /Chair
berchb@unr.edu
(775) 784-1855

Mailing Address:

Department of Sociology
1664 N. Virginia Street, Mail Stop 300
Reno, NV 89557

Department Website:

www.unr.edu/cla/soc

II. Brief Description

The Sociology Department offers courses leading to the Master of Arts degree in Sociology. As part of the School of Social Research and Justice Studies, the department offers a Certificate in Justice Studies at the graduate level. Additionally, the department also participates in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Social Psychology.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students should be able to discuss the concepts and theories that allow the integration of knowledge attained in various subfields of sociology.
2. Students should be able to apply successfully to doctoral programs in sociology in any university in the United States or elsewhere.
3. Students should be able to find employment in their area of specialization in public or private settings (such as in government, a research institute, or a non-profit organization).
4. Students who graduate with an M.A. degree in Sociology will have skills and experience in conducting original research.

IV. Admissions Requirement

Students wishing to apply to the Master of Arts degree program in Sociology must satisfy all Graduate School requirements and specific departmental requirements as specified on the sociology department web site. Students are admitted to the program in both Fall and Spring semesters. The department deadline for application to the graduate program in Sociology is March 1 for Fall and October 1 for Spring semesters.

V. Program Requirements

Students pursuing their studies toward the Master of Arts degree in Sociology can opt for Plan A (thesis plan) or Plan B (non-thesis plan).  Students in both plans must take the following core graduate courses in theory, research and statistics (12 units):

SOC 710 - History of Social Thought   (3 units)
SOC 711 - Contemporary Social Theory   (3 units)
SOC 706 - Intermediate Statistics I  (3 units)
SRJS 725 - Research Methods in the Social Sciences   (3 units)

Students must also take four additional 3 unit courses plus 6 units of thesis (under Plan A) and 7 additional 3 unit courses plus take three comprehensive examinations (theory, substantive area, and research/statistics) and sign up for 1 unit of Soc 795 Comps (under Plan B).

A minimum of 18 units of the required 30 and 33 units required under Plans A and B, respectively, must be at the 700 level.

VI. Program Total Hours

Plan A: 30 Units; Plan B: 33+1 Units

VII. Notes

A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are offered to selected students for a period of two years on a competitive basis.