Master of Science (MS) Degree Requirements

MASTER OF SCIENCE - THESIS OPTION Required Courses SOCI 611 Classical Theory 3 hours SOCI 615 Contemporary Theory 3 hours SOCI 623 Measurement 3 hours SOCI 624 Qualitative Methods 3 hours SOCI 631 Quantitative Analysis 3 hours SOCI 681 Proseminar (Fall Advising) 1 hours SOCI 681 Proseminar (Spring Advising) 1 hours Elective Courses Minimum of 9 hours. Non-sociology courses are not required and usually no more than one non-sociology course is included. The selection of elective courses included on the degree plan must be approved by the committee members and the department head. 9 hours Independent Research SOCI 691 Independent Research. Minimum of 8 hours. Hours are usually registered under a section number reserved for the student's thesis supervisor. 8 hours Total Hours 34 hours Degree Plan: The Office of Graduate Studies requires MS students to file a degree plan before they can begin their third semester of coursework. To file a degree plan, students must first form a master's thesis committee and identify a committee chair (master's thesis supervisor). Working with the committee and the graduate advisor, the student develops a degree plan which must be formally approved by the committee and the department head and submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students who have not met this requirement are barred from registering. Performance in Required Theory and Methods Courses: Students must earn a grade of B or higher in the required theory and methods courses. Those who fail to do so on the first attempt must retake the course. Master's Thesis: Under the thesis option, students establish a thesis committee and identify a thesis supervisor. Under the guidance of the committee they develop a proposal for a thesis project - a significant independent effort of research or scholarship dealing with an important sociological question. After the proposal is formally approved, the student conducts the research and writes the thesis. Then he or she meets with the committee for a formal "final defense" hearing that involves a review of the thesis and any topics deemed appropriate by the committee members. A passing grade on the defense is required in order to graduate.

MASTER OF SCIENCE - NON-THESIS OPTION Required Courses SOCI 611 Classical Theory 3 hours SOCI 615 Contemporary Theory 3 hours SOCI 623 Measurement 3 hours SOCI 624 Qualitative Methods 3 hours SOCI 631 Quantitative Analysis 3 hours SOCI 681 Proseminar (Fall Advising) 1 hours SOCI 681 Proseminar (Spring Advising) 1 hours Elective Courses Minimum of 21 hours. Six (6) hours be supporting courses from outside of sociology. The selection of elective courses included on the degree plan must be approved by the committee members and the department head. 21 hours Total Hours 38 hours Terminal Degree: The Non-thesis Master of Science is a terminal degree. Students taking this degree cannot progress to the PhD program. Degree Plan: The Office of Graduate Studies requires MS students to file a degree plan before they can begin their third semester of coursework. To file a degree plan, students must first form a master's committee and identify a committee chair (master's supervisor). Working with the committee and the graduate advisor, the student develops a degree plan which must be formally approved by the committee and the department head and submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students who have not met this requirement are barred from registering. Final Examination: Under the non-thesis option, students hold a formal final examination hearing prior to graduation. In this hearing the student's committee questions him or her on his or her program of study and any topics deemed relevant by the committee members. A passing grade on the examination is required to graduate. Performance in Required Courses: Students must earn a grade of B or higher in the required theory and methods courses. Those who fail to do so on the first attempt must retake the course.