Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 31
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social Theory Course | ||
| SOC 8111 | Classical Social Theory | 3 |
| or SOC 9111 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | |
| Methods of Inquiry Courses | ||
| SOC 8011 | Logic of Inquiry | 3 |
| SOC 8211 | Inferential and Multivariate Statistics | 4 |
| SOC 8221 | Qualitative Methods | 3 |
| SOC 9211 | Graduate Data Analysis | 3 |
| SOC 9241 | Qualitative Data Analysis | 3 |
| Electives 1 | 9 | |
| Capstone Courses 2 | ||
| SOC 8873 | Writing for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 8883 | Second-Year Research | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours | 31 | |
- 1
Electives may include: (1) SOC 9382 Independent Study Program: With the consent of the Graduate Chair and the instructor, students may take one Independent Study course, which is an intensive program of study within a specific area of Sociology. Students who wish to take an Independent Study course must submit to the Graduate Chair at the beginning of the term a "Department Independent Study Request" form describing the readings and/or research they propose to undertake. The form must be signed by both the participating faculty member and the Graduate Chair. A final statement on the work completed must be filed with the Graduate Chair at the end of the term. A letter grade is given for this course. (2) An outside course: With the approval of the Graduate Chair, students may take one course outside of the Sociology Department. (3) SOC 9385 Internship in Social Research: With the consent of the Graduate Chair, students may undertake an internship for course credit, provided the internship unites the core concepts of sociology with professional organizational settings and the community as a whole. Students who wish to complete an internship must submit to the Graduate Chair at the beginning of the term an "Internship Request Form” describing the duties, frequency of service and major outcomes. The form must be signed by both the supervisor of the internship and the Graduate Chair.
- 2
SOC 8873 and SOC 8883 are taken concurrently.
Culminating Events: The Sociology Department evaluates students at the end of their second year based on two criteria:
- First, full-time students are expected to complete a Second Year Paper, which is due at the end of the Spring term of their second year. Part-time students are allowed to complete the paper within a year after finishing their required Social Theory and Methods of Inquiry courses. All students are responsible for recruiting two committee members to review and grade the paper, which is due the last day of classes in the Spring term. Students may work with their committee throughout the semester to ensure the paper aligns with expectations. Papers can be a journal-quality literature review, a journal-quality theory piece, a journal-quality empirical investigation, a grant proposal, or a research report akin to those put out by research organizations. Students then present their paper to the department. Their committee evaluates the paper based on the student's demonstrated ability to synthesize the relevant literature, conceptualize a research problem, and/or carry out a feasible research design. Both committee members must pass the paper. Any student who does not write a passing paper that term must do so the following semester. Those who are unsuccessful on the second attempt are dismissed from the program.
- Second, students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better in the degree curriculum. Students apply for graduation in Self-Service Banner by accessing TUportal. Note the deadline for submitting the graduation application on the Graduate School calendar.