Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold the B.A. or B.S. degree with undergraduate sociology courses in sociological theory, research methods, and statistics. In case of requirement deficiencies, the needed course work can be completed without credit. Students also are required to have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in two of the following: (1) overall four-year GPA, (2) GPA for last two years, (3) GPA for major. The student also must submit general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, three letters of recommendation, a statement of professional goals, and a writing sample. Students whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting TOEFL scores of at least 250 on the computer-based version or 600 on the paper-based version.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of twelve three-credit courses. They must be distributed as follows: Two classes in theory (first year 510, 512); Three classes in methods of inquiry (first year 511; second year 513 OR 810, AND 564); Two classes in statistics (first year 433 & 563); Three substantive courses (Philadelphia Emphasis); Two Electives; Students also must take the Symposium in Sociology and a one-credit Introduction to Computers.

The Master's Degree in Sociology will be awarded to any candidate who successfully completes all requirements and earns a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.00 or better in the Master's Degree curriculum.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

For students applying with Bachelor's degrees, the requirements are the same as those for the Master's program (see above). Students with Master's degrees in Sociology from other institutions will be asked to submit a paper that they consider comparable to the "Candidacy Research Project" (see below, "Degree Requirements"). The department's Graduate Committee will recommend admission if it finds the applicant's paper comparable in quality to Candidacy Research Project papers that "Pass." Candidates with Master's degrees in other subjects will be considered if they are able to meet the "Candidacy Research Project" requirement. They may be required to fill deficiencies in their sociological preparation by taking the appropriate courses.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 18 three-credit courses beyond the B.A. degree. Ph.D. Candidates shall follow the same curriculum as Master's Students during the first two years of study (see above). Candidates for the Ph.D. also must complete Advanced Theory, Qualitative Methods, and Census and Survey Research. In addition, they must complete four (4) electives. Students are ordinarily required to receive supervised teaching experience. Students supported by a teaching assistantship also must take two one-credit courses in the teaching of sociology. To continue beyond the Master's degree, students must pass a "Candidacy Research Project" (an extension of a research project they have already developed in one of their courses). Following the completion of course work, students must pass a preliminary examination, and an oral defense of the dissertation proposal. They must submit an acceptable dissertation and successfully defend it in a final examination.

Course Descriptions -Sociology

Specific listings and course outlines will be available in the Department in February for the fall semester, and in October for the spring semester.

407. People and Places of Philadelphia. (3 s.h.)

This course provides the information, conceptual and methodological tools to investigate the city of Philadelphia, its people, institutions, neighborhoods and communities from the perspective of a sociologist.

418. Socialization. (3 s.h.)

An examination of the process by which individuals learn the "rules" of their social system from infancy to old age. Special attention is focused on differences in socialization by sex, race and class.

430. Men and Masculinity. (3 s.h.)

This class draws on a wide array of literature and perspectives on men, men's roles, and masculinity. The course explores the structural and historical underpinnings of the masculine role and considers the possibility of multiple masculinities.

433. Statistical Methods in Sociology. (3 s.h.)

An introduction to statistical analysis for students with limited statistical backgrounds. Includes univariate and bivariate description and selected inferential techniques.

441. Development of Sociological Thought. (3 s.h.)

Ideological orientations, substantive findings, theoretical systems and methodological approaches of European and American scholars who contributed the most influential ideas to modern sociology

449. Class in Modern Society. (3 s.h.)

Social class is a fundamental dimension of inequality in modern society. This course examines the sources and consequences of social class, with particular focus on the intersection of class with other forms of inequality in the context of the United States.

452. Health and Disease in American Society. (3 s.h.)

The social context of the construction of health and disease in the United States, focusing on reproduction and death, the epidemic of Aids, and issues emerging from the aging of the American population.

456. Political Sociology. (3 s.h.)

The social basis of political institutions and political action, stressing the importance of both for communities and individuals, the social influences on political systems, and the formation of political activity.

470. Sociology of Law. (3 s.h.)

Law as an institution which is a product of the interactions of specialist and ordinary citizens; the role of law as a potential vehicle and agent of change; the effects of social organization on the production of justice; the relationship between legal institutions and other social formations such as race, gender, and class.

500-Level Courses

Unless specific additional prerequisites are listed, all 500-level courses are open to students who have completed a bachelor's degree and who have either completed four courses in sociology (including courses in methods, statistics, and theory) or who have obtained the permission of the instructor.

500-501. Symposium in Sociology. (2 s.h.)

Introduces sociology graduate students to departmental faculty and their work. Faculty members describe their research, theory development, and/or policy work. Required of all entering graduate students.

503. Teaching of Sociology. (1 s.h.)

The processes and problems related to classroom teaching at the undergraduate level. Required of all new teaching assistants.

504. Teaching of Sociology: Practicum (1 s.h.)

The processes and problems related to classroom teaching at the undergraduate level. This is a practicum workshop required of all students teaching their first course as a teaching assistant.

510. Types of Theory (3 s.h.)

An introduction to various sociological theories and examples of application of these to research.

511. Classics in Sociology: Quantitative Methods (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the logic and methods of social research. Focuses on the those issues concerning the validity of the conclusions reached and the problems that arise in making conclusions.

512. Logic of Theory (3 s.h.)

Introduces theory as a sensitizing device to raise research questions, as "What is wrongly left out" by low-level research, and as "framework of interpretation" for given research findings.

513. Classics in Sociology: Qualitative Methods (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the logic and methods of social research. Focuses on the those issues concerning the validity of the conclusions reached and the problems that arise in making conclusions.

543. Advanced Sociological Theory.(3 s.h.)

Examines the sociohistorical and sociointellectual origins and context of social theory. Compares and contrasts sociological theories. Introduces students to process of sociological theorizing.

561. Introduction to Computers and Descriptive Statistics. (1 s.h.)

Introduces students to micro-computer word processing, data base, spreadsheet, and graphing programs. Accessing and using a mainframe computer to generate descriptive statistics.

563. Inferential and Multivariate Statistics. (3 s.h.)

Prerequisite: Sociology 561, one semester of introductory statistics, or permission of instructor.

Covers inductive statistics including probability and sampling, as well as multivariate contingency tables, analysis of variance, correlation, and regression. Laboratory period required.

564. Data Analysis. (3 s.h.)

Prerequisite: Sociology 563.

This course will take students from the development of a research problem through operationalization of theoretical concepts, data analysis to completed papers. Students will be provided appropriate data sets.

620. Departmental Seminar in Race Relations. (3 s.h.)

Focuses on the nature of racism, discrimination, prejudice, racial conflict, and racial oppression in American society. Special emphasis will be given to the relationship between race and social class.

621. Departmental Seminar in Gender and Work. (3 s.h.)

This course will examine the dynamics of men and women in the labor market. Concepts central to this analysis are economic constraints, power relations, and culture. The course will examine the historical roots of contemporary patterns, work and family, occupational segregation and the wage gap, employment practices, organizational culture, economic marginalization, and the international division of labor.

660. Departmental Seminar in Complex Organizations. (3 s.h.)

A descriptive and theoretical analysis of organization focusing on the following question: How do organizations work, and why does organizational theory often deny this reality? Specific topics covered include women in organization, the impact of technology, control and consent of workers, deskilling, historical changes in business structure, the role of markets, and interorganizational analysis.

697-698. Individual Study Program. (3 s.h.)

With the consent of the graduate chairperson and the instructor concerned, students may select an intensive program of study and/or research within a specific area of sociology.

799. Preliminary Exam Preparation. (3 s.h.)

Advanced reading course for students preparing for the preliminary examination.

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