Master of Arts in Sociology
About This Program
The Master of Arts in Sociology provides students with a substantive background in sociological theory and in the techniques of contemporary research methodology and statistical analyses. In addition to these core concerns, the program offers a variety of seminars, as well as practicum opportunities, to help prepare students for a wide range of professional careers in both the private and public sectors or continued graduate education at the PhD level.
The program offers three completion options. Students who wish to complete a written essay synthesizing their coursework in response to one of two supplied prompts should select the non-thesis option. Students who wish to complete an academic literature review, research design, or an internship report on a selected sociological topic of personal interest should select the thesis-substitute option. Students who wish to research and write a substantial, original empirical or theoretical work on a sociological topic of personal interest should select the thesis option.
Competencies
- Upon completion, graduate students will be able to demonstrate the advanced theoretical and substantive knowledge needed to critically analyze social and cultural structures and processes.
- Upon completion, graduate students will have the methodological and analytical skills needed to understand social science data.
- Upon completion, graduate students will have developed the written and oral communication skills needed to successfully share sociological knowledge.
Admissions Criteria
All successful applicants must satisfy the basic graduate admission requirements of UT Arlington as outlined in the University Catalog in the Admissions section. The Sociology graduate program makes admission decisions based on several factors, including grade point averages, preparation in the field of Sociology or related disciplines, letters of recommendation, and statements of interest. There are four categories for acceptance: Facilitated Admission, Unconditional Admission, Probationary Admission, and Provisional Admission.
Facilitated Admission
Available to UTA graduates who have completed their bachelor's degree from UTA within one year prior to admission. Applicants admitted through Facilitated Admission meet the following three criteria:
- Overall UTA GPA of 3.5, as calculated by Graduate Studies.
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 in last 60 hours, as calculated by Graduate Studies.
- A grade B or better in the following courses:
To apply for Facilitated Admission, contact the Director of Graduate Studies for Sociology.
Applicants who do not qualify for Facilitated Admission
- Must apply through ApplyUTA
- Letters of Recommendation must be emailed directly from recommenders to the Director of Graduate Studies for Sociology or uploaded in the ApplyUTA system.
- Statements of Interest must be emailed directly from the applicant to the Director of Graduate Studies for Sociology. Statements of Interest must be written solely by the applicant without the use of generative AI (artificial intelligence).
Unconditional Admission
Unconditional Admission is available to applicants who have completed a BA or BS in Sociology or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
Applicants admitted on Unconditional Admission meet the following three criteria:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0, as calculated by Graduate Studies.
- Two letters of recommendation that favorably assess the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program in Sociology.
- A satisfactory 2-3 page statement of interest describing the applicant's academic background, research or study interests, and professional goals as they relate to the field of Sociology.
Probationary Admission
Probationary Admission is available to applicants who have completed a BA or BS in Sociology or a related discipline from an accredited institution but who do not qualify for Unconditional Admission due to a GPA below 3.0, as calculated by Graduate Studies. Applicants admitted on probationary admission meet the following two criteria:
- Two letters of recommendation that favorably assess the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program in Sociology.
- A satisfactory 2-3 page statement of interest describing the applicant's academic background, research or study interests, and professional goals as they relate to the field of Sociology.
Provisional Admission
Provisional Admission is available to applicants unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline, but who otherwise appear to meet admission requirements. Provisionally admitted students must satisfy any incomplete documentation by the end of the semester in which they are admitted.
Deferral
An applicant may be deferred when a file is incomplete or when a denial decision is not appropriate.
International Students
To qualify for admission, international students must satisfy UTA requirements, including any necessary English language test scores. To learn more, please visit: https://www.uta.edu/admissions/apply/international-graduate
Dual Degree Program
Students in sociology may participate in a dual degree program where by they can earn a Master of Arts in Sociology and another field, such as Master of Public Administration or Master of Science in Social Work. By participating in a dual degree program, students can apply a number of semester hours jointly to meet the requirements of both degrees, thus reducing the total number of hours which would be required to earn both degrees separately. Six or more hours may be jointly applied depending on the total number of hours required for both degrees, and subject to the approval of graduate advisors from both programs.
To participate in the dual degree option, students must make separate application to each program and must submit a separate Program of Work for each program. Those interested should consult each of the appropriate graduate advisors for coursework requirements and refer to Graduate Studies catalog entry on Dual Degree Program in the Advanced Degrees and Requirements section for further details.
Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships in Sociology
Graduate teaching and research assistantships and other forms of financial support will be awarded on a competitive basis. In addition to performance in any graduate courses the student may have taken, the same criteria used to determine admission status will be used in evaluating applications for such awards. No single factor will be used to end consideration of any graduate assistantships.
Curriculum
| Foundations | ||
| SOCI 5301 | SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY | 3 |
| SOCI 5303 | RESEARCH DESIGN | 3 |
| SOCI 5304 | SOCIAL STATISTICS I | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select five from the following: | 15 | |
| RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES | ||
| SEMINAR IN RACE AND ETHNICITY | ||
| INEQUALITY, POVERTY, AND MOBILITY | ||
| COMPARATIVE ETHNIC AND RACIAL CONFLICT | ||
| CONTEMPORARY BLACK EXPERIENCE | ||
| SEMINARS IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILIES | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION | ||
| RACE AND FAMILY | ||
| GENDER AND FAMILY | ||
| WOMEN AND WORK | ||
| THE SOCIAL MIND AND INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES | ||
| CULTURAL SOCIOLOGY | ||
| MEDIA, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY | ||
| SEMINARS IN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND CHANGE | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION | ||
| QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS | ||
| READING THE QUALITATIVE CLASSICS | ||
| SOCIAL MOVEMENTS | ||
| SEMINARS IN SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION | ||
| SEMINARS IN THEORY AND RESEARCH METHODS | ||
| RESEARCH PRACTICUM / INTERNSHIP | ||
| TEACHING SOCIOLOGY | ||
| CONFERENCE COURSE | ||
| CONFERENCE COURSE IN SOCIOLOGY | ||
| Completion Options | 6-12 | |
| For the non-thesis option select: | 12 | |
Three additional electives from the above list | ||
| NON-THESIS PROJECT | ||
| For the thesis-subsitute option select: | 9 | |
Two additional electives from the above list | ||
| THESIS SUBSTITUTE | ||
| For the thesis option select: | 6 | |
| THESIS 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 30-36 | |
- 1
Students may optionally take SOCI 5398 while working on their thesis project.
Program Completion
Non-Thesis Option
Non-thesis students must form a non-thesis faculty committee, consisting of a non-thesis chair and two additional members of the graduate faculty. Non-thesis degree seeking students are required to give a presentation on their written essay to their non-thesis faculty committee. The scope, content, and form of the non-thesis document must be approved by the student’s non-thesis committee chair.
Thesis Substitute Option
Thesis-substitute degree students are required to write and orally defend a proposal for their thesis-substitute project in addition to writing and orally defending their thesis-substitute document. Thesis-substitute students must form a thesis-substitute faculty committee, consisting of a thesis-substitute chair and two additional members of the graduate faculty. The scope, content, and form of the thesis-substitute document shall be determined by the student’s thesis committee.
Thesis Option
Thesis degree students are required to write and orally defend a proposal for their research project in addition to completing original research and writing and orally defending their thesis. Thesis students must form a thesis faculty committee, consisting of a thesis chair and two additional members of the graduate faculty. The scope, content, and form of the thesis shall be determined by the student’s thesis committee.