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Graduate Studies

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sociology graduate program.

The Department of Sociology/Anthropology offers an Master of Arts degree in sociology. This innovative degree program provides students with advanced training in sociological knowledge, theory, and methods. The flexible and interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to focus on an additional academic specialty area within or outside of sociology.

Department faculty members have strengths in several areas, including family and gender, global social inequality, medical sociology, anthropology, race and ethnicity, and organizational sociology. The department also has close connections to the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies, Native American Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and the School of Public Health.

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants for admission to the graduate program in sociology should present a minimum of 15 undergraduate semester hours in the following social sciences:
    • statistics, research methods, and social theory
    • a minimum of six additional hours of sociology or related courses
  • Students with a background in sociology but without the specific course requirements may be admitted provisionally, but must remove any deficiencies within the first year of graduate study.
  • Students admitted provisionally can show competence by taking:
    • SOC 2130 (Basic Statistics),
    • SOC 2510 (Research Methods),
    • and SOC 4710 (Development of Sociological Theory),
    • or in any of these areas by taking a program of independent work approved by the graduate committee.
  • All courses must be passed with a grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better.

Application Checklist

  • UNO Graduate Studies Office application and fee
  • Three letters of recommendations - Please provide the names and email addresses for your recommenders. (A Request form will be emailed to recommenders by UNO when you submit your online application.)
  • An academic writing sample
  • Statement of Purpose, a personal statement that outlines your reasons for applying to the program
  • a resume
  • One copy of official transcripts from all previously attended universities

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

Thesis and non-thesis options are available. For both programs, students must complete one course in sociological theory (SOC 8010 or SOC 8020), research methods (SOC 8030), statistics (SOC 8040), and social inequality (SOC 8100) with grades of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better. At least one half of the hours of course work for either program should be in courses restricted to graduate students only (8__0).

Thesis Option

  • Recommended for students who wish to pursue the PhD degree after completing their work at UNO and/or who wish to participate in a research project and gain writing experience through the thesis process.
  • Requires a minimum of 24 semester hours of approved graduate work in sociology and related disciplines, including the graduate research methods, statistics, theory and social inequality courses, plus six semester hours of thesis credit, for a total of 30 hours.
  • Courses will be approved by advisement and the student will develop a program of study that reflects their interests.
  • Up to 12 credit hours of non-sociology courses may be included in the program of study.
  • Prior to beginning the thesis, students must have their project approved by the thesis committee.
  • Students must pass an oral defense structured around the thesis.

Non-Thesis Option

  • Recommended for students who do not wish to pursue the PhD degree after completing their work at UNO. These students are exempt from the thesis requirement.
  • Students must complete 36 graduate credit hours including graduate research methods, statistics, theory, and social inequality and may include up to 18 credit hours in a discipline other than sociology.
  • Courses will be approved by advisement and the student will develop a program of study that reflects his or her interests. Reading courses may not be used to meet this requirement except by petitioning the Graduate Program Committee. Credit for previously earned thesis hours will not be counted toward the 36 hour requirement.
  • • After meeting all other requirements for the non-thesis master's degree or during their final semester in the program, students must pass a comprehensive written examination. This will fulfill the capstone requirement for the M.A. degree. The examination will focus on the student's course work, and will include one question on sociological theory, one question on research methods and one question from the substantive area(s) of focus. This will be a one-week take-home exam to be scheduled by the student in consultation with the Graduate Program Chair. In case of a non-passing grade, students may take the exam one additional time.

last updated : 11/9/2011 at 4:43pm