Students pursuing a Master of Arts in Sociology may pursue studies in a wide range of areas of sociological inquiry. Faculty in the program specialize in culture (including music, art, new media, and consumption); family, youth and aging; gender; globalization; immigration and migration; political economy, development and economic sociology; political sociology and social movements; race/ethnicity; religion; sociological theory; and urban sociology. The program is strongly connected to nonprofit and community groups, providing ample opportunity for research, internships, and employment.
Application Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to the MA in sociology, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Satisfactory Progress
According to university policy, students may be terminated if they fail to achieve satisfactory progress toward their degree. In addition to the graduate policies on academic termination (see AP.6.6.2), students in the program are judged as having failed to achieve satisfactory progress if they have a plagiarism finding by the Office of Academic Integrity.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 33
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies. Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Foundation Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Sociology | ||
| SOCI 601 | Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology | 3 |
| Social Theory | ||
| SOCI 711 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOCI 712 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
| Required Methodology and Analysis Course | ||
| SOCI 620 | Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | 3 |
| Elective Methodology and Analysis Courses | 6 | |
Select two from the following: | ||
| Survey Research | ||
| Community-Based Research Methods and Program Evaluation | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Statistical Reasoning for Applied Research | ||
| Ethnography | ||
| Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Analytic Techniques of Social Research | ||
| Decolonizing Social Research | ||
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
| Feminist Research Methods | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Elective Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three to four electives from advanced courses (500-800 level) in sociology. 1 | 9-12 | |
- 1
Students may take SOCI 616 Practicum in Sociology as 1-6 elective credits. With prior written approval of the MA advisor, up to two courses from outside the sociology program that are not currently listed as approved courses (inclusive of consortium courses) may count toward elective courses.
Thesis or MA Capstone Paper
Thesis
A master's thesis demonstrates the student's capacity to carry out independent research. The thesis consists of a substantial sociological research or theoretical project that will contribute to the advancement of knowledge in sociology.
Students must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and once enrolled in SOCI 799 Thesis, maintain continuous enrollment as specified in AP.6.9.3 Master's Thesis.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 799 | Thesis | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Master's Capstone Paper
As an alternative to the thesis, students can elect to complete an independent, 25-page research paper. Unlike the thesis, the master's capstone paper must be completed in one semester under the guidance of a faculty member who has been admitted to the graduate faculty.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 797 | Master's Capstone Paper | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking sociology or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.
Sociology, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Sociology MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 57 credits rather than 69 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.
Application Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Requirements
Total credits: 57
Required Sociology Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 601 | Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 620 | Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | 3 |
| SOCI 711 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOCI 712 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
| Select one Methodology and Analysis Course from the following: | 3 | |
| Survey Research | ||
| Community-Based Research Methods and Program Evaluation | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Statistical Reasoning for Applied Research | ||
| Ethnography | ||
| Historical and Comparative Sociology | ||
| Analytic Techniques of Social Research | ||
| Decolonizing Social Research | ||
| Ethnographic Research Methods | ||
Other methodology course in consultation with the MA Advisor | ||
| Select three advanced courses (500-800 level) in sociology | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Required Women and Gender Studies Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WMST 630 | Feminist Theories | 3 |
| WMST 640 | Transnational Issues of Gender and Race | 3 |
| MAIS 793 | Integrated Learning Experience | 3 |
| Select one course in critical race studies form the following: | 3 | |
| Critical Race Studies | ||
| Representations of Race | ||
| Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought | ||
| Policing Black Bodies | ||
or INTS 541 | Policing Black Bodies | |
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: | 3 | |
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: | 3 | |
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Sociology of Globalization | ||
| Seminar for Supervision in Teacher Education | ||
| Social Justice and Equity in International Education | ||
| Select three courses from the following that address the study of women and gender and that are not taken as part of the core focus. | 9 | |
| Gender, Sexuality, and Disability | ||
| Transnational Sexualities | ||
| Sexuality, Race, and Immigration | ||
| Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | ||
| Internship | ||
Other relevant courses from other disciplines chosen in consultation with concentration head | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Required Methods Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WMST 610 | Feminist Research Methods | 3 |
Capstone, Project, or Thesis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Interdisciplinary Studies Project | ||
| Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Master's Capstone Paper | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Bachelor's Degree (any)/Sociology, Accelerated MA
Overview
Highly qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MA in Sociology in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 141 credits.
See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
BAM Pathway Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Polices and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated program, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits with a minimum overall GPA of 3.25, and a minimum overall GPA of 3.50 in sociology courses.
Students who are accepted in the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits.
Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements
Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form:
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.25
- Successfully meeting Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
Accelerated Pathway Requirements
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits)
500- or 600-level SOCI courses (up to 12 credits)
SOCI 620 Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry (will count for SOCI 303 Methods and Logic of Inquiry (Mason Core)) and SOCI 636 Statistical Reasoning for Applied Research (will count for SOCI 213 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)).
Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program
500- or 600-level SOCI courses (up to 6 credits)
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements see AP.6.7 Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
Program Outcomes
- Formulate a research question or problem of social importance.
- Synthesize sociological literature to analyze a research question or problem.
- Demonstrate understanding of current theoretical debates in a given area of sociology.
- Design research studies, including the appropriate data collection instruments.
- Conduct research and analyze qualitative and /or quantitative data; make recommendations based on research findings.
- Effectively communicate research findings with academic and non-academic audiences.
- Explain social behavior, social change, and social conflict; review and critique political narratives, organizational policies, and group behaviors.