Program Description

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Emergency Management offers the M.S. degree in Sociology. This program is based on the principle that graduate level education in Sociology is a desirable preparation for a growing number of career orientations. Sample positions that our graduates have obtained include research analyst, instructor and human service worker. The precise plan of study for each student will be established in consultation with the academic adviser with the student's career goal in mind.

The focus of graduate education in Sociology is directed toward both the development of applied sociologists and the advanced training of those seeking to pursue a doctoral degree. Students may elect to take courses in a specialty area, or they may pursue a background in general sociology. Areas of specialization include medical sociology/gerontology and community development.

The Sociology graduate program provides students with the opportunity to expand their background and perspectives in research methods and theory. Consequently, the first year of the program is designed to expose students to theory and both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Two program options are available for students. In the thesis option, students work on a research-based thesis. Students typically test theoretical assumptions using primary or secondary data. The comprehensive study option is designed for students who wish to combine their studies with some type of specialized field experience. Students electing this option are required to complete a comprehensive study paper related to their internship, such as evaluating a program.

Students in the Sociology graduate program benefit from a favorable faculty-to-student ratio.

Admissions Requirements

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Emergency Management graduate program is open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full status to the program, the applicant must

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an educational institution of recognized standing.
2. Have adequate preparation in sociology and show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience.
3. At the baccalaureate level, have earned a cumulative grade point average in all courses of at least 3.0 or equivalent and a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in sociology. Applications should be submitted directly to the Graduate School before April 1 of the upcoming academic year (Fall) and September 1 for the Spring term.
4. A letter of intent accompanying the application stating the area of research/focus the applicant is interested in.

Financial Assistance

Teaching assistantships are available to qualified applicants. Research assistantships may also be available, contingent on faculty research funds. Applicants for assistantships are considered on the basis of scholarship and potential to undertake advanced study and research. To be considered for an assistantship, a completed Graduate School application, official transcripts, and three letters of reference must be received by The Graduate School no later than April 1.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits and a master's thesis for the thesis option, or a minimum of 35 credits and a paper for the comprehensive study option. An oral defense of the thesis or the paper is required.

Requirements for the M.S. degree in sociology are as follows:

All students must

1. Successfully complete
   Soc 723 Social Theory
   Soc 700 Qualitative Methods
   Soc 701 Quantitative Methods
2. Complete an additional 21 credits (including thesis) or 26 credits (including comprehensive study).
3. Complete a research-based thesis or comprehensive study paper, and pass an oral defense of the thesis or paper administered by the student's supervisory committee.

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Courses Offered

601 Sociology of Religion 3 Study of religion viewed as a social institution with a characteristic history, ecology, structure, behavior, and purpose. Cross-listed with RelS.

603 Sociology of the Great Plains 3 Social and cultural patterns, trends, and problems peculiar to life in the semi-arid Great Plains.

604 Community Assessment (currently going through Academic Affairs) Students work with community leaders and their towns to conduct an asset-based community assessment of the towns' human, social, cultural, political, built, financial, and natural capitals. This course is a prerequisite to SOC 605.

605 Community Development 3 Study of communities viewed as social systems. Includes political, economic, social, and economic factors affecting community growth and decline. Community development methods are addressed.

607 Deviant Behavior 3 Analysis of the sociological aspects of the antecedents, the social/human relations processes, and the consequences of deviance in Western society. Prereq: Soc 110.

610 Social Inequality 3 Analysis of social and economic inequities and investigation of the relationship between inequity and life changes.

612 Sociology of Sex Roles 3 The socialization of men and women; an analysis of institutional norms, values, and attitudes and their effects on gender role development. Prereq: Soc 110.

617 Sociology of the Family 3 Comparative family types, member relationships, family dynamics in relation to personality, social change, and social values.
618 Social Psychology 3 Examination of both historical and contemporary research and theory in social psychology. The study of the relationship between the individual and the social context. Prereq: Soc 110.

622 Development of Social Theory 3 Sociological theories and systems from Comte, Marx, Durkheim, and Weber through the 20th century. Prereq: Soc 110.

624 Feminist Theory and Discourse 3 Historical overview of feminist ideas and major writings from the 18th century to the present, which includes issues related to women's personal, social, and public lives.

626 Sociology of Medicine 3 Analysis of the social aspects of health and illness, the healthcare professions, organization of healthcare, and related issues.

631 Environmental Sociology 3 Examines the interactions between the biophysical environment and human society, how social processes define, construct, and threaten the environment, and the human causes and consequences of environmental problems and their solutions.

639 Social Change 3 Analysis of the complex nature of social change. Prereq: Soc 110.

640 Sociology of Aging 3 Examination of sociological perspectives on aging. Topics include social theories of aging, retirement, long-term care, chronic illness, and death.

641 Sociology of Death 3 Examination of research on social psychological and social organizational dimensions of death and dying. Additional topics include hospice movement, grief and bereavement, and communicating death news.

643 International Disasters 3 Impacts of natural and human-made disasters on industrialized and developing societies; relief and reconstruction post-disaster programs.

645 Special Populations in Disasters 3 Identification of special populations and their needs that arise in emergency or disaster situations both in industrialized and developing countries.

665 Applied Demographics 3 Overview of demographic concepts and principles, and their application to business and planning decisions. Emphasis on using databases and information sources available on the Internet.

700 Qualitative Methods 3 Advanced analysis of the methods used in qualitative research projects, such as intensive interviewing, focus groups, and participant observation. Prereq: Soc 340.

701 Quantitative Methods 3 Advanced analysis of the methods used in quantitative research projects, such as survey design, experimental design, and evaluation research. Prereq: Stat 330 or 725, Soc 340.

723 Social Theory 3 Examination of contemporary social theories and theory construction. Prereq: Soc 422/622.

The following variable credit courses are also offered:

790 Graduate Seminar 1-3

793 Individual Study/Tutorial 1-3

795 Field Experience 1-15

696/796 Special Topics 1-5

797 Master's Paper 1-3

798 Master's Thesis 1-10