Sociology
Department Chair | Dr. Gary Goreham | |
|---|---|---|
Department Location | 107 Reinke Visual Arts Gallery | |
Email Address | ||
Telephone Number | (701) 231-8657 | |
Degree Offered | M.S. | |
Application Deadline | Applicants who seek funding must apply by February 15 for fall semester and September 15 for spring semester. Applications are accepted for all semesters. | |
English Proficiency Requirements | TOEFL ibT 71 |
Program Description
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers the M.S. de gree in Sociology. This program is based on the principle that gradu ate level education in Sociology is a desirable preparation for a grow ing number of career orientations. Sample positions that our gradu ates have obtained include research analyst, instructor and human service worker. The precise plan of study for each student will be es tablished 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, social services and advocacy, international and comparative sociology, and community and organizational leadership.
The Sociology graduate program provides students with the oppor tunity to expand their background and perspectives in research meth ods and theory. Consequently, the first year of the program is de signed to expose students to theory and both quantitative and qualita tive research methods.
Two program options are available for students. In the thesis option, students work on a researchbased thesis. Students typically test the oretical assumptions using primary or secondary data. The compre hensive 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 facultytostudent ratio.
Admission Requirements
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology graduate program open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. In addition to the Graduate School requirements on page 5, qualified applicants must have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale and a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in sociology. Applicants must also have sufficient undergraduate preparation in sociology to support successful graduate work. To be sufficiently prepared in sociology, it is desirable that the applicant has at least 15-18 credit hours in sociology. Full admission requires evidence that the student has successfully completed one course each in sociological theory, statistics, and research methods. Credits from courses in sociological theory and social research methods, but not statistics, may count towards the 15-18 credits of preparation required in sociology.
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 ba sis of scholarship and potential to undertake advanced study and research. To be considered for an as sistantship, a completed Graduate School application, official transcripts, and three letters of reference must be received by the Graduate School no later than February 15 for consideration for fall admission and September 15 for spring admission.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits and a master's thesis for the thesis option, or a mini mum 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:
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 researchbased thesis or comprehensive study paper, and pass an oral defense of the thesis or paper administered by the student's supervisory committee.
Faculty
Gina Aalgaard Kelly, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2007
Research Interests: Medical and Aging Sociology
Pamela Emanuelson, Ph.D.
University of South Carolina, 2008
Research Interests: Small Group Processes, Social Psychology, Mathematical Sociology. Economic Sociology, Sociopolitical Evolution
Gary A. Goreham, Ph.D.
South Dakota State University, 1985
Research Interests: Rural Sociology, Community, Family, Research Meth ods, Sociology of Religion, Sociology of Agriculture
Richard W. Rathge, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 1981
Research Interests: Demography, Applied Sociology, Rural Sociology, Research Methods
Joy Sather-Wagstaff, Ph.D.
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2007
Research Interests: Cultural Anthropology, Visual Sociology, Race, Class and Gender, Death and Dying, Disaster
Christina D. Weber, Ph.D.
SUNY-Buffalo, 2005
Research Interests: Social Theory, Feminist Theory, Sociology of Gender, Memory and Trauma Studies, Social Change
Christopher M. Whitsel, Ph.D.
Indiana University, 2009
Research interests: Social Inequality, Research Methods, Global Compara tive Sociology, PostSoviet Central Asia
Emeritus
H. Elaine Lindgren, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, 1970
Research Interests: Social Change, Gender, Citizen Participation
Joy M. Query, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky, 1960
Research Interests: Medical Sociology, Theory, Mental Health
William Sherman, M.A.
University of North Dakota, 1965
Research Interests: Great Plains, Sociology of Religion, Regional Studies
Kathleen Slobin, Ph.D.
University of California-San Francisco, 1991
Research Interests: Medical Sociology, Sociological Theory, African Studies, Feminist Theory
