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What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

A minimum of 31 semester hours of graduate coursework must be completed

Where will I take classes?

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: March 15
  • Spring: Does not admit
  • Summer: Does not admit

Sociology, M.A.

Sociology

[email protected]
404-413-6546

Our standalone M.A. program trains social researchers who do not necessarily plan to pursue a career in academia. Students in this program can receive training in social research skills that can allow them to work in industry or the non-profit sector as qualitative and quantitative researchers.

The Department and individual faculty members have consulted and engaged in research projects with many different agencies, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Educational Research Association, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia Narcotics Treatment Center, Georgia Mental Health Institute, Atlanta Regional Commission, the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Pew Charitable Trust and numerous other government agencies, as well as private concerns.

VIEW CATALOG INFORMATION

Program Highlights

The Department of Sociology is in the heart of Atlanta, within walking distance of the State Capitol and City Hall, and is close to other major political, economic, and cultural centers. This connection with a large, vibrant urban community provides an ideal learning environment for students.

Program Details

Qualified students are accepted into the M.A.-only program after completing a baccalaureate degree. Students enroll in the data analytic track M.A. program if they are interested in a terminal, professional degree designed to qualify them for work in research, nonprofit organizations, or other social service analysis or decision-making fields. This program is not for the student thinking about getting a Ph.D.

Admissions Requirements

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts (one from each institution attended)
  • Official TOEFL/IELTS Scores (international applicants only)
    Institutional code 5251 should be used for reporting TOEFL scores
  • GRE waived from admissions requirements beginning Fall 2022 application cycle

The M.A. program consists of a Master's Core (A), Master's Electives (B), and Other Master's Requirements (C).

A. Master's Core Course Work (16 hours):
Soci 8010: Intermediate Social Statistics (3) Soci 8020: Research Methodology (3)
Soci 8342: Qualitative Methods in Sociology (3) Soci 9010: Advanced Social Statistics (4)
Soci 9020: Advanced Research Methodology (3)

B. Master's Elective Course Work (9 hours):
Take three substantive sociology courses or advanced data analysis courses as electives One elective should be in a substantive area such as:

Soci 8030: Sociological Theory I (3)
Soci 8102: Life Course Sociology (3)
Soci 8156: Sexuality and Society (3)
Soci 8216: Gender and Society (3)
Soci 8212: Race and Ethnic Relations (3) Soci 8226: Urban Sociology (3)

Soci 9230: Sociology of Health & Illness (3
One elective should be in an advanced data analysis or data collection method.

Soci 9050: Advanced Topics in Research Methods (3) Soci 8160: Domestic Field School (3)
GEOS 6520 Quantitative spatial analysis (4)
Soci 8900: Applied Sociology and Evaluation Methods (3) PMAP 8521: Evaluation Research: Design & Practice (3) PH 7711: Epidemiological Methods (3)*

PH 8890: Special topics in Biostatistics (3)*
EPRS 9570: Hierarchical Linear Modeling (3)*
Soci 8900/Gero 8700: Intervention Research Design (3)

One additional substantive or methodological elective of your choice from offerings either #1 or #2.

*Any other methods course may be taken with permission from the graduate director and course instructor.

C. Other Master's Requirements (6 hours): Soci 8980: Internship (3)
Soci 8900: Capstone (3)

View a detailed list of curriculum requirements.

The Sociology Department does not offer departmental funding to students in the terminal M.A. program.

The terminal M.A. degree program is a professional program that trains recipients to become research leaders in applied sociology or nonprofit and governmental programs. It highlights methods and data analysis while offering theoretical training in one or more areas of choice.

Description

Careers

Here are some of the sociology job titles you can hold with a master’s degree:

  • Case Manager
  • Human Services Educator
  • College Instructor in Sociology
  • Drug and Alcohol Counselor
  • Director of Human Services Agency
  • Sociological Researcher
  • Geriatric Social Worker
  • School Social Worker
  • Social and Community Service Manager

Contacts

Director of Graduate Studies
Katie Acosta
[email protected]
404-413-6546

Associate Director of Graduate Studies
Daniel Pasciuti
socgradapplicant
404-413-6500

College of Arts & Sciences Lockup25 Park Pl NE #2500
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.