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Department of Sociology of Northern Illinois University

Requirements for a Master of Arts in Sociology

Applicants for admission to the NIU graduate program in sociology should have a background equivalent to 3 semester hours in sociological theory, sociological methods, and statistics. Students with deficiencies in these areas may be required to take appropriate course work to remove these deficiencies as soon as possible after enrollment. Students admitted to these programs with stipulated deficiencies will be informed by the graduate adviser of the courses that must be taken. 

Graduate courses are classified into six fields: theory, research methods and statistics, social organization and institutions, social psychology, sociology of health and aging, and criminology. The specific classification of courses by field can be obtained from the sociology office. 

Students must earn an overall GPA of 3.00 or better and a grade of A or B in SOCI 570 and/or SOCI 571, SOCI 575, and SOCI 576. 

The M.A. degree can be earned by the successful completion of either a thesis or a non-thesis option in the program. Students planning to pursue the doctorate should enroll in the thesis option. Students planning to enter or resume careers at the master's degree level should enroll in the non-thesis option. All new master's students are required to consult with the departmental graduate adviser before being admitted to courses. 

No more than 12 semester hours in 400-level graduate courses may be included in the student's program for the master's degree with a thesis option, and no more than 15 hours in 400-level graduate courses may be included in the student's program for the master's degree with a non-thesis option. 

The comprehensive examination requirement may be met by a written examination or by an oral presentation of research conducted by the student. In the latter case, the examining committee will ask questions about related theoretical and methodological issues in sociology, as well as about the research itself. 

Thesis Option 
The thesis option is designed primarily for pre-doctoral students or for those desiring a traditional liberal arts master's degree. Students pursuing the thesis option will be required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours either in the track in general sociology or in the specialization in criminology.

General Sociology 
     SOCI 570, Classical Sociological Theory (3) 
     SOCI 571, Contemporary Sociological Theory (3) 
     SOCI 575, Sociological Statistics (3) 
     SOCI 576, Advanced Research Methodology (3) 
     SOCI 599, Master's Thesis (6) 
     One course selected with the graduate adviser (3) 
    Three courses in one of the following areas: theory, research methods and statistics, social organizations and institutions, social psychology, sociology of health & aging, criminology (9) 

Specialization in Criminology 
     SOCI 570, Classical Sociological Theory (3), 
     OR SOCI 571, Contemporary Sociological Theory (3) 
     SOCI 575, Sociological Statistics (3) 
     SOCI 576, Advanced Research Methodology (3) 
     SOCI 581, Theories of Delinquency and Crime (3) 
     SOCI 589, Criminal Justice in Society (3) 
     SOCI 599, Master's Thesis (6) 
     Two electives in criminology selected from graduate offerings in consultation with the graduate adviser (6). One course selected in consultation with the graduate adviser (3) 

Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis option is designed for those students who expect to follow careers that do not require the doctorate. Students pursuing the non-thesis option will be required to complete a minimum of 36 semester hours including 6 semester hours of ILAS 502, Internship, a set of core courses (9 semester hours), an applied sequence (9 semester hours), and the track in general sociology or the specialization in criminology (12) 

At the discretion of the department, the requirement for ILAS 502 may be waived if a student has had appropriate professional experience. In such cases, ILAS 502 will be replaced by 6 semester hours of electives chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser. 

Core Courses
     SOCI 570, Classical Sociological Theory (3), 
     OR SOCI 571, Contemporary Sociological Theory (3) 
     SOCI 575, Sociological Statistics (3) 
     SOCI 576, Advanced Research Methodology (3) 

Applied Sequence
The applied sequence is a set of courses thought to have particular relevance for types of employment appropriate for master's-level sociology graduates and is intended to complement a traditional sociological education, not to replace a professional degree in another field. The applied sequence consists of a set of three courses in one of the following areas: public health applications, quantitative methods, applied social research, organizational analysis, community programs and development, social policy analysis, modeling skills, budgeting and planning, or a specially designed applied sequence approved in advance by the graduate adviser. A list of courses approved for these applied sequences is available in the Department of Sociology office. 

General Sociology 
Twelve semester hours (6 semester hours each in two areas) must be completed in the areas of theory, research methods and statistics, social organizations and institutions, social psychology, sociology of health and aging, or criminology. 

Specialization in Criminology 
     SOCI 581, Theories of Delinquency and Crime (3) 
     SOCI 589, Criminal Justice in Society (3) 
    Two criminology elective courses selected from graduate offerings in consultation with the graduate adviser (6)

 

Contact Kristen Myers, the Director of Graduate Studies: kmyers@niu.edu