Overview of the Graduate Program in Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers graduate courses and research opportunities leading to the Master of Arts degree.

Graduate work in sociology is designed to prepare students for teaching and research in sociology, for positions in public and private agencies, and for further advanced study. The Master of Arts degree can be earned by the successful completion of a thesis or non-thesis 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. The department encourages both full- and part-time students by offering most regular graduate courses in late afternoon and evening hours.

Specializations:
Students may pursue the thesis or non-thesis option with a specialization in either general sociology or criminology. In both the thesis and non-thesis programs, students are expected to acquire a firm grounding in sociological theory, research methods, statistical analysis, and one or more substantive areas of study. Students pursuing the thesis option will be required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours including a thesis (6 semester hours) and one elective course selected from graduate offerings in consultation with the graduate advisor. Students pursuing the non-thesis option will be required to complete a minimum of 36 semester hours, including an internship (6 semester hours), a set of core courses (9 hours), and one of several applied sequences (9 hours).

Applied sequences include community programs and development, budgeting and planning, social policy analysis, public health applications, quantitative methods, organizational analysis, applied social research, and modeling skills. With prior permission, it is possible to design a special applied sequence.

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



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Dept. of Sociology Zulauf Hall DeKalb, IL 60115 Phone: (815) 753 - 0365 Fax: (815) 753 - 6302