The Department of Sociology offers a comprehensive graduate program for a Master of Arts (MA) which provides a broad foundation in the discipline and enables students to explore a field relevant to their career interests.  This program has two tracks: a general Master of Arts in Sociology track and a Public and Applied Sociology track.  The general track prepares students for mid-level administration, research, and teaching positions, as well as for continuing into a Ph.D.  The Public and Applied track prepares students to help shape and evaluate social policy and programs and includes a required internship.  Both tracks train students in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and offer an elective in writing and presenting research.

Related Programs

Curriculum

The Master of Arts in Sociology requires 30 credit hours and a master's thesis or portfolio. Students may choose between a general or applied sociology track.

General Sociology Requirements

The General MA Sociology track provides students with a broad foundation in sociological theory and methods, as well as a particular focus in a more specialized field of relevance to the student’s career interests in academic, private sector work, government work, or public service.  It is also the foundation for entrance into doctoral study in sociology and most other social science programs. This track requires ten courses plus the completion of a master’s thesis. Completion of this degree normally takes up to two years as a full-time student. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Sociology Required Courses
Introductory Courses
SOCL 405	History Sociological Thought	3
SOCL 406	Modern Sociological Theory	3
Methods and Research Courses
SOCL 410	Logic of Sociological Inquiry	3
SOCL 412	Qualitative Methods in Social Research	3
SOCL 414	Statistical Methods Analysis I	3
Choose Five Electives		15
SOCL 415	Statistical Methods of Analysis II
SOCL 418	Demography
SOCL 421	Theories Social Change
SOCL 423	Social Movements
SOCL 425	Inequality and Society
SOCL 426	Sociology of Gender
SOCL 427	Political Sociology
SOCL 428	Poverty and Social Welfare
SOCL 432	Socialization Thru Life Cycle
SOCL 438	The Family
SOCL 439	Community Change
SOCL 440	Organizations & Organizational Change
SOCL 441	Sociology of Religion
SOCL 442	Religious Conflict & Change
SOCL 446	Knowledge, Power & Expertise
SOCL 447	Sociology of Culture
SOCL 448	Technology & Material Culture
SOCL 452	Complex Organizations
SOCL 453	Occupations and Professions
SOCL 461	Race & Ethnicity
SOCL 462	The Urban Metropolis
SOCL 463	Sociology & Natural Environment
SOCL 471	Sociology of Deviance & Control
SOCL 473	Criminology
SOCL 481	Medical Sociology
SOCL 490	Workshop: Applied Sociology
SOCL 491	Sociological Discourse
SOCL 494	Internship
SOCL 497	Independent Research
SOCL 498	Independent Research
SOCL 499	Directed Study
Total Hours		30

Public and Applied Sociology Requirements

The Public and Applied Sociology track emphasizes the application of sociological knowledge and methods to the development and evaluation of policies and programs. It provides students with a broad foundation in sociological theory and methods, as well as a focus on a more specialized field of relevance to the student’s career interests.  This track requires ten courses, one of which is a credit-bearing internship in an organization outside of Loyola, as well as the completion of a research portfolio, consisting of one library-based paper and one empirical paper.   This degree can be particularly useful for students planning careers in corporations, hospitals, social service agencies, labor unions, community organizations, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. Completion of this degree normally requires one and a half years as a full-time student.

In addition to five electives within the Sociology Program, this track consists of five required courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Applied Sociology Required Courses
SOCL 405	History Sociological Thought	3
SOCL 410	Logic of Sociological Inquiry	3
SOCL 412	Qualitative Methods in Social Research	3
SOCL 414	Statistical Methods Analysis I	3
SOCL 494	Internship	3
Choose Five Electives		15
SOCL 406	Modern Sociological Theory
SOCL 415	Statistical Methods of Analysis II
SOCL 418	Demography
SOCL 421	Theories Social Change
SOCL 423	Social Movements
SOCL 425	Inequality and Society
SOCL 426	Sociology of Gender
SOCL 427	Political Sociology
SOCL 428	Poverty and Social Welfare
SOCL 432	Socialization Thru Life Cycle
SOCL 438	The Family
SOCL 439	Community Change
SOCL 440	Organizations & Organizational Change
SOCL 441	Sociology of Religion
SOCL 442	Religious Conflict & Change
SOCL 446	Knowledge, Power & Expertise
SOCL 447	Sociology of Culture
SOCL 448	Technology & Material Culture
SOCL 452	Complex Organizations
SOCL 453	Occupations and Professions
SOCL 461	Race & Ethnicity
SOCL 462	The Urban Metropolis
SOCL 463	Sociology & Natural Environment
SOCL 471	Sociology of Deviance & Control
SOCL 473	Criminology
SOCL 481	Medical Sociology
SOCL 490	Workshop: Applied Sociology
SOCL 491	Sociological Discourse
SOCL 497	Independent Research
SOCL 498	Independent Research
SOCL 499	Directed Study
Total Hours		30

The internship is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and to make professional contacts that will facilitate their careers. Interns have worked in a variety of organizations-the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, American Medical Association, Better Government Association, and the Midwest Women's Center-as well as for several metropolitan newspapers, fair housing commissions, city government departments, and major corporations. 

Responsible Conduct of Research

All PhD students and students in thesis-based Master's degree programs must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship or other approved coursework in responsible conduct of research as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

There are two possible tracks when obtaining your M.A.: the General M.A. or the Public & Applied M.A. in Sociology.

The General MA Sociology track provides students with a broad foundation in sociological theory and methods, as well as a particular focus in a more specialized field of relevance to the student’s career interests in academic, private sector work, government work, or public service.  It is also the foundation for entrance into doctoral study in sociology and most other social science programs. This track requires ten courses plus the completion of a master’s thesis. Completion of this degree normally takes up to two years as a full-time student. This degree prepares students for positions as research staff in government, non-profit, and for-profit sectors. 

The Public and Applied Sociology track emphasizes the application of sociological knowledge and methods to the development and evaluation of policies and programs. It provides students with a broad foundation in sociological theory and methods, as well as a focus on a more specialized field of relevance to the student’s career interests.  This track requires ten courses, one of which is a credit-bearing internship in an organization outside of Loyola, as well as the completion of a research portfolio, consisting of one library-based paper and one empirical paper.   This degree can be particularly useful for students planning careers in corporations, hospitals, social service agencies, labor unions, community organizations, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. Completion of this degree normally requires one and a half years as a full-time student. This degree prepares students for positions as program directors or staff in government, non-profit, and for-profit sectors.

Students will learn to:
 

• Identify the broad theoretical orientations of the discipline. [General Track]
• Frame sociological research questions. [General Track]
• Synthesize social scientific literature. [General Track]
• Select appropriate data sources. [General Track]
• Collect and present data in accordance with ethical and professional standards. [General Track]
• Use one or more data collection methods to carry out a research project, such as interviews, participant observation, surveys, or archival evidence. [General Track]
• Analyze quantitative or qualitative data. [General Track]
• Write a sociological research report. [General Track]
• Apply sociological knowledge to governmental, non-profit, or for-profit organizational activities. [Applied Track]
• Contribute to the work of a governmental, non-profit, or for-profit organization through an internship. [Applied Track]
• Frame a research question relevant to an organization. [Applied Track]
• Select appropriate data sources. [Applied Track]
• Collect and present data in accordance with ethical and professional standards. [Applied Track]
• Use one or more data collection methods, such as interviews, participant observation, or surveys. [Applied Track]
• Analyze quantitative or qualitative data. [Applied Track]
• Write a sociologically-informed report that is relevant to an organization. [Applied Track]