Plan A (Thesis) Requirements
The MA curriculum in sociology (Plan A) should prepare students for positions involving expertise in social research. In addition, preparatory training is provided to those who are aspiring to a doctoral degree but feel they need more preparation. However, an MA candidate cannot assume that satisfactory completion of this curriculum will lead to placement in the department’s PhD program.
The Plan A program aims to provide the student with a firm foundation in sociological theory and methods and statistics, as well as their application to the study of various substantive aspects of society.
A minimum of 30 credit hours of sociology-related course work is required for this program, as well as the successful completion of an MA thesis. All candidates are required to take at least one course each in the core areas of sociological theory, research methodology, and social statistics at the 400 level or higher, as well as five substantive courses, of which four must be at the 600 level or higher. In addition, students must take 6 credits of Thesis Research (SOC 700 ). The thesis is a substantial research project that shows a student’s ability to produce original substantive and intellectual work. All courses credited toward the 30 credit hour minimum required for the MA degree must be passed with a grade of B or better.
The first semester’s work is planned in consultation with the graduate chair and a temporary advisor appointed by the graduate chair. During the first semester, under the guidance of the temporary advisor, the student prepares a statement outlining a study plan that reflects his or her special interests and meets the credit requirements of the program. By the end of the second semester, the student should form a thesis committee of three or more faculty members, generally drawn primarily from the department.
The thesis committee assists the student in deciding upon a thesis topic. The student then writes a thesis proposal, which must be approved by the committee. Under the supervision of the committee, the student carries out the proposed research and writes the MA thesis. When the committee feels the student is ready, the student submits the final draft of the thesis, and the committee conducts a final oral examination. Both the oral examination and the written paper must meet the committee’s approval for an MA to be awarded.
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