Ohio University

The M.A. program in Sociology at Ohio University prepares students for professional careers in both academic and applied settings. Students are required to complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate level course work and to demonstrate competence at the graduate level in sociological theory and methods.

The Sociology M.A. curriculum offers a range of courses in theory, methods, and substantive topics; students in the program are required to take 12 credit hours of core elements: SOC 6160 (Sociological Theory), SOC 6540 (Social Research Methods), and an additional research methods course selected from several options (SOC 6010, SOC 5500, POLS 6010, PSY 5111, PSY 6111). In addition, students must take a minimum of two 6000-level graduate seminar courses and two more courses of either Sociology 6000-level graduate courses or Sociology dual-listed courses (undergraduate/graduate). Two additional hours are required from the following options: SOC 5930 (Specialized Readings), SOC 5931 (Research Problems), SOC 6920 (Practicum), SOC 6931 (Independent Study) or SOC 6950 (Thesis).

Master’s students have the opportunity to complete a seminar on the sociology of teaching. As a part of the requirements for this course, students complete a teaching e-portfolio and design and deliver several lectures to undergraduate classes and to their peers in the graduate program. Graduate students can compete for limited graduate teaching positions in our department. Those selected teach their own sections of Introduction to Sociology (under the supervision of the graduate director) during their second year in the program. Our students not only have the opportunity to learn to teach but they also have opportunities to apprentice and collaborate with faculty on research projects. Master’s students are often recruited and trained by faculty researchers to assist and partner on data collection and analysis, and in the co-authoring of presentations and publications.