Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Sociology and Criminology, M.A.


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Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Daniel Buffington

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a program of study that leads to the Master of Arts degree in sociology and criminology. The goal of the program is to train students to use theoretical and methodological tools that will allow them to acquire and apply specific information to particular social problems or to improve the quality of life. MA students will be able to concentrate in either criminology or sociology. Graduates will be prepared for careers as evaluators, researchers, planners, managers, advisors, program directors and policy makers. The program will also provide a strong foundation for those who seek to pursue the Ph.D. in traditional sociology and criminology programs.

Admission Requirements


Applicants are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

  1. An application for graduate admission
  2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
  3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  4. Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields; at least two must be from academics
  5. An essay explaining how the MA in sociology and criminology may assist the candidate in meeting her or his personal goals
  6. Students must have a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA
  7. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline

Degree Requirements (34 total credit hours)


  1. The program requires a minimum of 34 credit hours of graduate study.
  2. All students must complete a minimum of 28 credit hours of course work plus six (6) credit hours of either internship (CRM 598 /SOC 598 ) or thesis (CRM 599 /SOC 599 ).
  3. Only three (3) credit hours of graduate coursework outside the department will count towards graduate degree credit requirements.
  4. Students may elect between an internship option CRM 598 /SOC 598  (6 credit hours) or a thesis option CRM 599 /SOC 599  (6 credit hours). Each student must successfully, orally, defend a thesis or internship proposal prior to registering for thesis or internship hours.
  5. Each student must pass an oral defense of either the thesis or internship.
  6. All students are required to take 16 credit hours of core coursework: CRM 500 /SOC 500 , CRM 502 /SOC 502 , CRM 503 /SOC 503 , CRM 504 /SOC 504 , CRM 505 /SOC 505  and either CRM 561 /SOC 561  or SOC 524 .
  7. Students must earn a “B” or above in all graduate courses taken to earn graduate credit in the program.
  8. Transfer work must be equivalent to a “B” or better, and courses must be acceptable to the student’s advisory committee. A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate study must be completed in residence.
  9. This program shall be completed within five years of the date of first registration for graduate study.

Student must complete one of the following. (6 credit hours)


Additional required hours should be chosen from approved electives. (12 credit hours)


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