Master of Arts in Sociology

What course of study is required to attain an M.A. in Sociology?
What background do I need to apply for this program?
What do I need to submit to apply?
When should I apply?
Are there scholarships and/or financial aid available?
What can I do with a Master of Arts degree in Sociology?
What should I do next?

We are pleased that you are considering the Master of Arts degree in Sociology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Following are some basic questions and answers that will acquaint you with our program.

What course of study is required to attain an M.A. in Sociology?

This program requires 30 credit hours of course work. Core courses (15 credits) are required of all students in the program, and include:

Soc. 501 – Social Theory I (Fall Semester)
Soc. 502 – Social Theory II (Winter Semester)
Soc. 510 – Sociological Research Methods I (Qualitative) (Fall Semester)
Soc. 511 – Sociological Research Methods II (Quantitative) (Winter Semester)
Soc. 516 – Intermediate Statistics (Winter Semester)

Beyond the required courses, students must complete an additional 15 hours of coursework. This may include up to 6 hours of thesis research or independent/ directed studies, classes from the Sociology curriculum, or up to two graduate courses from other disciplines with the approval of the Sociology principal graduate adviser.

Students may elect to complete their program either through 1) the thesis option, or 2) the comprehensive examination option. We generally advise students to pursue the thesis option if they are cnsidering going ahead with doctoral studies or if they wish to work in a field where they will need research expertise.

What background do I need to apply for this program?

While an undergraduate major is Sociology is an ideal preparation for M.A. work, many of our students come into the program with backgrounds in other fields and only some previous course work in Sociology. If you have not taken undergraduate courses in Social Theory, Research Methods, and/or Statistics and are otherwise admissible, you will be asked to take these courses before gaining full admission.

Generally, we look for the following in evaluating applicants:

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (B) in the junior/senior years
• An overall GPA of 2.6 and a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses

What do I need to submit to apply?

You will need to submit the following to be considered for admission (all of these should be submitted to the Office of Admissions):

• the UMKC general application form;
• All undergraduate transcripts;
• Three (3) letters of recommendation, preferably from former instructors;
• A statement concerning your goals for graduate study, the nature of your interest in sociology, any past experiences that are relevant to this choice, and your future plans (generally these statements are 1½ to 3 pages in length).

When should I apply?

Admissions decisions are made two times per year. To be considered for admission beginning in the fall semester, all applications materials should be received by March 1 (or February 1 to be considered for departmental teaching or research assistant positions). In order to be considered for the winter/spring semester, all application materials must be received by November 1.

Are there scholarships and/or financial aid available?

Yes. The department awards a limited number of graduate teaching assistant positions each year (decided in the spring for the fall semester). If you are interested in this option, please get an application form from the Principal Graduate Adviser or the departmental office.

The University awards several scholarships to Master’s students. A partial list of assistance programs available to Master's level graduate students is as follows:

• Federally Supported Sources of Financial Aid
• Chancellor's Non-Resident Award
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
• Minority Master's Student Fellowship
• UMKC Women's Council Graduate Assistance Fellowship
• Graduate Student Travel Support

Descriptions of, and provisions for applying for these programs, can be secured from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, UMKC, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, MO 64110, (816) 235-1154 or toll free (800) 775-UMKC.

Students may also apply for Graduate Research and Graduate Teaching Fellowships in the Department of Sociology. More information on each of these may be found at:

SOC Application for Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant

Program of Study

What can I do with a Master of Arts degree in Sociology?

Some M.A. recipients go directly into teaching at the community college or high school level. Others enter the corporate, non-profit, and government worlds as directors of research, policy analysts, consultants, human resource managers, and program managers. Some may become program directors in social service agencies. Some outstanding students go on to doctoral programs after earning the M.A. degree.

Principal outcomes from an MA in Sociology are:

1. Students will have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue either a Ph.D. in a related field or to engage in enhanced study, research, and/or application of sociological method and theory.
2. Students will deepen their professional commitment to community.
3. Students will be able to critically explore the historical development and contemporary manifestation of social inequalities.
4. Students will be able to advance sociological research through their own creative engagement with social theories and research methods.

For more information on careers in sociology, check the American Sociological Association’s web site and click on the Careers and Jobs button on the left of the screen.

What should I do next?

If you have questions about the program that are not answered above, please contact the graduate adviser for Sociology:

Deborah Smith, Ph.D.
208 Haag Hall, 5100 Rockhill Rd.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO 64110
816-235-2529
Email: smithde@umkc.edu

For more detailed information, visit the department web site: http://cas.umkc.edu/soc/index.html