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.
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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
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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 15 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.
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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
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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.
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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
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