department of
Sociology,
Social Work & Anthropology
GRADUATE
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Graduate Program in Sociology provides Master’s- and Doctoral-level
training with a unique integrative and reinforcing combination of social
organizational, social demographic, and social psychological orientations
to major domestic and global issues.
Students have the opportunity to merge basic foundation course work
in sociological theory and research methods with more specialized training
in selected specialty areas and apprenticeship roles in both basic and
applied research projects. The four core specialty areas offered by
our graduate program are
Demography
Environmental/Natural Resource Sociology
Social Problems
Sociology of Development
Click to view more information about Graduate
Program Specializations
Sustained personal interaction between faculty and students is a hallmark
and strength of our program.
Graduate students in the Sociology Program can pursue three types of
degrees.
The Master’s of Science (M.S.) degree is focused
on foundation courses in sociological theory, research methods and
statistics, and a set of electives consistent with a student’s
career goals. The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, at
least half of which are taken in Sociology. Successful defense of
a research-based master’s thesis is required for graduation.
The Master’s of Social Science (M.S.S.) degree
is an applied interdisciplinary degree with emphasis in International
Rural and Community Development. The program requires a minimum of
35 credit hours based upon a minimum of 17 hours in Sociology and
9 hours in each of two minors or “clusters” from other
participating departments on campus. In place of a research thesis,
M.S.S students are required to write a “Plan B” paper.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (Ph.D.) is
designed for students who have already completed a master’s
degree in sociology (or a related field). Students take general coursework
in sociological theory and methods, and in-depth courses in two specialty
areas. Established department specialty areas include Demography,
Environmental/Natural Resource Sociology, Social Problems, and Sociology
of Development. Graduation requires 60 credits of post-masters coursework
(up to 30 of which can be thesis credits), completion of two written
comprehensive examinations in the student’s specialty areas,
and successful defense of a research-based doctoral dissertation.
The Sociology Department houses two active research units that offer
opportunities for students to participate in ongoing research projects,
learn valuable applied research skills, and gather data for their theses
and dissertations. These units are:
The Institute for Social Science Research on Natural Resources,
and
Population Research Laboratory.
Faculty also play key roles in a number of interdisciplinary research
units across campus, including the Institute for International and Rural
Community Development, the Women
and Gender Research Institute, Center
for Persons with Disabilities, Water
Research Laboratory,
Mountain West Center for Regional Studies, and the International
Irrigation Center.
Consistent with the land grant mission of Utah State University and
a long-standing research relationship between the department and the
Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, rural sociological issues have
been an important component of the graduate curriculum and research
efforts of faculty and students.
Detailed information about the Graduate Program in Sociology admissions,
financial aid, and degree requirements is available in our Graduate
Program Handbook. You can view or download the Handbook on-line here.
A short summary of the application materials required can be viewed
here.
For graduate application forms, go to School
of Graduate Studies
For more information Email Dr. Douglas Jackson-Smith, doug.jackson-smith@usu.edu
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