MA in Sociology
In the GW Master of Arts in Sociology program, students focus on social stratification and inequality while honing their skills in sociological theory and research methods. Students develop specific expertise in their chosen major and minor fields, with elective options including Race and Urban Development; Principles of Demography; and Race, Gender and Class. Students also have the option to complete criminology courses as electives for the MA in Sociology. All MA in Sociology students must complete a thesis.
Our MA graduates have gone on to win Fulbrights, publish papers and books and help shape the future of society through careers in policy, law, public administration and more.
MA Sociology and MA Criminology Info Session: March 11
Join us online for an information session discussing the field of sociology and the GW Master of Arts in Sociology and Master of Arts in Criminology programs.
Concentrations
MA in Sociology students choose one major field and one minor field from three designated areas: social inequality, criminology and urban sociology. Students must complete two courses in the major and one in the minor.
- Social Inequality Courses
-
- SOC 6245: Race Relations
- SOC 6246: Comparative Race and Ethnicity
- SOC 6248: Race and Urban Redevelopment
- SOC 6252: Selected Topics
- SOC 6263: Race and Crime
- SOC 6265: Women, Welfare and Poverty
- SOC 6268: Race, Gender and Class
- SOC 6271: Gender and Society
- SOC 6273: The Sex Industry
- SOC 6286: Law of Race and Slavery
- Criminology Courses
-
- SOC 6258: Deviance and Control
- SOC 6259: Criminology
- SOC 6260: Special Topics in Criminology
- SOC 6262: Corrections
- SOC 6263: Race and Crime
- SOC 6264: Organized Crime
- SOC 6273: The Sex Industry
- Urban Sociology Courses
-
- SOC 6248: Race and Urban Redevelopment
- SOC 6250: Urban Sociology
- SOC 6252: Selected Topics
- PSC 6211: Urban Politics
- PSC 6212: Urban Policy Problems
- GEOG 6243: Urban Geography
Sample Schedule
- SOC 6238: Sociological Theory
- SOC 6230: Sociological Research Methods
- Elective OR major/minor field course
- SOC 6239: Sociological Theory
- SOC 6231: Data Analysis
- Elective OR major/minor field course
- SOC 6998: Thesis Research
- SOC 6232: Qualitative Methodology: Doing Field Research
- Elective OR major/minor field course
- SOC 6999: Thesis Research
- Elective OR major/minor field course
- Elective OR major/minor field course
Course Requirements
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
36 credits, including 15 credits in required courses, 15 credits in substantive elective courses, and 6 credits in thesis. Students may substitute one or more appropriate graduate-level courses from other GW departments or through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area with the permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SOC 6230 | Foundations of Research Methods | |
| SOC 6231 | Quantitative Methods | |
| SOC 6232 | Qualitative Methods | |
| SOC 6238 | Development of Sociological Theory | |
| SOC 6239 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | |
| Electives | ||
| Five additional graduate-level courses in Sociology (SOC) are required as electives. Students can substitute one or more appropriate graduate-level courses from other GW departments or through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area with the permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies. | ||
| One 3-credit enrollment in SOC 6295 Research can be taken as an elective with the permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies. | ||
| Thesis | ||
| SOC 6999 | Thesis Research (taken for 3 credits in each of the final two semesters for a total of 6 credits. Permission of thesis director is required.) | |
Affiliated PhD Program
The Columbian College's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration offers a PhD in Public Policy and Administration. Graduate students in sociology may be interested in the doctoral program's concentrations in gender, poverty and inequality, race and ethnicity or urban policy.