MA in Sociology
In the GW Master of Arts in Sociology program, students focus on forms of social inequality while honing their skills in sociological theory and research methods. Students develop specific expertise through elective options including Racism, Anti-Racism, and Power; Issues in Immigration Policy; and Race, Gender, and Class. Students also have the option to complete criminology courses such as Policing or Punishment, Prison, and Power as electives for the MA in Sociology, and to take graduate-level courses in other departments and programs such as Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Students can find available courses through GW's Schedule of Classes. 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.
Sample Schedule
COURSE 1 - SOC 6230: Foundations of Research Methods
COURSE 2 - SOC 6238: Development of Sociological Theory
COURSE 3 - Elective
COURSE 1 - SOC 6231: Quantitative Methods
COURSE 2 - SOC 6232: Qualitative Methods
COURSE 3 - SOC 6239: Contemporary Sociological Theory
COURSE 1 - SOC 6999: Thesis Research
COURSE 2 - Elective
COURSE 3 - Elective
COURSE 1 - SOC 6999: Thesis Research
COURSE 2 - Elective
COURSE 3 - Elective
Course Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
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.) | |