Sociology, BS with grad track option leading to Sociology, MA/MS

The BS + MA/MS in Sociology with a concentration in Research and Theory program will prepare students for their future career paths and allow them more flexibility in employment. Following this academic path is an indicator of potential work ethic for employers, illustrates maturity, and the ability to handle a multitude of stressful situations, along with problem-solving capabilities. Students pursuing the BS + MA/MS in Sociology with a concentration in Research and Theory program will also be well prepared for any Ph.D. program, as they will graduate with a concentrated training in a variety of sociological theoretical thought and the ability to apply research methodology and statistical procedures in applied settings.

Earning a BS + MA/MS in Sociology with a concentration in Research and Theory will also prepare emerging professionals enrolled to fulfill the following career aspirations:

attain and then sustain positions as project managers in the for- and not-for-profit sectors in organizations that require people who can operate as well as teach the skill sets and habits of mind necessary to manage expectations, forge and maintain relationships, and facilitate common understanding;
use the knowledge they gain from their enrollment in this program to effectively begin Ph.D. programs in areas that include but are not limited to Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and other Social Science disciplines;
assume management-level positions in a wide array of organizations (including non-profit organizations) that require those who work for them to be able to formulate, design, and effectively analyze evidence-based results gleaned from the social research processes, and then use this evidence to support crucial decisions and actions;
assume leadership roles in both private and public sector organizations that involve establishing and sustaining community outreach;
use the knowledge and skill sets such as research that they will have learned during their enrollment in this program to attain and fulfill positions in organizations that require the services of leaders who can actually innovate and, when necessary, apply theory as a means to resolve complex, systemic problems.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for acceptance, students must have completed a minimum of 75 undergraduate hours, including four of the six core Sociology courses for a BS in Sociology with a grade of “C” or better:

SOCI 1510 Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 3200 Sociological Theory
SOCI 3220 Quantitative Data Collection
SOCI 3240 Qualitative Data Collection
SOCI 3280 Quantitative Data Analysis
SOCI 4990 Sociology Capstone

Requirements

To earn this “Grad Track” degree, an undergraduate student must have completed 90 credit hours toward the fulfillment of a specific UNT bachelor’s degree program with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or better and have satisfied the rest of its stated admissions requirements. Students who are accepted into this program must elect to enroll in up to four, first-year-of-graduate-study, 5000-level courses in the Sociology Graduate MA/MS curriculum as substitutions for up to four, advanced elective courses in the undergraduate degree.

Each candidate must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of study at 5000-level earned from passing the (up to) twelve hours of 5000-level courses with a letter grade of “C” or better to earn this degree. Candidates must earn 9 credit hours towards their degree from the required courses listed below.

SOCI 5150 Sociological Theory (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5200 Seminar on Research Methods and Design (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5210 Introduction to Social Statistics (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX as approved by Grad Track advisor.

Once (up to) four, first-year-of-graduate-study, 5000-level courses in the Sociology MA/MS graduate program curriculum have been completed successfully (i.e. passed with a letter grade of “C” or better), the candidate’s bachelor’s degree can be conferred, as long as they have met the requirements for whatever undergraduate plan they have filed.

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options

Within the BS + MA/MS program in Sociology with a Concentration in Research and Theory program, students will have the option of completing the Non-Thesis or Thesis Option.

The following courses must then be completed to fulfill the master’s level portion of this Grad
Track degree program following the BS + MA/MS program in Sociology with a Concentration in Research and Theory program:

Non-Thesis Option:

SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 1 (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 2 (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 3 (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 4 (3 credit hours)

as well as

(6 credit hours; 2 5000-level courses) taken within a single UNT Department outside the Department of Sociology to constitute a minor area of study

Thesis Option:

SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 1 (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 2 (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 3 (3 credit hours)
SOCI 5XXX Graduate Level Sociology Elective: 4 (3 credit hours)

as well as:

6 credit hours of Thesis, as mandated by the Department of Sociology Graduate Program

Students enrolled in the BS + MA/MS in Sociology with a concentration in Research and Theory program must file a graduate degree plan prior to completing 15 credit hours of study within it. It is strongly recommended that each candidate for this degree become familiar with the policies and regulations outlined in the graduate catalog. It is the responsibility of each individual student to meet all of the requirements of the Department of Sociology, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and of the Toulouse Graduate School.