Master's program

The programs leading to the Master of Arts degree in Sociology, while containing a core of theory and method, are designed to provide flexibility for students as well as to reflect the diversity that characterizes the discipline. Individual programs beyond the core are designed to fit students' interests and to supplement areas in which they may require additional work, insofar as faculty resources and specializations permit.

The Department offers two programs leading to the M.A. degree. Normally, students will declare their intention to pursue one or the other option by the end of April of their first year in the graduate program.

Master's program - thesis option

This program involves 9 units of course work and a 6-unit thesis, with at least 12 of the 15 units drawn from Sociology listings in the calendar. At least 13.5 units must be at the graduate level; 1.5 units may be selected from undergraduate Sociology courses numbered 300 and higher (subject to approval by the Graduate Adviser). In this program, students write a thesis (SOCI 599) for which they receive 6 units of credit. Students are required to demonstrate competence in both sociological theory (SOCI 503 or 504) and method (SOCI 507 and 515).

In addition, normally students must complete at least one of the following: SOCI 525, 535, 545, 556, 566, 585. CSPT 500 or CSPT 501 may be substituted for these courses if the CPST section is taught by a member of the Sociology Department. These courses are designed to facilitate the range of interests displayed by traditional and contemporary sociological inquiry. The range of such interests is illustrated by the current areas of interest declared by the Sociology faculty.

Course requirements

Course	Units
Thesis (SOCI 599)	6.0
Statistical Analysis (SOCI 507)	1.5
Qualitative Research Methods (SOCI 515)	1.5

One of the following:

Course	Units
Classical Sociological Theory (SOCI 503)	1.5
Contemporary Social Theory (SOCI 504)	1.5

At least one of the following:

Course	Units
Linear Models (SOCI 508)	1.5
Research Design (SOCI 511)	1.5
Gender, Power and Social Justice (SOCI 525)	1.5
Political Sociology (SOCI 535)	1.5
Sociology of Health (SOCI 545)	1.5
Social Inequality (SOCI 556)	1.5
Social Movements (SOCI 566)	1.5
Seminar on Aging (SOCI 585)	1.5
Topics in Cultural, Social and Political Thought (CSPT 500)*	1.5
Contemporary Cultural, Social and Political Thought: I (CSPT 501)	1.5

* May be taken more than once if course content differs.

Thesis preparation

Before a student commences work on the thesis, a thesis proposal outlining the student's problem (from a theoretical and methodological viewpoint) must be approved at a meeting of the student and her/his supervisory committee. A copy of the proposal and the recommendations of the supervisory committee will be placed in the student's file. Typically, Sociology theses are between 80 and 120 pages long. Students should consult the Guide to Graduate Studies in Sociology, available at the Department's website, for details on thesis preparation.

Oral examination

Students in the thesis option will be supervised by a committee consisting of their academic supervisor and two other members, and will undergo an oral examination upon completion of their thesis.

Program length

The Department expects full-time students to spend two years completing the master's degree. Students who take the Co-operative Education option can expect to take close to three years to complete the master's degree. Students who complete the master's degree on a part-time basis can expect to take three to four years, depending on how many terms involve full-time enrolment and how many involve part-time enrolment.

Master's program - non thesis option

This program involves 12 units of course work and a 3-unit Extended Essay, with at least 9 of the 15 units drawn from Sociology listings in the Calendar. At least 13.5 units must be at the graduate level; 1.5 units may be selected from undergraduate Sociology courses numbered 300 and higher (subject to approval by the Graduate Adviser). In this program, students write an Extended Essay (SOCI 598) for which they receive 3 units of credit. Students are required to demonstrate competence in both sociological theory (SOCI 503 or 504) and method (SOCI 507 and 515). In addition, students must complete at least two of the following: SOCI 525, 535, 545, 556, 566, 585. CSPT 500 or CSPT 501 may be substituted for these courses if the CPST section is taught by a member of the Sociology Department.

Additional courses may be taken from other departments, up to a maximum of 4.5 units, selected in consultation with the Graduate Adviser and the student's supervisor, and with permission of the other departments.

Course requirements

Course	Units
Extended Essay (SOCI 598)	3.0
Statistical Analysis (SOCI 507)	1.5
Qualitative Research Methods (SOCI 515)	1.5

One of the following:

Course	Units
Classical Social Theory (SOCI 503)	1.5
Contemporary Social Theory (SOCI 504)	1.5

At least two of the following:

Course	Units
Gender, Power and Social Justice (SOCI 525)	1.5
Political Sociology (SOCI 535)	1.5
Sociology of Health (SOCI 545)	1.5
Social Inequality (SOCI 556)	1.5
Social Movements (SOCI 566)	1.5
Seminar on Aging (SOCI 585)	1.5
Topics in Cultural, Social and Political Thought (CSPT 500)	1.5
Contemporary Cultural, Social and Political Thought: I (CSPT 501)	1.5

Final project

In this program, students write an Extended Essay (SOCI 598) for which they receive 3 units of credit. Typically, the Extended Essay is between 40 and 60 pages long.

Oral examination

Students in the non-thesis program will be supervised by a committee consisting of their academic supervisor and one other Department member and will undergo an oral examination upon completion of their Extended Essay.