Sociology MA < Temple University

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Sociology.

About the Program

The graduate program in Sociology is devoted to the training of research scholars and educators in the discipline. Students have a variety of career goals, ranging from academic research and teaching to research and administration in private or public agencies. The master's program provides advanced training in sociological theory, statistics and research methods. The program's main areas of graduate teaching and research are Gender and Sexuality, Immigration and Globalization, Medical Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, and Urban Sociology.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: The program encourages students to participate in seminars in other social sciences, including Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Geography and Urban Studies, History, Political Science, Psychology, Urban Education, and Women’s Studies. A dual degree program is also currently offered:

MA in Sociology/MA in Urban Bioethics with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Affiliation(s): The program is affiliated with the American Sociological Association (ASA).

Areas of Specialization: The main areas of graduate teaching and research are:

Gender and Sexuality
Immigration and Globalization
Medical Sociology
Race and Ethnicity
Urban Sociology

Job Prospects: Graduates of the MA program are typically employed as applied researchers and administrators in private and public agencies.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students with a bachelor's degree may take graduate courses in Sociology without enrolling in a Temple University graduate program. A limit of 9 credits of graduate coursework taken prior to admission will be accepted toward a Sociology degree. Non-matriculated students should consult with the Graduate Chair before selecting their coursework if they plan to apply for the degree program.

Financing Opportunities: The Sociology Department does not offer funding opportunities for students enrolled in the MA program.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1

Applications are evaluated together after the deadline has passed.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with academic competence, wherever possible.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required.

Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, share your interest in Temple's program, research goals, future career goals, and academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Required.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 100
IELTS Academic: 7.0
PTE Academic: 68
Duolingo: 120

Resume: Current personal resume or curriculum vitae required.

Writing Sample: The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to conduct research and write a scholarly paper. The paper may be on any topic. It must be fully referenced according to a professional and scholarly style.

Transfer Credit: Graduate coursework in Sociology may be transferred from outside the university, provided that the credits were obtained no more than five years prior to the student's matriculation at Temple and the grades are "B" or better. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 31

Required Courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Social Theory Course
SOC 8111	Classical Social Theory	3
or SOC 9111	Contemporary Sociological Theory
Methods of Inquiry Courses
SOC 8011	Logic of Inquiry	3
SOC 8211	Inferential and Multivariate Statistics	4
SOC 8221	Qualitative Methods	3
SOC 9211	Graduate Data Analysis	3
SOC 9241	Qualitative Data Analysis	3
Electives ¹		9
Capstone Courses ²
SOC 8873	Writing for the Social Sciences	3
SOC 8883	Second-Year Research	0
Total Credit Hours		31

¹: Electives may include: (1) SOC 9382 Independent Study Program: With the consent of the Graduate Chair and the instructor, students may take one Independent Study course, which is an intensive program of study within a specific area of Sociology. Students who wish to take an Independent Study course must submit to the Graduate Chair at the beginning of the term a "Department Independent Study Request" form describing the readings and/or research they propose to undertake. The form must be signed by both the participating faculty member and the Graduate Chair. A final statement on the work completed must be filed with the Graduate Chair at the end of the term. A letter grade is given for this course. (2) An outside course: With the approval of the Graduate Chair, students may take one course outside of the Sociology Department. (3) SOC 9385 Internship in Social Research: With the consent of the Graduate Chair, students may undertake an internship for course credit, provided the internship unites the core concepts of sociology with professional organizational settings and the community as a whole. Students who wish to complete an internship must submit to the Graduate Chair at the beginning of the term an "Internship Request Form” describing the duties, frequency of service and major outcomes. The form must be signed by both the supervisor of the internship and the Graduate Chair.
²: SOC 8873 and SOC 8883 are taken concurrently.

Culminating Events: The Sociology Department evaluates students at the end of their second year based on two criteria:

First, full-time students are expected to complete a Second Year Paper, which is due at the end of the Spring term of their second year. Part-time students are allowed to complete the paper within a year after finishing their required Social Theory and Methods of Inquiry courses. All students are responsible for recruiting two committee members to review and grade the paper, which is due the last day of classes in the Spring term. Students may work with their committee throughout the semester to ensure the paper aligns with expectations. Papers can be a journal-quality literature review, a journal-quality theory piece, a journal-quality empirical investigation, a grant proposal, or a research report akin to those put out by research organizations. Students then present their paper to the department. Their committee evaluates the paper based on the student's demonstrated ability to synthesize the relevant literature, conceptualize a research problem, and/or carry out a feasible research design. Both committee members must pass the paper. Any student who does not write a passing paper that term must do so the following semester. Those who are unsuccessful on the second attempt are dismissed from the program.
Second, students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better in the degree curriculum. Students apply for graduation in Self-Service Banner by accessing TUportal. Note the deadline for submitting the graduation application on the Graduate School calendar.

Accelerated Programs

Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The accelerated pathway for the Sociology MA is available to students pursuing degrees in:

Sociology BA
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies BA

Cohort Code: XMASOC

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.25

Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Select one of the following: ¹		3
SOC 8111	Classical Social Theory
SOC 9111	Contemporary Sociological Theory
Select one of the following: ²		3-4
SOC 8211	Inferential and Multivariate Statistics
SOC 8221	Qualitative Methods
Select one of the following:		3
SOC 9241	Qualitative Data Analysis
SOC 9211	Graduate Data Analysis

¹: Graduate-level SOC courses will fulfill GSWS 3000+ course requirements for the Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies BA and SOC 3000+ course requirements for the Sociology BA.
²: SOC 8221 is a 3-credit course and SOC 8211 is a 4-credit course. If the 3-credit course is taken as part of the undergraduate program, then an additional undergraduate elective credit must be added to the program of study. The 4-credit course will then be taken the following year.

Suggested Academic Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 4
Fall		Credit Hours
Select one of the following:		3
SOC 8111	Classical Social Theory
SOC 9111	Contemporary Sociological Theory
Select one of the following:		3-4
SOC 8211	Inferential and Multivariate Statistics
SOC 8221	Qualitative Methods
	Credit Hours	6-7
Spring
Select one of the following:		3
SOC 9211	Graduate Data Analysis
SOC 9241	Qualitative Data Analysis
	Credit Hours	3
	Total Credit Hours	9-10

Admissions Criteria

Candidates for the +1 program must:

be a declared GSWS or Sociology major.
be able to complete their undergraduate degree with 9-10 credits of graduate work without extending their time to degree.
have a minimum of 3.25 cumulative GPA (Sociology students need a 3.50 GPA in their major) and be able to complete the undergraduate degree within one year of program entry.
submit an application prior to March 1st in junior year.
have two letters of support from full time faculty who can vouch for the student's readiness for graduate work (both letters must come from a full-time instructor in the student's major).
submit a writing sample that shows the student's ability to complete graduate level courses, drawn from an upper-division course taken at Temple University.
be able to complete the graduate degree in one additional year plus a summer.

Application: https://apply.temple.edu/CLA/Pages/Welcome.aspx