Sociology, M.A. (Restricted to students in the Ph.D. program)
Degree Requirements (30 Post-baccalaureate hours)
The M.A. requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the B.A. or B.S. This includes 6 hours of thesis preparation (i.e., post-baccalaureate). Consult the Sociology Graduate Student Handbook for further information (http://www.cas.sc.edu/socy/GradHandbook.pdf). The MA comprehensive assessment, as required by the Department and the Graduate School, is fulfilled by the successful completion and oral defense of an MA thesis.
Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCY 711 | Theory Construction | 3 |
| SOCY 710 | Theoretical Foundations of Sociology | 3 |
| SOCY 720 | Survey of Research Methods | 3 |
| SOCY 730 | Statistical Analysis in Sociology | 3 |
| Disciplinary Pathway - Students must complete 9 credit hours in approved SOCY courses at the 500-level or above within one of the department’s three disciplinary areas (i.e., Inequalities and Institutions, Social Psychology, or Networks). When selecting courses, refer to the approved course list for each disciplinary area in the Graduate Student Handbook available on our website. | 9 | |
| Electives - Select from SOCY 500-SOCY 891. Courses from other units may apply here only with the approval of the Program Director. | 3 | |
| SOCY 799 | Thesis Research and Preparation | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Outside of these core MA requirements, students must complete:
Additional Information
Students must maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA (B average) in all graduate courses at USC. Grades below B are generally unacceptable. Students receiving a second grade of C+ or lower may be dismissed without further review.
Students may take up to 6 credit hours of 500-level coursework. Students may take no more than 3 credit hours of coursework outside of the department, with prior approval by the student’s advisor and Graduate Program Director.
Students will take part in a 1-credit hour per semester seminar that runs throughout the Fall and Spring semesters. All students enrolling in thesis (799) or Dissertation (899) preparation will register for these hours with the seminar leader, typically the Graduate Program Director. All students who are not enrolled in these hours will still be expected to fully participate in the seminar to remain in good standing in the program.
MA Thesis and Comprehensive Assessment
The MA comprehensive assessment, as required by the Department and the Graduate School, is fulfilled by the successful completion and oral defense of a thesis. The MA thesis is an original research project that demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent scholarly work on a focused topic. The student will form an MA thesis committee of at least three departmental faculty members, one of whom serves as Chair. In collaboration with the MA thesis committee, the student develops a thesis proposal. Full-time students should complete the MA thesis proposal during the first semester of their second year (i.e., within 3 semesters). After finalizing the MA thesis, students hold a final oral defense in the second semester of their second year (i.e., within 4 semesters). The M.A. is awarded only after the thesis is approved by the committee, accepted by The Graduate School, and all program requirements are met.