Coterminal MA Program Requirements

Coterminal MA students are required to take 45 unduplicated units of coursework for their graduate career. All units for the coterminal MA must be taken at or above the 100 level; and at least 23 units must be at the 200 level or above.

Students who wish to take courses outside the department must seek approval in advance. Coterminal master’s students are limited to five units from other Social Sciences departments (Anthropology, Communications, Economics, Political Science and Psychology). Up to five units can be taken as an independent study or directed reading (course Coterminal MA individual study) with a faculty member appointed in Sociology, but no more than 12 units of coursework across the 290 series (including SOC 291, SOC 292) can be counted toward the degree.

Students may transfer relevant units from their undergraduate careers. Courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements. See the Registrar’s Office for additional information on course transfer policies. All units applied to the coterminal master’s degree must be taken for a letter grade, and an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or better is required for the degree. Courses transferred to the graduate career can not longer count toward the BA.

All coterminal students must take course Classics of Modern Social Theory and course Foundations of Social Research (or their 100-level counterparts if taken previously as a Sociology BA). These introductory theory and methods courses are essential to graduate training in the social sciences. Enrollment in course Junior Seminar: Preparation for Research, course Capstone Research Seminar, and course Introduction to Data Analysis is strongly encouraged. Together, these courses provide skills for research opportunities within the department and in academic or professional careers.

The Department of Sociology provides a research-intensive curriculum to a limited number of coterminal Master’s students each year. It is highly recommended that students interested in a research-focused experience have completed SOC 180A/280A and SOC 202, or be enrolled, at the time of application to the coterminal Master’s program. Applicants should indicate interest in their statement of purpose and describe their specific research question or topic. Upon acceptance, research-track students will submit their research proposal to the coterm director for approval. Student in the research track can count up to 18 units across the SOC 290 series (SOC 290, 291, and 292) toward the Coterm MA.

Coterm Advising: Coterminal MA students should meet with the student services officer to discuss a program proposal then submit the proposal to the coterm director for approval. Revised program proposals, which outline the courses to be completed for the master’s degree, must be submitted before the student’s second graduate quarter starts - typically by the end of August.

The Department of Sociology is committed to providing academic advising to support the scholarly and professional development of all coterminal master’s students. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee. The Sociology Coterm Director guides students in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. The Sociology student services officer is also available to assist coterminal students in navigating policies and degree requirements. Students actively contribute to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for knowing and adhering to university and departmental policies, standards, and requirements for coterminal students.

See Coterminal Master's Degrees for university coterminal degree program rules and application forms. See the Department of Sociology website for additional information regarding the Sociology coterminal MA and how to apply.

SOCIO-MA - Sociology (MA)

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