Graduate Program | Department of Sociology

Graduate Program

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Overview

Courses in the graduate program are generally taught in a seminar style and are often scheduled in the evening. A small number of courses are taught in an online-only format.

Required graduate courses are generally taught on a two-year course rotation, although some courses are offered on one- or three-year rotations depending on demand. Refer to the graduate course catalog for updated information on course schedules.

All applicants are expected to begin study in the fall semester, although applications for spring admissions are considered on an ad hoc basis.

Please direct questions regarding graduate admissions and funding to graduate program director Dr. Gabe Ignatow (ignatow@unt.edu).

Master's (MA/MS)

Our graduate programs, including the Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy, are designed to equip students for careers in academia and/or applied sociology. Students have opportunities to work closely with faculty on research projects in areas such as gender, race and ethnicity, globalization studies, urbanization and development, demography, aging, work, and organizations, marriage and family, and environmental sociology.

Marketable skills for this degree include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas, that are valued by employers, and are primary or complementary to the major. The marketable skills goal was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. UNT's marketable skills were faculty-developed and approved by employers or discipline-specific agencies, e.g., internship providers, chambers of commerce, workforce development boards, and other workforce-related entities. For information on these marketable skills - https://vpaa.unt.edu/thecb/class.

The sociology department offers a degree plan that allows students to earn a BS in Sociology along with a MA or MS with a concentration in Research and Theory. More information on this available in the Undergradute page.

MA/MS | The Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees are designed to give students an in-depth knowledge of a variety of substantive areas in sociology, and to help them develop themselves as professional researchers. All Sociology Master's programs require students to complete a core of courses that includes SOCI 5200 (Seminar on Research Methods and Design), SOCI 5150 (Contemporary Sociological Theory), and SOCI 5210 (Introduction to Social Statistics).

  1. Thesis Option: Students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. after completing the Master's degree are strongly encouraged to write a masters thesis. With this option, students are required to complete the core courses and an additional 15 hours of substantive courses, and must write and successfully defend a thesis.
  2. Non-Thesis Option: Students to take this option must complete a total of 30 hours of courses (the three core courses and 21 additional credit-hours) and must pass a comprehensive exam designed by their advisory committee at the end of the program.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

PhD | The Doctor of Philosophy degree is specially designed for students who desire to become researchers and/or instructors in higher education institutions. Emphasis is placed on research experience and attaining a thorough knowledge of sociological theory, methods, and statistics, as well as major and minor substantive fields in sociology.

Marketable skills for this degree include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas, that are valued by employers, and are primary or complementary to the major. The marketable skills goal was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. UNT's marketable skills were faculty-developed and approved by employers or discipline-specific agencies, e.g., internship providers, chambers of commerce, workforce development boards, and other workforce-related entities. For information on these marketable skills - https://vpaa.unt.edu/thecb/class.

For up to date information about the PhD program and its requirements please see the UNT graduate catalog.