نظرة عامة على البرنامج

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Sociology (M.A.) Program Overview

The graduate program in Sociology at Howard University's Graduate School is committed to preparing students for careers and lives in service to their communities. With its focus on the study of race, inequality, and the Black experience, the program provides students with the theoretical, methodological, and substantive training needed to critically analyze conditions of oppression, exploitation, and injustice to overcome them.

Program Details

Program Snapshot

• 33 credit hours
• Full-time
• On-campus format
• Degree: M.A.

Application Deadlines

• Spring 2026 entry: No spring entry
• Fall 2026 entry:
  • November 15 (early deadline)
  • January 15 (final deadline)

Admission Requirements

Application for Admission

• Online application
• Statement of purpose/Statement of academic interest (500-1,000 words)
• Critical writing sample demonstrating best academic writing (5-10 pages, 5,000 words max.)
• Official transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical statement (500-750 words)

GRE Requirements

• GRE scores not required

GPA Requirements

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.0
• Undergrad GPA minimum: 3.0

Reference Requirements

• Evaluator type accepted: Professor (3 letters required from professors)
• Evaluator type not accepted:
  • Supervisor/Manager
  • Clergy
  • Friend
  • Family Member
  • Coworker
  • Other

Statement of Purpose and Autobiographical Statement Guidance

Statement of Purpose

The statement should detail the applicant's personal, intellectual, and other motivations and their reasons for pursuing graduate study in Sociology, particularly at Howard University, as well as their proposed areas of study, alignment with specific faculty members, and career goals.

Autobiographical Statement

The autobiographical statement provides the admissions committee with additional information about an applicant's history and life experiences. It allows applicants to provide a detailed account of their personality, enabling the committee to better understand who they are based on their experiences and points of view.

Additional Guidance

Successful completion of undergraduate coursework in sociological theory, research methods, and statistics is highly recommended. Successful applicants are required to make up for deficiencies by taking undergraduate courses before enrolling in the graduate program.

Research Areas

The graduate faculty have a broad range of expertise in areas including:

• Africana/black feminist theory and intersectionality
• Social determinants of health
• Environmental racism
• Reproductive and sexual health injustice
• Transnational, global, and postcolonial sociology
• Coloniality and resistance in the Global South
• Penal confinement and economic systems

Program Outcomes

The M.A. in Sociology at Howard's Graduate School prepares students for careers in applied social science research and policy, social services, government, and private industry or to pursue further graduate study at the doctoral level. As an M.A. in Sociology student, you will learn to integrate sociological theory with quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches to conduct policy-relevant research and hone your ability to present your research results to multiple audiences.