Program Overview

Combined Sociology Degrees

Program Overview

The Department of Sociology offers a five-year bachelor's/master's program for highly motivated Sociology majors. Our programs 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.

Program Details

• Program Type: B.S. and M.A. or M.S.
• Major: Sociology
• Grad Track: Combined Bachelor's/Master's
• Format: On Campus
• Estimated Time to Complete: 5-6 years
• Credit Hours: 150

Why Earn Combined Sociology Degrees?

We’ll provide you with a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of social theory and research methods. This is accomplished through a combination of core and elective courses taught by recognized scholars in their field.

The Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees are designed to give you an in-depth knowledge of a variety of substantive areas in sociology and to help you develop yourself as a professional researcher.

Research Areas

• Comparative and global sociology
• Demography
• Development and social change
• Environmental sociology
• Health, illness and aging
• Marriage and family
• Race and ethnicity
• Religion
• Social inequality and stratification
• Social media
• Sustainable societies
• Work and organizations

Marketable Skills

• SPSS literacy
• Oral and written communication
• Teamwork
• Analytical problem-solving
• Introductory research methods
• Quantitative and qualitative research design
• Statistical analysis and interpretation
• Conduct research literature reviews
• Empirically-based analytical reasoning

Program Highlights

• Master's Thesis Option: Students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. after completing the master's degree are strongly encouraged to write a master's 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.
• Master's Non-Thesis Option: Students who take this option must complete a total of 30 hours of courses and pass a comprehensive exam designed by their advisory committee at the end of the program.

Faculty Research Interests

• Demography
• Economic sociology
• Environmental sociology
• Gerontology and aging
• Medical sociology
• Sociology of development and social change
• Sociology of disasters
• Sociology of the family and the life cycle
• Sustainable societies

Career Opportunities

A Sociology degree can prepare you for numerous careers in human services and corporations or for an entry-level research job as an interviewer or statistician. You can work as a social worker, career or family counselor, parole or probation officer, or in a community service area. Related careers are available in:

• Advertising and marketing agencies, manufacturing corporations and consulting firms
• Criminal justice organizations
• Government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations
• Hospitals
• Religious and youth organizations
• Universities and colleges

Sample Courses

• Sociology of Religion (3 hrs)
• Sociology of Sexuality (3 hrs)
• Sociological Theory (3 hrs)
• Criminological Theory (3 hrs)
• Sociology of Education (3 hrs)
• Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity (3 hrs)