Master of Science

Applied Sociology

The Master of Science in Applied Sociology program at Arkansas Tech University is designed to provide advanced students with sufficient breadth and depth to function in a variety of professional environments. While emphasis is placed on research and Sociological Principles, a concentrated effort is also made to establish the foundation necessary for application.

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Science degree program in Applied Sociology if they meet the following requirements and are approved by the Sociology Graduate Faculty:

  1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College.
  2. Applicants must have a minimum of 18 semester hours in sociology at the undergraduate level (including a course in statistics, and research methods, with a grade of "B" or better).
  3. Applicants must have an overall undergraduate grade point of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  4. Applicants must submit recent (within the last 5 years), acceptable scores (to be determined by the Sociology Graduate Faculty) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  The GRE requirement may be waived upon approval of the Program Director.
  5. Applicants must submit a statement of intent. This statement must answer four questions: 1) Why does the applicant want to pursue this degree?; 2) Why does the applicant want to pursue this degree at Arkansas Tech University?; 3) What are the applicant's research interests and career goals?; and 4) Why does the applicant think they are qualified to receive a graduate assistant position?
  6. Approval from the Program Director.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who fail to meet the criteria for unconditional admission may be admitted conditionally to enroll in twelve (12) semester hours. Students admitted conditionally must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 at the completion of twelve (12) semester hours with no grade lower than "C".

An applicant who satisfies the grade point requirement from an unaccredited institution may also be eligible for conditional admission. In such cases, transcripts may be judged to be deficient. The nature of the deficiency and subsequent deficiency requirements will be determined by the Sociology Graduate Committee and the Director of the Graduate Program in Sociology or the Head of the Department.

Academic Advisors

The Director of the Graduate Program in Sociology or the Head of the Department will assign a temporary faculty advisor to each student admitted to the degree program. The faculty advisor will assist the student in designing a curriculum of study that leads to the fulfilment of the degree requirements and the preparation of the thesis or comprehensive exam completion. The faculty advisor, the Sociology Graduate Committee, and the Graduate College monitor the student's progress in the program. However, it remains the student's responsibility to understand and to satisfy all degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

The student seeking the Master of Science degree in Applied Sociology must complete the following:

  1. A minimum of 30 semester hours in sociology at the graduate level (5000-6000) with no more than 12 hours of 5000 level courses considered toward completion of the degree.

    Required Courses (12 hours)

    SOC 6013 / PSY 6013 Advanced Statistics
    SOC 6023 Advanced Social Theory
    SOC 6033 Advanced Methodology
    SOC 6043 Evaluation and Assessment

    Electives (18 hours, minimum 6 hours at the 6000 level)

    SOC 5003 Minority Relations
    SOC 5013 Drugs in Society
    SOC 5043 / PSY 5043 Social Psychology
    SOC 5053 Sociology Health and Illness
    SOC 5063 Social Stratification
    SOC 5183 Social Gerontology
    SOC 6053 Advanced Topics in Criminal Justice
    SOC 6063 Advanced Topics in Gerontology
    SOC 6891-4 Independent Study
    SOC 6991-3 Thesis Research OR Comprehensive Exam

  2. The satisfactory completion of six (6) hours of SOC 6991-3 Thesis Research.
  3. Thesis hours must earn a grade no lower than "B".
  4. The successful completion of an oral defense of the completed thesis or comprehensive examination. Candidates will receive additional information on the oral defense from the Academic Advisor and the Director of the Graduate Program in Sociology upon admission to candidacy.
  5. No more than six (6) hours of SOC 6891-4 Independent Study will be counted toward the degree.
  6. No more than six (6) hours of SOC 6991-3 Thesis Research will be counted toward the degree.
  7. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
  8. All course work must be completed within six (6) years of admission to the degree program.
  9. A minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate course work completed in residence at Arkansas Tech University.
  10. At the end of each fall semester, the student will meet with the Sociology Graduate Committee for program review and evaluation.

Candidacy

Graduate students admitted unconditionally must apply for candidacy to the selected degree program upon completion of twelve (12) graduate credit hours. Students admitted conditionally cannot apply for candidacy until all conditions assigned at the time of admission to graduate study have been removed.

Upon the completion of twelve (12) graduate hours, a hold will be placed on the students' record until a candidacy form has been approved by the Graduate Dean. Failure to apply for candidacy will result in the hold remaining on the students' record, and an inability to register for subsequent coursework. 

Students who have filed a candidacy form but do not enroll or receive graduate credit for one (1) academic year must submit a new candidacy form upon being readmitted into the same graduate program.  If admitted into a different academic program, students are not required to submit a new candidacy form until twelve (12) graduate credits have been accumulated within the new program.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an Application for Graduation online or at the Registrar's Office. Students must apply for graduation upon completion of twelve (12) graduate credit hours.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited school if deemed appropriate to the Sociology Graduate Committee, the Director of the Graduate Program in Applied Sociology, and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request through the Sociology Graduate Committee to petition the acceptance of the transfer credit prior to request candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the Director of the Graduate Program in Applied Sociology or the Head of the Department and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or taken for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must (in advance of enrollment) obtain written approval from the faculty advisor, the Sociology Graduate Committee, the Director of the Graduate Program in Applied Sociology, and the Graduate College Dean.