Department of Sociology

Academic Programs - MA Sociology

The Department of Sociology's Master's degree program consists of core training in sociological theory and research methods, plus concentration in one of the following specialities: race, gender, and social justice; global sociology; social inequality; gender and family; or applied/professional sociology. The program focuses on forms of inequality, their origins and patterns of reproduction, related to issues of social justice, and how these issues vary within and between societies. It is intended to produce and apply knowledge for the benefit of society. The degree program aims not only to teach academic skills, but also to develop knowledge which will be of value to those involved in working for the promotion of social equality. Courses are designed to enable students to deepen their knowledge of a specialty area, to develop advanced and systematic theoretical understandings, and to develop methodological areas for vocational and professional competence.

MA Sociology Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum university requirements for admission to graduate study, including a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, with at least a 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores are required. A background in the social sciences is strongly preferred. Admission to the program is at the discretion of the department's Graduate Committee and is based on academic record and letters of recommendation from two persons able to evaluate the applicant's potential for graduate study in sociology. Provisional admission may be considered on a case-by-case basis where minimum university requirements are not fully met.

  

Application Requirements

The materials listed below must be submitted to the American University College of Arts and Sciences Office of Graduate Admissions in a single package. 

  • Completed Application for Graduate Admission
  • All official transcripts from every college or university attended
  • A minimum of two letters of recommendation from former instructors, employers, or supervisors
  • A Statement of Purpose, detailing your academic goals
  • Official GRE scores
  • Non-refundable $50 application fee for on-line applications; non-refundable $80 application fee for paper applications
  • Official TOEFL scores, for international applicants

 

Application deadlines are as follows:

For Fall Admission:  February 1
For Spring Admission: October 1

Files received after the deadline will not be considered for financial awards.

How to Apply

Apply for the MA program either on-line or by sending a completed application to the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions Office. A link for the online application is given below, along with the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions Office address.
  On-Line Application

 

  College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions
McKinley Building
American University
Washington, D.C. 20016-8107		  


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