Master of Arts in the Field of Sociology

Students in GW’s master of arts in sociology program receive a thorough grounding in sociological theory (classical and contemporary) and various quantitative and qualitative research methods. These core requirements are supplemented by substantive focus in three major fields: inequality (race, class, gender, immigration, etc.), urban sociology, and criminology. (The Department also offers an MA in criminology program.) The Sociology program’s interdisciplinary emphasis is reflected in the availability of electives in other departments and through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Both coursework and the thesis allow students to gain hands-on experience conducting research and developing skills in data collection and analysis.

The Department’s dedicated faculty works with a small graduate student body, allowing for strong professional relationships among both the faculty and graduate cohort. Our Washington, DC, location expands opportunities for internships, jobs, research, and exposure to a diverse, vibrant, and engaging city and metro area. Financial aid is offered to select academically competitive students. Salary-only graduate teaching assistantships are available to many of our students—graduate assistant experience is an additional source of professional expertise. While most MA students have undergraduate backgrounds in sociology or other social sciences, students from an array of fields, from finance to neuroscience, have been accepted as students and successfully completed their degrees.

Graduates of the MA in sociology program go on to research and social change work in the government, nonprofit, and business sectors, as well as pursue PhD and JD degrees.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences website for application requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact for questions:

askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

36 credits, including 15 credits in required courses, 15 credits in substantive elective courses, and 6 credits in thesis. Students may substitute one or more appropriate graduate-level courses from other GW departments or through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area with the permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
SOC 6230	Foundations of Research Methods
SOC 6231	Quantitative Methods
SOC 6232	Qualitative Methods
SOC 6238	Development of Sociological Theory
SOC 6239	Contemporary Sociological Theory
Electives
Five elective graduate-level courses (15 credits) in Sociology (SOC). Students can substitute one or more appropriate graduate-level courses from other GW departments or through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area with the permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies.
One 3-credit enrollment in SOC 6295 Research can be taken as an elective with the permission of the advisor or the director of graduate studies.
Thesis
SOC 6999	Thesis Research (taken for 3 credits in each of the final two semesters for a total of 6 credits. Permission of thesis director is required.)