This is only one of a few applied sociology programs in the United States. Why do we offer an applied sociology graduate program? Because we believe that applying sociology to our real-world challenges is a powerful way for you to engage in and have a positive impact in your communities and beyond.
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Applied Sociology, Master of Arts
If you’re wondering how to apply sociological theory and methodologies to find solutions to the problems facing society, you may want to consider an MA in Applied Sociology at Northern Arizona University. Here, you can build on your existing knowledge while preparing for job opportunities in applied research settings, teaching, grassroots community settings, government, or for further academic studies in sociology.
This applied Master’s program offers a diverse and highly collaborative academic atmosphere. You can design your coursework to reflect your personal interests, as well as choose between an internship or a thesis. Learn with faculty who have expertise in a range of areas including health, race and ethnicity, culture, community, environment, gender, social policy, deviance, social psychology, and demography.
Our program prepares you for professional practice in human service agencies and applied research settings as well as for further academic study in sociology and related fields. Engaged faculty work with graduate students in a highly collaborative academic atmosphere. Funding opportunities include graduate assistantships, competitive stipends, and tuition waivers.
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Career Accordion Open
Career opportunities that might be pursued:
- Non-profit executive director
- Community College Instructor
- Program evaluator
- Program planner
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Diversity Coordinator
With further education, one of these paths is possible:
- University professor
- Community college instructor
- Researcher
- Policy analyst
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University Requirements
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. (Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.)
You must additionally complete:- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
- All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- All work toward the master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.
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Overview
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 34 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Thesis | Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Oral Defense | Oral Defense may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
Purpose Statement
The M.A. Program in Applied Sociology prepares students for applying sociological theories, methods and skills in researching and analyzing social lives, behaviors and aggregations, for instance, groups, societies, organizations and institutions, for the purpose of understanding social structures, power, and transformations, and building strategies to solve social problems. The Program expands its scope to both the national and global levels, and puts emphasis on NAU three themes of global learning: diversity, environmental sustainability, and global engagement.
The Program includes three optional concentration areas. First, the Sociology of Health concentration area focuses on the impact of social life, including all its dimensions: political, economic, cultural or otherwise, on rates of morbidity and mortality. This concentration area includes medical sociology as well, where students study patients-practitioners relationships within the context of medical organizations. Second, the Women, Gender and Race concentration area focuses on the social construction of gender and racial identities, as well as their relationships with other social identities, and their shifting positions in social structures of power. Third, the Environment, Sustainability and Globalization concentration area keeps pace with the shifting boundaries of sociology to study the interdependencies of the social, economic and ecological dimensions of life, the emergence, structures and dynamics of the global society, and the massive social consequences that result from environmental changes.
Through these concentration areas, students study a variety of social issues, such as, health inequality, sexuality, racial and ethnic conflicts, environmental justice, global social movements, the network society, sustainable communities, etc.
The Program will enable students, not only to recall and comprehend a number of theories and methods, but also to select among a variety of classic and contemporary social theories, and a variety of qualitative or quantitative methods the ones that properly fit a certain social phenomenon or problem, be it local or global. Students will be able to apply these theories and methods to analyze, interpret or evaluate specific local or global social phenomena or structures, and sociologically describe them, design sociological solutions to their identified and analyzed problems, and clearly present their findings to either an academic community or the public in general.
Aware of a number of local and global social issues and problems, and armed with the knowledge of sociological theories and methods, and the skills of analyzing data, evaluating programs and designing social policies and solutions, the graduates of this Program can join doctorate programs in sociology or related fields, teach sociology, or work in local or global, research centers, governmental or non governmental organizations, industry, business, marketing departments, etc.
The M.A. Program in Sociology is designed for students, who are interested in building a career in social research, working in human services agencies, teaching sociology in community colleges, engaging in grassroots activism and social change, or pursuing a doctorate degree in sociology.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Explain key social concepts relating to the groups, cultures, organizations, social institutions, and processes that societies develop
- Design research projects that test theories about social issues
- Collect data through surveys, observations, interviews, and other sources
- Locate published research and data on various social topics such as social inequality, education, population demographics and crime
- Perform and interpret complex quantitative and qualitative analysis that uses social data
- Prepare reports, articles, or presentations detailing their research findings in clear and articulate ways
- Consult with and advise clients, policymakers, or other groups on research findings and sociological issues
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Details
Additional Admission Requirements
- Admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
- NAU Graduate Online application is required for all programs. Details on admission requirements are included in the online application.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A"), or the equivalent.
- Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
- Transcripts
- For details on graduate admission policies, please visit the Graduate Admissions Policy
- International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy
Individual program admission requirements include:
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement or essay
Master's Requirements
Take the following 34 units:
This Master’s degree requires 34 units distributed as follows:- Common Course Requirements: 10 units
- Electives: 18 units
- Internship or Thesis: 6 units
Select one course from the following (3 units):
Applied Sociology Courses (10 units)
Electives (18 units)
Select in consultation with your committee.
Select an Internship or Thesis in consultation with your committee (6 units):- Internship: SOC 696. Complete an internship, which requires your committee's approval, provides you with hands-on experience to help bridge the gap between theory and practice. See the internship coordinator for information about our network of field-placement opportunities with agencies, organizations, and companies throughout Arizona. An internship manuscript is required. Contact the department for further information.
- Thesis: SOC 699. Prepare a thesis, which involves an independent research project in either applied or basic sociological inquiry, followed by the writing and oral defense of an approved thesis. (Please note that you may end up taking more than the 6 units you can count toward your degree because you must register for it each semester while you are working on your thesis.)
Additional requirements:- Select your committee by the time you've completed 18 units of coursework
- Prepare a formal manuscript for your internship or thesis, which your committee must approve
- Make an oral presentation to your committee, which they must approve
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.