Basic Core Program

All students complete the basic program, regardless of whether they hold the B.A. or M.A. degree at the time of admission. A student is expected to complete the basic program in not less than three nor more than six affairs committee counsels the student concerning matters relevant to the core program.

Course requirements

In the core program, the minimum requirement is 40 units of academic work with no grade less than a "B" in core courses. Work in the basic core courses must be distributed as follows:

a) Required Core Sequence in Theory: SOC 202A, SOC 202B.
b) Required Core Sequence in Methodology: SOC 201A, SOC 201B.
c) Required Core Sequence in Statistics: SOC 203A, SOC 203B.
d) Required Proseminar in Sociology: SOC 232.

The core sequences in theory, methodology, and statistics, and the Proseminar in Sociology are to be completed within the first year.

e) Required Research Colloquium: SOC 293 (Required each quarter until student is advanced to candidacy.)
f) Required Research Practicum: SOC 250.
g) A minimum of one course from each of two specialization areas.

Students who have had extensive graduate training in a core course area at another graduate school, may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee to be examined by a special faculty committee for possible exemption from that core requirement.

Professional Paper

Each student submits one paper for faculty review which is in a form, content, and style which would be appropriate for publication or presentation to a sociological audience if it were submitted for review. Each paper is evaluated by a faculty committee and is part of the assessment for admission to the period of specialization.

When students have successfully completed their requirements under the core program they request admission to the period of specialization by filing a Petition for Faculty Evaluation with the Department. Following faculty evaluation of all aspects of the student's performance, the Sociology faculty will decide if the students have successfully completed the preliminary qualifying portions of their program and are to be awarded an M.A. degree and admitted to the period of specialization; be awarded an M.A. degree but not admitted to the period of specialization; not be awarded an M.A. degree and will not be admitted to the period of specialization.