College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
The MS program in Sociology provides a combination of environmental, demographic, organizational, political-economic, and historical orientations to major domestic and global issues. We place particular emphasis on three areas of specialization: Demography, Environment & Community, and Social Inequality (including race, ethnicity and gender). Students have the opportunity to merge foundational coursework in sociological theory and research methods with focused training in the selected specialty areas and apprenticeship roles in both basic and applied research projects. Sustained personal interaction between faculty and students is a hallmark and strength of the program. Students have the opportunity to take electives in any of the departmental specialty areas or outside the department.
The Sociology MS degree is available at the USU main campus in Logan. However, many courses are offered in online, web broadcast, and blended formats, such that students need not be resident in Logan to complete the degree.
Program requirements
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
All MS students write a Plan A thesis under the guidance of their advisor and supervisory committee. The master’s thesis must be successfully defended before the supervisory committee and submitted to the library.
Completion of the degree requires 30 total credits (including 6-9 credits for writing a research thesis) with a grade of B or higher. Exceptions for grades below a B can be offered for a maximum of 6 credits, at the discretion of the supervisory committee. Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GMP for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
We generally do not accept courses transferred from other graduate programs to count towards required credits in the MS program. However, with approval of the supervisory committee and graduate director a maximum of 6 transfer credits may be accepted. To maintain USU graduate residency requirements, at least 24 semester-credits for a master’s degree must be from an approved Program of Study from USU.
A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review. Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
Completion of the MS degree requires the approval of the following forms by the School of Graduate Studies:
- Supervisory Committee
- Program of Study
- Thesis Approval
- Appointment for Examination
- Record of Examination
- SGS and library review and approval
