The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree with a major in Sociology has three goals. The first goal is to prepare graduates for a career in one of a number of fields, including but not limited to corporate research, personnel work, administration, and data analysis. The second goal is to prepare graduates to teach in community colleges. The third goal is to provide a sound general background for those who anticipate further graduate training beyond the master's degree.
The sociology program offers students the opportunity to think critically about society
and learn how to conduct research to address social issues. The Department of Sociology at Texas State provides curriculum and training to help students meet the increasing demand for social scientists to address issues in a wide range of fields, including the environment, urban development, health, aging, and inequality. Our faculty work closely with our M.A. students to cultivate the expertise to excel in these fields as well as prepare them to potentially continue their studies in a Ph.D. program.
Sociologists embark on various career paths growing in number and significance within the fields of research, advocacy, and teaching. Graduates will find positions in corporations, human resources, academia, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations such as: HR specialists, social media coordinators, consulting project managers, non-profit directors, career development counselors, community outreach managers, administrators, informed activists or advocates, diversity specialists, college instructors
Faculty are well-trained methodologically and theoretically and conduct both applied and basic research. Main areas of specialization include inequality and multicultural relations (race, class, gender, sexuality), health and illness, aging and gerontology and sustainabilityenvironment. The sociology faculty contribute actively to the field by publishing research relevant to current issues in books and scholarly journals, often receiving national and international recognition from academic circles as well as the popular press.
