Master of Arts in Sociology - Community and Urban Sociology

Sociology is the study of group life: its characteristics, changes, causes and consequences. It combines scientific and humanistic perspectives in the study of urban and rural life, family patterns and relationships, social change, intergroup relationships, social class, environment, technology and communications, health seeking behavior, as well as social movements. The Department of Sociology offers an undergraduate degree, a minor, three certificates, and a graduate degree in sociology. The department also now offers a combined B.A./M.A. five-year program. The MA degree provides a progressive educational experience that equips students for master's level careers or entry into Ph.D. programs. Students complete a set of core courses in upper level sociology (27 credit hours) and either a Master's thesis, report on an internship, or portfolio of work (6 credit hours).
Cities are instrumental sites for the creation, reproduction, and expression of social life. Community and Urban Sociology is a disciplinary sub-field dedicated to the theories and research on communities and urban settlements. Students engage with multiple dimensions of urban and community life in preparation for work in public and community service, government and policy work, and the private sector. Topics emphasized in this concentration include poverty and inequality, racial and ethnic segregation, health disparities, gentrification, housing and homelessness, and the formulation and administration of policies and services addressing these problems. This training offers a foundation for careers in government, human and social services, research, policy analysis, and business, and for continued study in Sociology, Urban and Regional Planning, Demography, Population Health Science, and Public Administration.