Master of Arts in Sociology - Crime, Law and Deviance

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).
The focus of this concentration is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of criminology including the social construction of laws, the causes of crime, reactions to law violations, and the prevention, control, and treatment of crime. Additionally, the program teaches students how deviant categories are created, how groups gain control over social definitions, and the consequences these definitions have in the form of norms, laws, and social sanctions. The concentration on crime, law, and deviance also focuses on how legal systems maintain and reproduces social inequalities. This offers an essential foundation for students pursuing careers in criminal justice, victim and community services, criminal law, and non-profit organizations in local and international contexts. Students may ultimately use this degree to conduct social research on crime, influence public policy, and inform government decisions about crime and law.

Three letters of recommendation (at least two must be from academic/professional sources)
Arrange submission of official transcripts from all schools where BA and graduate credit hours were taken
Statement of purpose and goal of graduate study (Part 2, Question 6 on application).
Writing sample (click here for criteria)
Optional: GRE score not required, but may be submitted to aid application file
Application to the MA program is open to all students holding a BA, BS or higher degree in any field. Students without prior training in sociology may be admitted but may be required to make up deficiencies without graduate credit.

The department does not require a specific GPA for admission but does recommend these standards:
a combined GPA of at least 3.3 for all courses taken at the undergraduate or graduate level prior to admission.
a combined GPA of at least 3.5 for all sociology courses at the undergraduate or graduate level prior to admission.

TOEFL iBT :- 79 with Reading - 8, Listening - 7, Speaking - 18, Writing - 16
IELTS:- 6.5 with Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing - 5.5