College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Master's Degree Program

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.

Admissions and Degree Requirements

Applications to the M.A. program is open to all students holding a B.A., B.S., or higher degree in any field. Admission is based on undergraduate record (2.75 minimum accumulated GPA ) or GRE's, three letters of recommendation, and official transcripts (two copies) from all schools where B.A. credit hours were taken, and letter of intent. Students without prior studies in Sociology, but with otherwise exemplary records, may also be admitted, but may be required to make up deficiency courses without receiving graduate credit. Applications are especially welcomed from individuals having particular interests or career goals relating to any of the Sociology faculty's areas of concentration.

Information on Faculty in the Department of Sociology, CU-Denver .

You may request an application by sending an e-mail request to:

Rachel Watson at rwatson@carbon.cudenver.edu or Richard Anderson at randerso@carbon.cudenver.edu.

You may also pick up an application in the Department of Sociology, which is located in the Lawrence Street Center, 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 420.

Fall admission deadline is June 1st
Spring admission deadline is November 1st
Summer admission deadline is April 1st

Application materials should be either dropped off in the Department of Sociology, which is located in the Lawrence Street Center, 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 420 or mailed to:

University of Colorado at Denver
Department of Sociology
Campus Box 105, P.O. Box 173364
Denver, Colorado 80217-3364

Plans of Study

Two plans of study are open to students. Plan I (thesis option) requires a minimum of 34 hours and a thesis; Plan II requires a minimum of 34 hours and a project. Before beginning the required course work, the student may be required to enroll in deficiency courses, depending on results of equivalency exams or departmental assessment. Deficiency courses do not count toward graduate degree completion.

Required Courses

Both Plan I and Plan II - 9 credit hours

Soc 5015 - Sociological Theory (3 credit hours)

Soc 5024 - Research Methods (3 credit hours)

Soc 5183 - Quantitative Data Analysis (3 hours)

Plan I - 9 credit hours (listed above for both plans) + 25 credit hours (below)

Content courses (minimum 12 credit hours)

Guided Reading (6 credit hours)

Research Practicum (3 credit hours)

Thesis (4 credit hours)

Plan II - 9 credit hours (listed above for both plans) + 25 credit hours (below)

Content courses (minimum 9 credit hours)

Guided Reading (6 credit hours)

Internship (3 credit hours)

Applied Practicum (3 credit hours)

Project (4 hours)

Upon completion of 15 graduate hours in sociology, of which 9 hours must be the required courses listed above for both plans, the student must petition the department to continue either as Plan I or Plan II. Unsatisfactory progress at that time may result in dismissal from the program.

Employment and Career Opportunities

Sociologists embark upon literally hundreds of career paths. Although teaching and conducting research remains the dominant activity among the thousands of professional sociologists today, other forms of employment are growing both in number and significance. In some sectors, sociologists work closely with economists, political scientists, anthropologists, psychologists, social workers, and others, reflecting a growing appreciation of sociology's contributions to interdisciplinary analysis and action. Sociologists enter the corporate, non-profit, and government worlds as directors of research, policy analysts, consultants, human resource managers, and program managers. Practicing sociologists may be called research analysts, survey researchers, statisticians, urban planners, community developers, criminologists, or demographers. Our program also prepares you for continued education in Ph.D. programs at major universities. Many Sociologists become professors, teaching in colleges and universities, advising students, conducting research, and publishing their work.

The Department of Sociology frequently receives job announcements and internship opportunities, which are posted on the bulletin boards in department.

Information on Faculty in the Department of Sociology, CU-Denver

The University of Colorado at Denver has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including women, members of ethnic minorities, veterans, and disabled individuals.

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