Graduate Degree
Master of Arts in Sociological Practice
The M.A. in sociological practice at IPFW is a terminal master's degree program designed to prepare you to be a skilled practitioner of sociology. Sociological practitioners use knowledge from the discipline of sociology to do needs assessment, program development and evaluation, policy analysis, staff development and training, conflict intervention in public and private organizations, and community organization for social change.
The goal of the program is to educate you to apply the sociological perspective to research, analysis, and intervention in the function of social institutions, organizations, and groups. In addition, this program is designed to help you develop the skills necessary to conduct social research analysis and design effective research-based interventions. Successful completion of the M.A. in sociological practice program will enable you to:
- Acquire an advanced understanding of sociological practice, including a comprehensive knowledge of the theory, professional standards, and ethics of sociological practice.
- Develop skills in the design, implementation, and analysis of social research and in the interpretation of social science research data for a non-academic audience.
- Develop the skills needed to design and implement flexible, creative, research-based interventions to effect change in groups, organizations, and societies.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for regular admission to the M.A. in Sociological Practice program, candidates should:
- Have earned baccalaureate degrees from institutions of recognized standing with a major in either sociology or a related discipline.
- Have earned an undergraduate grade-point average of B or better (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
- Have earned a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (old scale) or 213 (computer-based test) if English is your second language.
- Demonstrate ability to complete the program successfully:
- Submit a 300-500 word Statement of Purpose regarding your current goals, plans for your professional career, and reasons for selecting this field of study.
- Submit three letters of recommendation, at least two of which are from professors familiar with your academic work.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional.
- Submit official transcripts of all college and university work.
Submit all other materials necessary to complete the Masters in Sociological Practice application packet (you can request an application packet by completing the online Information Request Form).
If you have not received an undergraduate degree in sociology or have not completed the three core undergraduate courses - Sociological Theory, Research Methods, and Statistics - you may be admitted with the contingency that you will need to complete these undergraduate courses before you are allowed to enroll in the equivalent graduate courses in sociological practice.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Sociological Practice is a 33-credit program of approved graduate courses composed of the core component (which includes the practicum or thesis) and the elective component. Remedial courses and other undergraduate courses do not count towards graduation.
In addition to fulfilling the academic regulations that apply to all Indiana University graduate students, all degree requirements outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, and all program requirements previously outlined in this handbook, graduate students in the Master of Arts in Sociological Practice program must satisfy all of the following general degree requirements:
- Students must complete all graduate coursework with a grade of B or better in order for the course to count toward the degree.
- Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all graduate coursework.
The core component (18 credits) is designed to provide you, through a series of foundation seminars, with a general level of graduate training in the intellectual tools of sociology. Included are the fundamental elements of social organization and sociological research. The core component courses are listed below.
| Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC P540 | Principles of Sociological Theory and Practice | 3 |
| SOC P550 | Statistical Techniques For Sociological Practice I | 3 |
| SOC P570 | Applied Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC P697 | Professional Development | 3 |
| SOC P698 | Practicum In Sociological Practice (3cr. hrs. for each 2 semesters) OR |
3 |
| SOC P699 | Master's Thesis (3cr. hrs. for each 2 semesters) | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
The elective component (15 credits) is designed to give you an ability to develop a curriculum emphasizing the applied research component of sociological practice. You and your mentor will select appropriate electives in applied sociology or other approved graduate courses. Students may take up to 6 credit hours of electives outside the department. These electives must be approved in advance. Outside elective approval forms are available from the graduate secretary. They must be submitted and approved prior to enrolling in the course.
The Master of Arts in Sociological Practice program will maintain flexibility to provide you with training appropriate to your particular professional needs. Some of the courses that can be used to fulfill the requirements of the applied research elective component are listed below. Check the printed schedule listing or OASIS for courses offered in a particular term. Check with the Graduate Secretary to find out what graduate courses will be offered in future terms.
| Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC P510 | Seminar on Organizations and the Individual | 3 |
| SOC P514 | Health and Healthcare Issues | 3 |
| SOC S516 | Seminar in Sociology of Family | 3 |
| SOC P517 | Social Stratification and Sociological Practice | 3 |
| SOC S518 | Seminar in Sociology of Religion |
3 |
| SOC S521 | Seminar in Deviant Behavior | 3 |
| Research in Criminology | 3 | |
| SOC P560 | Topics in Sociological Practice | 3 |
| SOC P560 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SOC P560 | Needs Assessment | 3 |
| SOC S560 | Topics in Sociology | 3 |
| SOC P562 | Topics in Policy Analysis | 3 |
| SOC S570 | Sociology in Education | 3 |
| SOC S574 | Medical Sociology | 3 |
| SOC S575 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
| SOC P576 | Sociological Pedagogy | 3 |
| SOC P578 | Mediation and Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| SOC P650 | Statistical Techniques for Sociological Practice II | 3 |
| SOC P670 | Advanced Applied Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC P695 | Independent Research in Sociological Practice | 3 |
| SOC P696 | Independent Clinical Analysis and Intervention | 3 |
The Practicum SOC P698(6 credits) is designed to give a student a hands-on professional practice experience and is to be undertaken only after they completed at least half of the formal coursework. The practicum is to be divided over a two-semester sequence. During each semester, student is expected to work as a practicing sociologist in a settling outside the university in a for-profit or nonprofit organizational setting. The student is required to complete 150 hours per semester at their chosen site for each of the two semesters, in addition to scheduled periodic meetings. The practicum serves as a capstone experience in which the student integrates and applies what has been learned during formal coursework.
After completing the practicum, the student will write a report concerning the practicum experience that will be shared with the host agency or organization and presented to representatives of the agency and sociology faculty at an appropriate forum. After successfully completing all the requirements of the practicum, the Practicum Committee will recommend to the Graduate Director that the student be awarded the Master of Arts in Sociological Practice degree.
The Thesis SOC P699(6 credits) is designed to allow a student to analyze a problem, policy or program using the tools of applied sociology and is to be undertaken only after the student has completed at least half of the formal coursework. Researching and writing the thesis will generally be divided over two semesters. While the thesis is applied in its focus, its form allows the student to demonstrate their mastery of sociological theory and research methods in a more traditional format. The Masters Thesis will be of potentially publishable professional quality.
After completing the thesis, the student will present it to sociology and other interested faculty and students at an appropriate forum. After successfully completing all of the requirements of the thesis, the Thesis Committee will recommend to the Graduate Director that the student be awarded the Master of Arts in Sociological Practice degree.
Course Offering Cycles
In effort to facilitate advance planning the department will make every effort to offer core graduate courses on a fixed two-year cycle, designated as Cycle A and Cycle B in the tables below. Most elective courses are offered on a bi-annual (every other year) basis as well. Since the Masters in Sociological Practice program has a rolling admission process, a student's particular sequence depends upon which cycle the department is in at the time the student first registers for classes.
| This schedule totals 36 credit hours since you must be enrolled for 9 credit hours per semester to be classified as a full-time student. | |
| Cycle A - Fall SOC P550 Statistical Techniques for Sociological Practice I SOC P697 Professional Development Elective |
Cycle A - Spring SOC P570 Applied Research Methods Elective Elective |
| Cycle B - Fall Elective Elective SOC P698 Practicum or SOC P699 Thesis Research |
Cycle B - Spring SOC P540 Principles of Sociological Theory and Practice Elective* SOC P698 Practicum or SOC P699 Thesis Research |
| *Free elective to assure full time standing. | |
| Students who attend the program part-time will find the following three-year graduate course sequence to be helpful with respect to completing all degree requirements. | |
| Cycle A - Fall SOC P550 Statistical Techniques for Sociological Practice I SOC P697 Professional Development |
Cycle A - Spring SOC P570 Applied Research Methods Elective |
| Cycle B - Fall Elective Elective |
Cycle B - Spring SOC P540 Principles of Sociological Theory and Practice Elective |
| Cycle A - Fall Elective SOC P698 Practicum or SOC P699 Thesis Research |
Cycle A - Spring SOC P698 Practicum or SOC P699 Thesis Research |
| The five year cycle may be advantageous to students who are only able to take one class per semester. | |
| Cycle A - Fall SOC P550 Statistical Techniques for Sociological Practice I |
Cycle A - Spring SOC P570 Applied Research Methods |
| Cycle B - Fall Elective |
Cycle B - Spring SOC P540 Principles of Sociological Theory and Practice |
| Cycle A - Fall SOC P697 Professional Development |
Cycle A - Spring Elective |
| Cycle B - Fall Elective |
Cycle B - Spring Elective Elective |
| Cycle A - Fall SOC P698 Practicum or SOC P699 Thesis Research |
Cycle A - Spring SOC P698 Practicum or SOC P699 Thesis Research |
| This course sequence would be extended if the student elects to take only one elective in Cycle B - Spring Year Four rotation. | |
Faculty Mentor
Once admitted to the program, students will initially be assigned to work with the Graduate Program Director until the student chooses a faculty mentor. Graduate students are responsible for, and required to, secure a faculty mentor. Any tenure-track faculty member who has an interest in working with a particular graduate student can act as a faculty mentor for that student. The students will contact a faculty member and ask the faculty to become their mentor. It is the prerogative of the faculty to either take the student as their mentee, or turn the student down. If a student cannot procure a mentor within a one semester period, the student will not be able to register online without first meeting with the Graduate Program Director, and may be advised to consider another graduate program.
The mentor serves in part as an advisor to the student for the purposes of course selection and career planning. The Mentor should meet with the student at least twice a year to:
- Review the Graduate Handbook.
- Review expectations of the program.
- Discuss course selections, encouraging students towards sociology electives.
- Review progress within the program and towards graduation.
- Discuss professional opportunities: paper presentations, professional organizations, AKD Honor Society, opportunities on campus and within the local community.
- Discuss Thesis or Practicum options.
In addition, the mentor will help the student to successfully navigate the requirements of the practicum or thesis. The mentor will:
- Commit time and expertise in guiding the student through the graduate program.
- Work with the student to correct deficiencies in skills and content by suggesting specific courses and activities for remediation as needed.
- Guide the student in his/her applied work during the practicum or thesis experience.
- Serve as the principal advisor for the student in completion of the practicum or thesis.
- Ensure that the student has completed all required coursework.
- As a member of the student’s Practicum or Thesis Committee, certify that the student has met all the criteria of the practicum or thesis.
- Explore possibilities for publication of the student’s work, either individually or jointly.
- Assist the student in the employment search process upon completion of the degree.
In any given year, a faculty member typically will mentor 3-5 students. If students wish to change mentors during their time in the program, they must first notify the Graduate Program Director of their intention to change mentors.
Financial Aid
To be considered for financial aid, a graduate student must be enrolled for at least 9 credits per semester (or its equivalent if employed as a teaching or research assistant). Sources of financial aid for graduate students include, but are not limited to, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and Federal Work-Study. You may qualify for appointment as a teaching or research assistant. For these positions, you may be a full or part-time student. Such appointments carry a stipend as well as partial remission of fees.
For further information regarding the Masters in Sociological Practice degree program, you can either use the online Information Request Form, or you can contact:
Augusto DeVenanzi, Ph.D.
Director, Graduate Program
Department of Sociology
Classroom Medical 243
Indiana University Purdue University
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne IN 46805-1499
Phone: (260) 481-6669
E-Mail: devenana@ipfw.edu
260-481-IPFW
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