Graduate Program

Student Experiences in SHSU's Sociology Graduate Program

Why Students Choose SHSU's Sociology Graduate Program


The Sociology Department at Sam Houston State University offers two online graduate programs: Master of Arts in Sociology and Graduate Certificate in Sociology.

Master of Arts in Sociology

  • 30 Hours
  • Emphasis on Public Sociology
  • Curriculum Foci: Social Inequality, Health and Well-Being, Community, Food and the Environment
  • Thesis and Capstone Options
  • Teaching and Scholarship Capstones
  • Graduate Assistants

30 Hours

  • Streamlined and comprehensive curriculum
  • Three core classes, elective, thesis, and capstone credit
  • Diversity of electives that students can choose from.

 Public Sociology

  • Program emphasis on applied and community-engaged scholarship and activities.
  • Orientation toward the development of sociological knowledge and skills that are applicable in a wide range of careers.

Curriculum Foci

  • Faculty expertise and electives in Social Inequality, Health and Well-Being, and Community, Food, and the Environment.
  • Thesis and capstone projects can focus on topics in any of these areas.

 Thesis

  • Conduct original research on contemporary social issues.

 Capstone

  • Teaching and scholarship options
  • Teaching: Develop a teaching portfolio
  • Scholarship: Develop a synthetic literature review on a sociological research question.

 Graduate Assistants

  • The department hires students as graduate assistants to assist faculty with teaching and research.
  • Assistants can work remotely.

 Graduate Certificate in Sociology

  • Designed for post-baccalaureate students interested in teaching sociology at the high school and community college levels.
  • 18 Hours
  • Three required courses and three electives

  Scholarships

 Recruitment Scholarships

  • For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Sociology Department has eight $3,000 scholarships available for new students. The scholarships will provide $1,500 in funding for the fall and spring semesters.
  • The priority deadline for all students is June 1. All students who are accepted by June 1 will be considered for a recruitment scholarship. After June 1, students will be considered on a rolling basis for recruitment scholarships. 

Endowed Scholarships

  • The Sociology Department has multiple endowed scholarships that are awarded annually. See the sociology scholarship page for more information.

Program Highlights

  • Awarded $36,000 in endowed scholarships to graduate students for the 2024-2025 academic year.
  • Hired 2024-2025
  • Recent theses:
    • Academic Tracking: An Educator’s Perspective
    • From Miss America to Mr. Popo: Exploring Race and Gender Within Themed Podcasts
    • Incentive Structures in the Classroom and Teacher Accommodation for Gender
    • Racialized Hegemonic Masculinity in Mass Media: Professional Wrestling’s Role in Normalizing White Male Domination
  • Doctoral Program Placements
    • UMass Boston
    • Florida State

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Degree Programs and Admissions Information

Graduate Catalog for Masters of Arts in Sociology

Graduate Catalog for 18-Credit Hour Graduate Certificate in Sociology

CHSS Deadlines for Graduation

Click here for information regarding tuition cost

Graduate Handbook

2023-2024 Graduate Handbook

Career Opportunities and Job Readiness

Contact Us

We want to hear from you! For questions, concerns, or compliments please call or e-mail Dr. Tze-Li Hsu, Director of Graduate Studies (936-294-2675).

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