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

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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