Applicants for admission to the program should have a background equivalent to 3 semester hours each in sociological theory, sociological methods, and statistics. Students with deficiencies in these areas may be required to take appropriate course work to remove these deficiencies as soon as possible after enrollment. Students admitted to these programs with stipulated deficiencies will be informed by the graduate adviser of the courses that must be taken.
Graduate courses are classified into six fields: theory, research methods and statistics, social organization and institutions, social psychology, sociology of health and aging, and criminology.
Students must earn an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher and a minimum grade of B- in SOCI 670, SOCI 671, SOCI 674, SOCI 675, SOCI 676, and SOCI 677.
The M.A. degree requires the successful completion of 33 credits, including 6 credits of SOCI 699 (Thesis). All new master’s students are required to consult with the departmental graduate adviser before being admitted to courses.
No more than 12 semester hours in 500-level graduate courses may be included in the student’s program for the master’s degree.
The total credit from courses taken for graduate credit at other accredited institutions that are accepted in transfer plus credit earned at NIU as a student-at-large may not exceed 9 semester hours.
Each student must pass a comprehensive examination in sociological theory and research methods that is administered and assessed in conjunction with the thesis proposal.
Check departmental information for any additional requirements.
Students must take this course for 6 semester hours.
Four elective courses in one or two of the following areas: theory, research methods and statistics, social organization and institutions, social psychology, sociology of health and aging, criminology, or another area approved by the graduate adviser (12).
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