Description

The Department of Sociology offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts degree in Applied Sociology. Beyond a curriculum appropriate for general applied sociology, the program includes a graduate track in Domestic Violence as well as instruction and opportunity pertaining to the study of deviant behavior, social disorganization, social inequalities, and urban/environmental sociology. A primary focus of the program is the variety of social problems in society with special attention given to the central Florida area and the different community policies that have evolved to confront them. Toward this objective, the program promotes the application of sociological and social psychological knowledge, principles, and research skills in a variety of organizational, community, and institutional settings. Examples of competencies in applied sociology include effective skills in program design and evaluation research; planning, feasibility and needs assessment studies; data management, analysis and presentation; and the application of general systems and social conflict theories to organizational problems, community development and planned change.

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts in Applied Sociology
• Domestic Violence Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from test taken within the last five years
• GPA of 3.0 or higher in last 60 hours of undergraduate study
• Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from academic sources familiar with the applicant’s abilities
• A personal statement of 250-500 words identifying areas of research interest, and describing the applicant's academic and professional experiences and goals
• For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

The applicant’s records will be reviewed on an individual basis for academic deficiencies and evaluated to assess their potential for success in the program. Supplemental course work may be recommended.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree. Note also that there is no automatic connection between acceptance as a non-degree-seeking student and acceptance into this degree-granting program. Consult the graduate program director whenever questions arise.

Application Due Dates

All application materials must be submitted by the appropriate deadline listed below.

All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s)	Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Master of Arts in Applied Sociology	Jan 1	Jul 1	Dec 1	Apr 1
Domestic Violence Track	Jan 1	Jul 1	Dec 1	Apr 1

 

International Applicants

Program(s)	Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Master of Arts in Applied Sociology	Jan 1	Jan 15	Jul 1	Nov 1
Domestic Violence Track	Jan 1	Jan 15	Jul 1	Nov 1

 

International Transfer Applicants

Program(s)	Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Master of Arts in Applied Sociology	Jan 1	Mar 1	Sep 1	Dec 15
Domestic Violence Track	Jan 1	Mar 1	Sep 1	Dec 15

Master of Arts in Applied Sociology

Degree-seeking students in the Applied Sociology program may elect to follow either a thesis or a nonthesis course of study. However, the thesis option is designed for students who plan to enter doctoral programs, while the nonthesis option is more appropriate for students entering or continuing professional careers following the M.A. degree. The Master of Arts degree is conferred when students have fulfilled the requirements of either the thesis or nonthesis option. Both options require 30 hours of course work, at least half of which must be at the 6000 level or above. In addition, students must earn a grade of "B" (3.0) or better in the program’s required courses. Courses may be retaken to achieve a better grade; however, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their program of study.

By the end of their first nine hours of course work in the program, students should select a permanent faculty adviser and determine their preliminary program of study, either in the thesis or nonthesis track. Students should maintain close contact with their faculty adviser in order to develop a viable program of study and avoid graduation delays. For thesis students, the permanent faculty adviser will chair their committee, which also will include two additional graduate sociology faculty members in the department. The additional members of the thesis committee are selected in consultation with the student’s permanent faculty adviser.

The nonthesis option requires a research study in each of its 15 hours of required courses to provide independent learning. The Program Design and Evaluation course (SYA 6657) requires community-oriented research projects to develop research skills in sociology.

Minimum Hours Required for M.A.—30 Credit Hours

Degree-seeking students in the applied sociology program may elect to follow either a thesis or a nonthesis course of study. Both options require 30 hours of course work.

Required Courses—12 Credit Hours

• SYA 5625 Proseminar (3 credit hours): Should be taken as early as possible in academic career.
• SYA 6126 Social Theory (3 credit hours)
• SYA 6305 Social Research (3 credit hours)
• SYA 6455 Research Analysis (3 credit hours)

Electives—12 Credit Hours

Students will select a minimum of 12 credit hours of nonrestricted electives in consultation with their faculty adviser. No more than 3 hours may be taken in UCF graduate programs outside the department. The department’s graduate director must approve all courses taken outside the department prior to enrollment.

Under special circumstances, students may enroll in a graduate-level Directed Independent Study course or a Directed Independent Research course to fulfill their nonrestricted elective course requirements. These courses, like most graduate seminars, require written research reports. Enrollment in these courses requires written approval from the student’s adviser. No more than 6 hours of graduate-level courses in Directed Independent Study or Directed Independent Research may be included in a student’s program of study. SYA 6657 Program Design and Evaluation cannot be taken for elective credit by nonthesis students because it is a required course for this option.

Domestic Violence Track

Students who elect to pursue the Domestic Violence Track as a special area of study within the Department’s Master of Arts in Applied Sociology Program must complete the following requirements in place of their 12-hour elective course work.

The following two courses must be completed for the Domestic Violence Track (6 hours):

• SYP 5564 Seminar on Domestic Violence: Theory, Research and Social Policy (3 credit hours)
• SYP 6563 Reactions to Domestic Violence (3 credit hours)

Two of the following restricted electives must be completed for the Domestic Violence Track (6 hours):

• SYA 6657* Program Design and Evaluation (3 credit hours)
• SYP 6561 Child Abuse in Society (3 credit hours)
• SYP 6565 Elder Abuse and Neglect (3 credit hours)
• SYP 5525 Sociological Criminology (3 credit hours)
• SYP 6515 Deviant Behavior Issues (3 credit hours)
• SYP 6522 Sociological Perspectives on Victims (3 credit hours)
• SYP 6546 Crime, Law, Inequality (3 credit hours)
• SYD 6809 Seminar on Gender Issues (3 credit hours)

* SYA 6657 cannot be taken for elective credit by nonthesis students because it is a required course for this option.

Thesis Option—6 Credit Hours

The thesis option requires a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit and a successful defense of a thesis. Students may enroll in thesis hours after they have successfully completed the four required courses. When a topic has been selected, students, in conjunction with their permanent adviser, will develop a thesis proposal. Copies of the proposal will be routed to members of their thesis committee and a proposal hearing scheduled. All students must pass a proposal hearing as well as a final oral defense of their thesis. Students who elect to write a thesis should become familiar with the university’s requirements and deadlines for organizing and submitting the thesis. The thesis option is highly recommended for students interested in community college teaching and/or graduate work beyond the Master of Arts degree.

Nonthesis Option—6 Credit Hours

The nonthesis option requires that students complete SYA 6657 Program Design and Evaluation (required course) and 3 additional hours of elective course work in their area of specialization. Nonthesis students may substitute up to 6 hours of their elective course work by completing a graduate practicum/internship (SYA 6946). The practicum must be approved by the student’s permanent adviser and the department’s graduate program director.

In addition, the nonthesis option requires students to pass a final written examination. The examination will be based on the sociology course work contained in the student’s program of study, which includes the five courses required for the nonthesis option. Before students may register for the final examination, they must earn a grade of "B" (3.0) or better in each of the five required courses. The examination will be given once each semester. Students must notify the department’s graduate program director in writing of their intent to take the exam at least one week before the date fixed for the examination. A committee composed of at least three graduate sociology faculty members in the department will supervise the nonthesis examination. The grading system for the examination is as follows: 1) Pass with Distinction, 2) Pass, 3) Conditional Pass, and 4) Fail. Students who receive a grade of Conditional Pass will be required to complete additional work as determined by the grading committee. Students who fail to pass the examination must retake it at the next scheduled examination period. Failure to pass the examination on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program. Students who indicate their intent to take the examination but do not take the exam will be awarded a failing grade.

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

• If you are interested in financial assistance, you are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
• You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
• If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
• UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and therefore are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
• Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
• For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your program.

Contact Info

Master of Arts in Applied Sociology

Jana Jasinski, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-6568
jjasinsk@mail.ucf.edu

Domestic Violence Track

Jana Jasinski, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-6568
jjasinsk@mail.ucf.edu