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Graduate Program Description
Below is a general description of our M.A. and Ph.D. programs. For more detailed information, see our Guide to Graduate Study under http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/sociology/grad/handbook.html.
Master's Program
The M.A. program prepares students for careers in the areas of social research, applied sociological analysis, and basic college-level teaching, while also providing the foundation for advanced graduate level study toward the Ph.D.
Admissions: Superior students, regardless of their undergraduate area of specialization, are encouraged to apply. Applicants should submit, in addition to the usual transcripts and letters of reference, a statement of purpose and any other information that might enhance their candidacy. GREs are recommended but not required. Apply online at http://www.bc.edu/schools/gsas/admission.html.
Master's Degree Requirements: The Master's degree is completed by passing ten courses (30 credit hours) and completing the requirements for either the Academic Master’s Degree or the Applied Master’s Degree.
To receive an Academic Master’s Degree, the student must complete ten courses, including five required courses, and a Master's Examination, including a Master’s Thesis or Paper. The core required courses for the Academic M.A. are the following: a two semester sequence in sociological theory (SC715, SC716), a one semester course (Social Inquiry Research Seminar SC710), and a two semester sequence in statistics (SC702, SC703).
To receive an Applied Master’s Degree, the student must complete a Plan of Study in collaboration with a departmental advisor, have that Plan of Study approved by the Graduate Program Director, and complete ten courses, including the following six required courses: one semester of sociological theory (either SC715 or SC716), a two semester sequence in statistics (SC702 and SC703), and either three additional courses in research methods (including statistical methods), or two additional courses in research methods (including statistical methods) and SC540 (Internship in Sociology).
Doctoral Program
The Ph.D. program seeks to combine the rigors of scholarly analysis with a commitment to social justice in a wide range of social institutions and settings. It prepares students for careers as university and college faculty and as researchers and decision makers in business, the public sector, and not-for-profit organizations.
Admissions: The primary criteria for admission are academic performance and promise of outstanding independent work. Applicants should submit, in addition to the usual transcripts and letters of reference, a statement of purpose and any other information that might enhance their candidacy. GREs are required. Apply online at http://www.bc.edu/schools/gsas/admissions.html.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements: The Doctoral degree is fulfilled by completing all M.A. requirements plus an additional eight courses (for a total of 54 credits), including another graduate level Methods course. Other requirements include meeting a one year full-time residency requirement, writing a research paper of publishable quality, passing general comprehensive examinations, completing a doctoral dissertation, and passing an oral defense.
Ph.D./M.B.A. Program (M.A./M.B.A. also offered)
The Department and the Carroll Graduate School of Management administer this dual degree program, which trains social researchers, providing them with a systematic understanding of the business and work place environment and trains managers in social research techniques appropriate to their needs. The program is interdisciplinary, focusing on topics such as corporate responsibility and accountability, social investment, workplace democracy, and industrial relations. Contact Sociology Professor Paul Gray at gray@bc.edu for additional information. Apply online to both schools, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at http://www.bc.edu/schools/gsas/admissions.html and the Carroll Graduate School of Management at http://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/graduate/mba.html.
Financial Assistance
The Department has a limited number of financial assistance packages in the form of Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships, Graduate Fellowships, and tuition waivers, with all candidates accepted to the Ph.D. program assured of receiving funding. Apply online at http://www.bc.edu/schools/gsas/admissions.html.
The Sociology Department's e-mail address is sociology@bc.edu.