2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Sociology and Anthropology

The M.A./M.S. degree in Sociology includes two options, one requiring a thesis and one requiring a capstone. Both options require 38 hours for degree completion:

Option 1: Thesis

• 13 hours: SOC 440, SOC 466, SOC 471, SOC 472, SOC 493A01
• 9 hours: Sociology courses at the 400 level, excluding SOC 400, SOC 461, SOC 498
• 4 hours: SOC 499 (master's thesis)

The remaining 12 hours may be taken at the 300 (only those approved for graduate credit) or SOC 400 level and may include up to six hours in related non-sociology courses and up to six hours of Independent Study (SOC 400) or Readings (SOC 461) and up to six hours of Professional Practice (SOC 498) with consent of the graduate coordinator.

Option 2: Capstone

• 13 hours: SOC 440, SOC 466, SOC 471, SOC 472, SOC 493A01
• 9 hours: Sociology courses at the 400 level, excluding SOC 400, SOC 461, SOC 498
• 4 hours: SOC 497 (master's capstone)

The remaining 12 hours may be taken at the 300 (only those approved for graduate credit) or SOC 400 level and may include up to six hours in related non-sociology courses and up to six hours of Independent Study (SOC 400) or Readings (SOC 461) and up to six hours of Professional Practice (SOC 498) with consent of the graduate coordinator.

Applied Community and Economic Development Sequence

The Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) sequence is designed for returned Peace Corps Volunteers and students with equivalent domestic or international experience with other agencies.

This 39-hour sequence requires:

• 13 hours: Sociology Required Core: SOC 440, SOC 466, SOC 471, SOC 472 and SOC 493A01 (1 hour)
• 3 hours: SOC 461 or other 400-level
• 3 hours: SOC 400-level substantive seminar
• 16 hours: ACED core ECO 406, POL 470/SOC 470, POL 477/SOC 477, ECO 478/POL 478/SOC 478, and 5 hours of 498 or SOC 498A90 (The sequence ends with a required 11-month internship arranged through the Stevenson Center.)
• A master's thesis or a capstone project, with guidance from Sociology faculty. Four hours thesis (SOC 499) or capstone (SOC 497)

The M.A. and M.S. degrees in Anthropology offer five 30-hour concentrations including Biological Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Historical Archaeology, Japanese Studies, and Prehistoric Archaeology. However, in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, and the student's faculty advisor, other concentrations are possible for a student who wants to design an individualized program using the courses of the University and the Department, and the expertise of the faculty.

The five concentrations include required coursework in Anthropology, a master’s thesis, and elective courses. In consultation with the student’s Faculty Advisor, electives may include graduate-level non-Anthropology courses relevant to the student's area of study.  Specific course requirements include:

Biological Anthropology

• 12 hours: ANT 450, ANT 460, ANT 486, ANT 471, or ANT 494
• 12 hours: elective courses - it is encouraged student take BSC 490 and BSC 420a27
• 6 hours: ANT 499

Cultural Anthropology

• 9 hours: ANT 402, ANT 460, and ANT 461
• 15 hours of elective courses
• 6 hours: ANT 499 (or ANT 497 for ACED sequence only)

Historical Archaeology

• 18 hours: ANT 401, ANT 460, ANT 481 (6 hours), ANT 486, ANT 488
• 6 hours: of electives including at least 6 hours at the 400 level
• 6 hours: ANT 499 (or ANT 497 for ACED sequence only)

Japanese Studies

• 15 hours: ANT 402,  ANT 460, ANT 461 and two of the following: ANT 407, ANT 408, ANT 485
• 9 hours of elective courses
• 6 hours: ANT 499 (or ANT 497 for ACED sequence only)

Prehistoric Archaeology

• 18 hours: ANT 401, ANT 460, ANT 481 (6 hours), ANT 486, ANT 488
• 6 hours of elective courses
• 6 hours: ANT 499 (or ANT 497 for ACED sequence only)

Applied Community and Economic Development Sequence—Anthropology Sequence

The Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) sequence is designed for returned Peace Corps Volunteers and students with equivalent domestic or international experience with other agencies.

This 38-hour sequence requires:

• 9 hours: ANT 402, ANT 460 and ANT 461
• 6-8 hours: electives
• 6 hours: ANT 497 (6 hours) or ANT 499 (6 hours)
• 17-hour ACED core: ECO 406 (3 hours), POL 470/SOC 470 (3 hours), POL 477/SOC 477 (3 hours), ECO 478/POL 478/SOC 478 (2 hours), and 6 hours of ANT 498 or ANT 498A90 (The sequence ends with a required 11-month internship arranged through the Stevenson Center.

This certificate provides the specialized education and training that students need to understand GIS methodology and technology as applied field of study and data management. This certificate is intended to prepare graduates to meet the growing demand for GIS skills in academic research and other employment.

To earn the certificate students must complete the following:

• 10 hours: GEO 403, GEO 404 and GEO 405

A multidisciplinary program designed to offer a limited number of academically and professionally oriented graduate experiences in aging. The graduate certificate is located within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in cooperation with the Departments of Family and Consumer Sciences, Psychology, Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders and the School of Social Work.

Requirements for this 12-hour certificate include:

• SOC 411 Seminar in Gerontology (3 hours), to be taken after at least 6 hours of the other elective courses have been completed
• 9 hours of electives from among the gerontology related courses: HSC 494, PSY 403, FCS 405, SOC 410

Experience in Gerontology: Each student enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Social Aspects of Aging may negotiate with the certificate advisor in Sociology/Anthropology or the cooperating department for 3 hours of "experience" credit in gerontology. This may include, but is not limited to, SOC 400 Independent Study or SOC 498 Professional Practice in any department/program that is relevant to the Social Aspects of Aging. Each "experience" is expected to involve some focused writing and analysis assignments. This experience should ordinarily be permitted after other courses are completed, including SOC 411, Seminar in Gerontology. If the experience is of a "selected problems" type, a proposal should be approved by the Graduate Certificate in Social Aspects of Aging advisor no later than the fifth week of the semester.