The Sociology M.S. Program at Brigham Young University

How is graduate school different from an undergraduate program? Attend small classes (usually 4 to 10 students), in which you sit around a table and discuss the readings. ▫Take fewer classes at a time: usually 9-10 credits per semester Go more in-depth on theory, research, and writing. Work closely with faculty on research. Complete your own research project.

What can you do with an M.S. in Sociology? Get into top Ph.D. programs ▫Chicago, Northwestern, Princeton, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Harvard, etc. Get into top J.D. programs ▫Stanford, Michigan, etc. Become a data analyst ▫Study a problem and come up with solutions ▫CIA/FBI, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, etc. Become a management consultant ▫Help companies run better Work for or run a nonprofit or development organization ▫Change the world

Why get an M.S. in Sociology at Brigham Young University? We have a track record of getting our students into top Ph.D. programs, J.D. programs, and careers in development and research. Topical area strengths: ▫Community, Criminology, Demography, Education, Family, International Development, Race, Religion, Research Methods Good financial support ▫Usually 20 hours/week in RA/TA work

How do you apply? Statement of Intent ▫See handout Official transcript ▫Minimum 3.0 GPA in last 60 credit hours (but successful applicants are usually well above this) GRE scores 3 Letters of recommendation Sample of academic writing ▫Example: a term paper you wrote Honor Code commitment

What is the application deadline? For BYU Sociology M.S., 1 February. ▫This means you are putting together your final application during the previous Fall Semester! ▫Don’t wait until that Fall Semester to build relationships with professors. (See the July 2009 “Dear Professor/Dear Student” blog on professors and letters of recommendation.) Take classes that require you to write your own term paper. Give yourself enough time to schedule and take the GRE.

What does the program require? Required courses (14 credit hours) ▫598R: Pro-Seminar (1+1) ▫600: Advanced Research Methods (3) ▫604: Ethnographic Techniques (3) ▫605: Regression & Computer Analysis (3) ▫610: Seminar in Classical Social Theory (3) Elective courses (15 credit hours) Thesis hours (6 credit hours) ▫2 hours must be taken during the semester that you defend your thesis

Departmental Assistantships Research Assistant ▫Interviewing, transcribing, coding, analyzing, writing, organizing, etc. ▫Some current projects:  Utah County Immigration Project (Morgan)  Neighborhood Revitalization Project (Goodsell)  Provo After-School Programs Project (Ward)  Real Victory Project (Burraston & Bahr)  Transracial Adoption Project (Jacobson)  Veterans and Medical Care Project (Call)

Departmental Assistantships Teaching Assistant ▫Grade papers, lead review sessions, advise students, etc. Staff Assistant ▫Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (Cornwall) ▫Rural Sociological Society (Brown)

How do you become a research, teaching, or staff assistant? Most students are assigned to be a research, teaching, or staff assistant when they are admitted to the program. If there is a professor or a project you want to work on or a class you want to help teach, say so in your statement of intent.

What is a masters thesis? A masters thesis is a long research (or theory) paper, which you do as a culminating project for your masters program. You choose what it is on, as long as someone in the department can mentor you on that topic/method. It may involve: ▫Designing research ▫Gathering qualitative and/or quantitative data ▫Analyzing data ▫Developing theory ▫Writing (It will definitely involve writing!)

How do you do a masters thesis? Select a faculty advisor and committee. Write a thesis prospectus. ▫Present to your committee. If approved, proceed to do research and analysis. Do the research (if the thesis is empirical) and write the thesis. Defend the thesis. ▫After the thesis is completed, the committee decides whether it is ready for an oral defense. At the defense, you give an overview of your project, the committee questions you, and the committee votes whether to accept the thesis.

Who should be the faculty advisor/mentor for your thesis? If you are a research assistant, you can develop that research into your masters thesis, working with the same professor. Even if you are a research assistant with one professor, you can choose to do your masters thesis on a different project with a different professor. You must have a faculty mentor. ▫The thesis must be one that someone in the department can mentor. ▫Develop good relationships with faculty, so they will be willing to do this.