CSUEB Department of Sociology and Social Services

Graduate Program Description
The Department of Sociology and Social Services offers graduate study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology with a thesis, examination, or special project. The candidate is responsible for the fulfillment of the general requirements stated in this catalog as well as the specific requirements of the department stated below.

Admission ("Classified Standing")
The student should note that admission to the university as a post-baccalaureate student does not in itself constitute admission to the department's program. In general, the program is open to graduates of accredited institutions who have (1) completed coursework equivalent to that required in the lower and upper division core in Sociology at Cal State East Bay; (2) achieved not less than a 3.0 grade point average in all graduate and undergraduate work; (3) submitted to the department letters of reference from two former instructors who are familiar with the student's academic work; and (4) submitted a writing sample to the department. For "Classified Graduate" status, the student must have fulfilled the University Writing Skills requirement.

In exceptional cases, a student who has earned less than a 3.0, but above a 2.5 grade point average, may be admitted to "Conditionally Classified Graduate" standing.

Maintenance of "Classified Graduate Standing"
To maintain "Classified Graduate" standing a grade point average of at least 3.0 must be achieved in all courses taken in the approved program, whether taken at Cal State East Bay or at some other accredited institution. If a candidate's grade point average falls below 3.0, the candidate shall be placed on probation at the end of that quarter. If while on probation the candidate fails to make progress toward raising his or her grade point average toward a 3.0, the candidate is subject to disqualification at the discretion of appropriate Cal State East Bay authorities. Disqualified students will not normally be considered for readmission to Cal State East Bay for at least one year after disqualification.

Advancement to Candidacy
A student who holds "Classified Graduate" standing may be Advanced to Candidacy for the master's degree when the student has:


1.	Filed an approved program of study with the department
2.	Completed at least 12 quarter units of approved graduate-level work beyond the baccalaureate degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or better
3.	Been recommended for Advancement to Candidacy by the department.
Curricular Requirements (45 units) Forty-five ( 45) quarter units of approved courses earned in graduate standing of which 32 quarter units must be completed in residence. With departmental approval, up to 12 quarter units of upper-division work required to remove undergraduate deficiencies can be counted toward the 45 quarter units required for the degree. All Students must complete (A) and (B) and one of four options under (C).
A.	Core Requirements (20 units)
	SOC 6111 Advanced Sociological Research Methods I (4) SOC 6112 Advanced Sociological Research Methods II (4) SOC 6311 Seminar in Sociological Theory I (4) SOC 6312 Seminar in Sociological Theory II (4) STAT 3010 Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences (4)
B.	Topics Seminars in Sociology (12 units)
	SOC 6800 Topics Seminar (4) (May be taken three times for credit)
C.	Students Must Choose One of the Four Capstone Experiences (13 units)
	1.	University Thesis
		a.	SOC 6910 University Thesis (9)
			Before a student may register for SOC 6910, (s)he must be Advanced to Candidacy.
		b.	Electives chosen under advisement from upper division courses and graduate seminars in Sociology, Statistics, or closely related fields (4)
	2.	Comprehensive Examination
		a.	Electives chosen under advisement from upper-division courses and graduate seminars in Sociology, Statistics, Foreign Languages and/or closely related fields (13)
		b.	Area Comprehensive Examination (in four areas)
			(1)	Theory
			(2)	Methods
			(3)	Substantive area (elected by candidate with departmental approval)
			(4)	Substantive area (elected by candidate with departmental approval)
			Before a student may take the Comprehensive Examination, (s)he must be Advanced to Candidacy. Failure to pass the examination twice results in dismissal from the program.
	3.	Project
		a.	Electives chosen under advisement from upper-division courses and graduate seminars in Sociology, Statistics, Foreign Languages, and/or closely related fields (8)
		b.	SOC 6899 Project (5)
			Before a student may register for SOC 6899, (s)he must have the departmental advisor's approval and be Advanced to Candidacy.
	4.	Departmental Thesis
		a.	Electives chosen under advisement from upper-division courses and graduate seminars in Sociology, Statistics, Foreign Languages, and/or closely related fields (8).
		b.	SOC 6909 Departmental Thesis (5)
			Before a student may register for SOC 6909, (s)he must have the departmental advisor's approval.

Upper Division Courses Acceptable for the Master's Degree
All sociology courses in the 3000-4000 series are acceptable choices in the master's program.



Sociology & Social Services Department - 3095 Meiklejohn Hall, CSUEB, Hayward, CA 94542 (510) 885-3173		Webmaster E-mail