ACADEMICS

Strong Foundation in Social Change

The Student Experience

A day-in-the-life of a CSU Sociology graduate student includes taking required and elective classes, collaborating with faculty and other graduate students, meeting with research or teaching team members, reading, writing, presenting, teaching undergraduates, creating assignments, grading and holding office hours. Graduate life in the Sociology Department also includes doing research, writing, publishing, applying for grant funding, working on theses and dissertations, attending and presenting at professional conferences – all while enjoying our scenic and sustainability-minded campus and community.

We want you to make the most of your graduate experience. CSU Sociology’s master’s and doctorate programs allow for rigorous but flexible training as you tap into our world-class faculty, research centers, interdisciplinary teams and Tier 1 university research facilities.

Inspired by its land-grant heritage, Colorado State University is committed to excellence, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States and the world. Our faculty are deeply committed to doing teaching, mentoring and research that matter, and almost all of them work in at least two of our four areas of strength: Environment and Natural Resources; Food, Agriculture, and Development; Crime, Law, and Deviance; and Social Inequality, Social Justice, and Governance.

“Specialty and interdisciplinary experiences and mentorship in CSU’s Sociology graduate program have been my springboard into amazing opportunities.”
– Michelle ‘13

M.A. in Sociology Degree Requirements

Minimum 30 credits for Plan A, 36 credits for Plan B

Required Core Courses:
Students should contact Sociology's Director of Graduate Studies if they want to waive a required course or substitute a different course for it. Any courses that are waived would move the credit requirement to “Additional Electives” group.
SOC 500 The Sociological Profession I: 1 credit
SOC 502 Foundations of Theoretical Sociology: 3 credits
SOC 503 Contemporary Sociological Theory: 3 credits
SOC 510 Research Methods I: 3 credits
SOC 511 Sociological Methods II: 3 credits
TOTAL: 13 credits

Elective Sociology Courses:
6 credits of Sociology courses at the 500 level or above (SOC 695 and 699 do not count here)
SOC ____: 3 credits
SOC ____: 3 credits
TOTAL: 6 credits

Additional Elective Courses:
Courses at the 300 level or above, from Sociology or outside department. At least 6 credits for Plan A or at least 17 for Plan B. Independent studies are accepted here. No more than 5 credits of SOC 699 (thesis credits) can be counted here (for Plan A; none for plan B since there is no Thesis)
Any ____: 3 credits
Any ____: 3 credits
TOTAL: 6 credits

Plan A Thesis
SOC 699: 5 credits (Plan A)
TOTAL: 5 credits

Plan B Elective Courses
At least 11 credits from courses at the 300 level or above, from Sociology or an outside department.
TOTAL: 11 credits (Plan B)

GRAND TOTAL: 30 overall credits (Plan A)

GRAND TOTAL: 36 overall credits (Plan B)

Ph.D. in Sociology Degree Requirements

Minimum 42 credits

Required Core Courses:
Students should contact the DGS if they want to waive a required course or substitute a different course for it. Any courses that are waived would move the credit requirement to “Additional Electives” group.
SOC 500 The Sociological Profession I: 1 credit
SOC 502 Foundations of Theoretical Sociology: 3 credits
SOC 503 Contemporary Sociological Theory: 3 credits
SOC 510 Research Methods I: 3 credits
SOC 511 Sociological Methods II: 3 credits
SOC 610 Methods of Qualitative Analysis: 3 credits
SOC 613 Seminar in Multiple Regression and Path Analysis: 3 credits
TOTAL: 19 credits

Elective Sociology Courses:
9 credits minimum at the 500 level or above, excluding SOC 695, SOC 696, SOC 795, and SOC 797. (Cross-listed courses allowed if approved by student's advisory committee).
SOC ____: 3 credits
SOC ____: 3 credits
SOC ____: 3 credits
TOTAL: 9 credits

Additional Elective Courses:
14 credits from inside or outside the department, including up to 5 credits of SOC 799. Courses must be 500-level or above. Independent studies are accepted here.
SOC ____: 3 credits
SOC ____: 3 credits
SOC ____: 3 credits
Up to 5 SOC 799 dissertation credits may be applied: 5 credits
TOTAL: 14 credits

GRAND TOTAL: 42 overall credits

For a full list of Sociology courses, view the course catalog. Please note offerings change each semester.

Course Catalog

Academic checklists can be found in the final pages of our Graduate Guide.

Graduate Guide

Please review this Graduate School webpage for deadlines, requirements, and more.

CSU's Graduate School

Details on our application and funding process, FAQ and contact info can be found here.

HOW TO APPLY