This track is temporarily suspended effective Fall 2023.
The Department of Sociology offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Arts degree in Applied Sociology. Beyond a curriculum appropriate for general applied sociology, the program includes a graduate track in Medical Sociology as well as instruction and opportunities pertaining to the study of crime and deviance; domestic violence; and social inequalities.
Medical Sociology is an important subfield of Sociology that was developed and recognized in 1959 by the American Sociological Association (ASA). Medical sociology identifies the processes of health, illness, and medical care as social phenomena. The American Sociological Association identifies the following research topics under the field of medical sociology: the subjective experience of health and illness, the political, economic and environmental circumstances surrounding health and illness, the societal structures and forces that constrain the medical care system, individual responses to illness, and social movements related to health and healthcare. Having a deep understanding of how social processes work to affect an individual's health allows for many different careers. Medical sociologists use their knowledge to work for governmental and non-governmental organizations centered on health. They work for federal, state, and private health insurance plans. Medical sociologists conduct research and make policy that addresses public health problems. Many students who study medical sociology enter medical school to become clinicians and teachers of medical education. Still others enter dental school, physical therapy school, or other professional programs in the allied fields of health and apply knowledge gained from Medical Sociology to improve their patients' lives.
Degree-seeking students in the Applied Sociology program may choose either the thesis or a nonthesis course of study. Both options require 30 hours of course work, at least half of which must be at the 6000 level or above.
Degree seeking students in the Applied Sociology Program may elect to follow either a thesis or a non-thesis course of study. The thesis option is typically designed for students who plan to enter doctoral programs. The non-thesis option is more appropriate for students entering or continuing professional careers following the MA degree.
Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Degree Requirements
Core
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Please note that students in the nonthesis option are required to complete a research study in each of the 12 hours of required courses to provide an independent learning experience.
- Complete the following:
- SYA5625 - ProSeminar (3)
- SYA6126 - Social Theory (3)
- SYA6305 - Quantitative Social Research Methods (3)
- SYA6455 - Research Analysis (3)
Specialization
6 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- SYO6406 - Medical Sociology (3)
- SYO6405 - Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
Elective Courses
6 Total Credits
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- SYD6363 - Social Inequalities and Reproductive Health (3)
- SYP6555 - Sociology of Alcohol and Drugs (3)
- SYP6735 - Sociology of Health and Aging (3)
- SYO6404 - Food Insecurity and Health (3)
- SYO6409 - Social Inequalities in Health (3)
ThesisNonthesis Option
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: The thesis option requires a thesis proposal and defense, a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit, and a written thesis along with a successful defense of a thesis. Students may enroll in thesis hours after they have successfully completed their core required courses, they have passed their thesis proposal defense, and their thesis committee has been approved by the department and college. The student's permanent faculty advisor will chair their committee, which also will include two additional graduate faculty members. The additional members of the thesis committee are selected in consultation with the student's permanent faculty advisor, and may include faculty from related disciplines in consultation with the faculty advisor. When a topic has been selected, students, in conjunction with their permanent advisor, will develop a thesis proposal. Copies of the proposal will be routed to members of their thesis committee and a proposal defense will be scheduled. All students must pass a proposal defense as well as a final oral defense of their thesis. Students who elect to write a thesis should become familiar with the university's requirements and deadlines for organizing and submitting the thesis.
Nonthesis Option- Complete all of the following
- The nonthesis option requires that students complete SYA 6657 - Program Design and Evaluation and 3 additional hours of elective course work in their area of specialization. The Program Design and Evaluation course (SYA 6657) requires community-oriented research projects to develop research skills in sociology.
- Complete the following:
- SYA6657 - Program Design and Evaluation (3)
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Directed Study for Applied Project Nonthesis students must complete an applied project. The nature and implementation of each project will be determined by the student and her/his adviser. Before students may begin the applied project, they must earn a grade of "B" (3.0) or better in each of the five core courses. An Applied Project evaluated by a three-person committee consists of: A 1-2 page proposal describing what the project and the final product will entail. A final product approved and evaluated by the committee. A brief statement submitted with the final product indicating how the project is sociologically grounded. The grading system for the project is Pass/No Pass. Students who receive a grade of Pass will be allowed to graduate assuming all other requirements are met.
Equipment Fee
0 Total Credits
- Full-time students in the Applied Sociology MA program pay a $39 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $19.50 per semester.
Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- As with all graduate programs, independent learning is an important component in the Applied Sociology master's program. Students will demonstrate independent learning through research seminars and the thesis (thesis students only).
Grand Total Credits: 30
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
Students must earn a grade of "B" (3.0) or better in the program's core courses. Courses may be retaken to achieve a better grade; however, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their program of study.
By the end of their first year of course work in the program, students should select a permanent faculty advisor and determine their preliminary program of study, either in the thesis or nonthesis track. Students should maintain close contact with their faculty advisor in order to develop a viable program of study and avoid graduation delays.
