Program Description

With an emphasis on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and social research skills, the Master of Science in Applied Sociology degree program is designed to prepare students for careers in policy analysis, program development and evaluation and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Taught by internationally recognized faculty at The University of Texas at Dallas, the program equips students with advanced training in areas such as:

• Quantitative methodologies
• Social stratification
• Research design
• Program evaluation
• Applied regression
• Domestic social policy

As public, private and nonprofit organizations attempt to maximize their human and monetary resources, they often seek professionals with specialized skills to assess program demands and viability, evaluate program success, direct change and inform policy. Graduates of the Applied Sociology master’s program are trained to fill such roles and contribute their knowledge and skills in employment areas including healthcare, local, state and national government, nonprofit social services, community activism, marketing research, human resources and business administration.

Although Applied Sociology is a terminal master’s degree program, graduates interested in doctoral research have been accepted to external sociology doctoral programs throughout the country. The program is open to full- and part-time students, with many classes offered in the late afternoon and evenings.

Benefits

The Applied Sociology master’s program ensures that students gain a broad understanding of their discipline, apply their knowledge and analytical skills to create effective and novel solutions to practical problems and communicate and work effectively in collaborative environments.

Other benefits include:

• World-Class Faculty: The program is led by faculty of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences who are widely cited experts in their respective fields.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Courses in the Applied Sociology master’s program will introduce students to new ideas, technologies and competencies while preparing them to succeed in both public and private sectors.
• Facilities: Students have full access to four state-of-the-art computer laboratories housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. All computers are network linked and hold full suites of leading survey, qualitative, spatial and statistical analysis software, including Qualtrics, NVivo, ArcGis, ENVI, EViews, R, STATA, and SAS.
• Location: Situated in the greater Dallas region — recently rated by Forbes magazine as the #1 “Best City for Jobs” — UT Dallas provides students with easy access to employers and internship opportunities, not to mention a large and supportive alumni population.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program have pursued careers as:

• Program directors, developers, and evaluators
• Grant writers
• Data analysts
• Human resource representative and administrators
• Researchers in public and private agencies (such as law enforcement, the judicial system, state entities, healthcare organizations, legal service corporations and law firms)

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Application Deadlines and Requirements

Please take note of all application deadlines and visit the webpage to begin the application process. See the Sociology website for additional information.

Applicants to the Applied Sociology master’s degree program should have:

• A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education. There are no required prerequisite courses in sociology for the Applied Sociology program, although prior coursework in social theory, research methods, and social statistics is desirable.
• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale, although applications are reviewed holistically.
• Test Scores: A verbal score of 156 and a quantitative score of 152 on the GRE is advisable, but standardized test scores are only one of the factors taken into account in determining admissions.
• Transcripts: Applicants should submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions that they have attended.
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can judge the candidate’s potential for success in the master’s degree program.
• Admissions Essay: Applicants must submit a one-page essay outlining personal background, education and professional objectives.
• International applicants must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 on the internet-based test. Scores must be less than two years old. See the Graduate Catalog for additional information regarding English proficiency requirements for international applicants.

About the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

Every new generation inherits a world more complex than that of its predecessors, which prompts a need for new thinking about public policies that impact people’s daily lives. In the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS), we examine the implications of innovation and change for individuals and communities. The social sciences are where the world turns to for answers to the important issues of today and the future such as education and health policy, financial crises, globalization, policing, political polarization, public management, terrorism, and the application of geographical information sciences to study social, economic and environmental issues.

As an undergraduate in EPPS, you will have the opportunity to work with professors who are probing issues that will affect your future. You will develop the vital skills you need to thrive in a rapidly evolving, highly competitive job market. EPPS will prepare you for careers in government, non-profits and the private sector that enable you to make a real difference in the world of today and tomorrow. EPPS is at the forefront of leadership, ethics and innovation in the public and nonprofit sectors. Our students and faculty look forward to new opportunities to study and address the complex and evolving issues of the future. Research informs much of the instruction. The school has four centers of excellence:

• Center for Global Collective Action
• Texas Schools Project
• Institute for Urban Policy Research
• The Negotiations Center

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts: Criminology, economics, geospatial information sciences, international political economy, political science, public affairs, public health, public policy, sociology

Master of Science: Applied sociology, criminology, economics, geospatial information sciences, international political economy, social data analytics and research

Master of Arts: Political science

Master of Public Affairs: Public affairs

Master of Public Policy: Public policy

Doctor of Philosophy: Criminology, economics, geospatial information sciences, political science, public affairs, public policy and political economy

Certificates

EPPS offers the following 15-hour graduate certificates, which generally can be completed in one year of part-time evening classes:

• Economic and Demographic Data Analysis: focusing on the understanding and application of quantitative analysis of demographic and economic data.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): focusing on the application of GIS in government, private sector and scientific areas.
• Geospatial Intelligence: focusing on the application of geospatial ideas and techniques to national security and other intelligence activity.
• Local Government Management: designed to broaden knowledge of important issues and approaches employed by professional local public administrators.
• Nonprofit Management: designed to provide an overview of the nature and context of nonprofit organizations and develop competencies needed by nonprofit managers.
• Program Evaluation: designed to provide students the opportunity to gain competencies in the design and implementation of program evaluations in fields such as education, health care, human services, criminal justice and economic development.
• Remote Sensing: focusing on remote sensing and digital image processing.