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MA in Sociology
Accepting Applications for Fall 2025!
Application Opens: October 1, 2024
Priority Deadline: January 31, 2025
Final Deadline: March 1, 2025
Applying to Sacramento State Sociology Graduate Program
Our graduate program presents opportunities for systematic studies that differ from the undergraduate experience. Our MA students are preparing to become independent and analytical researchers/scholars who can succeed in professions focused on improving social conditions. Small seminars provide close student-faculty interactions and promote a supportive learning environment. The Sociology Department typically offers 3 to 4 classes per semester, and the classes are typically scheduled 1 night a week for 2 hours and 50 minutes. A total of 30 semester units are required to complete the Sociology Program, which includes coursework units and culminating experience units.
Most of our graduate students majored in sociology as undergraduates, however, we also accept students who majored in other disciplines, provided that they have completed a minimum of 18 units of undergraduate work in sociology, including one course each in theory, statistics, and methodology (see below), with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- SOC 101 Introduction to Statistics for Sociologists (or equivalent)
- SOC 102 Research Methods in Sociology (or equivalent)
- SOC 192 Sociological Theory (or equivalent)
Students who have course deficiencies in admissions requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with a “conditionally classified” graduate student status rather than a “classified” graduate student status. Any such deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the admission application.
University Application Requirements
Applicants need to complete a CSU System Application via CalStateApply. All components of the application are due by March 1, 2025. If the Graduate Studies Office does not receive the application materials by March 1, 2025 on CalStateApply, the application will not be reviewed by the University or the Sociology Department. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants to have all materials submitted at least one week in advance to allow for all steps of the application process to be complete by March 1. The following are all the components that must be submitted on CalStateApply.
(1) A Statement of Purpose.
(2) One Writing Sample.
(3) One Set of all Unofficial Transcripts from all the colleges and universities attended, including Sacramento State Transcripts, in one PDF.
(4) Two Letters of Recommendation.
Before applying, please review all the instructions and information on the Sociology Catalog website and the Office of Graduate Studies Applicant website. If you have questions, contact the Graduate Studies Office at grad_admissions@csus.edu or grad_degreeservices@csus.edu, or contact the Sociology Graduate Program Coordinator.
Detailed Description of the Required Application Materials
1. Statement of Purpose
The applicants’ statement of purpose should address why they want an MA in Sociology, and in particular, why they want to earn an MA in Sociology from California State University of Sacramento (CSUS). In other words, applications should discuss their goals and objectives for acquiring an MA in Sociology at CSUS. The statement of purpose should also demonstrate the applicants’ understanding of and passion for sociology as well as their ability to succeed in our Sociology Graduate Program. Background, academic/work history, and internship/volunteer experiences that relate to the applicants’ sociological research and teaching interests may be considered as evidence of their commitment to graduate studies. A focused area of study that fits with the program’s offerings is also valuable evidence of commitment and interest in our sociology program. In addition to the broad description above, the Sociology Admissions Committee is specifically looking for the applicants to clearly address the following three required questions in their statement (approximately 2000-3000 words).
- What are your purposes, goals, and objectives for earning an MA in Sociology, specifically from the Sociology Department at Sacramento State? Moreover, what are your plans once you graduate with an MA in Sociology, such as with work, research, and/or teaching?
- What areas of sociological specialty and study are you interested in most and why? When answering, review and consider the areas of specialty of our graduate program faculty on our website.
- How do your background and academic interests contribute to the diversity of our graduate program, department, and university? In your answer, consider how you became aware of, and/or how you have experienced, inequalities regarding race, ethnicity, class, sex, gender, or another system of stratification.
2. One Writing Sample
Applicants’ ability to think sociologically, analyze social phenomena critically, and to understand and/or conduct academic/applied social research is important for admission consideration. The Admissions Committee evaluates writing samples for the applicants’ ability to effectively apply sociological perspectives/theories, research methods, and problem-solving skills to analyze and explain social issues, problems, and questions. The writing sample should include an empirical research paper, an applied research paper, or a research proposal paper from your capstone course (e.g., SOC 102 at Sacramento State) or from another course.
3. One Set of Unofficial Transcripts
This set should include unofficial transcripts from all the colleges and universities attended, including Sacramento State transcripts, in one PDF. All admitted applicants will be required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including all community colleges and any college credits taken during high school.
4. Two Letters of Recommendation
The two people you choose to write letters ought to be able to speak to your potential to succeed as a graduate student. The Sociology Department prefers letters from sociology professors but will consider letters from other qualified people. When you ask people for recommendations, instruct them that they will be sent a link via their email to submit the letter. Ask them to clearly address all required fields when they log in. The letters should address the following three areas of assessment.
- Please tell us how long you have known the applicant and in what capacity; evaluate the applicant’s capacity for critical thinking, analysis, writing, and communicating; and discuss the applicant’s capacity for sociological research, intellectual curiosity/growth, collaborating with others, accepting/applying constructive feedback, and working independently.
- Please give us your overall estimate of the applicant’s potential to complete the MA in Sociology Program, which is designed as a two-year program; comment on the level of mentorship and advising the applicant will need to be successful in the program; and assess the applicant’s ability to contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Please write about any other factors that ought to be considered in whether the applicant should or should not be accepted into the Sociology Graduate Program (e.g., personal maturity, self-motivation/initiative, resilience, integrity, etc.).
Guidelines for Admission to the MA in Sociology Program
The Sociology Graduate Admissions Committee has developed guidelines for admission to the MA in Sociology Program. Five general categories constitute the criteria for admission: 1) A statement of purpose; 2) One writing sample; 3) A minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA); 4) Two letters of recommendation; and 5) Diversity.
1. A Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose is a very important part in the admissions process; it will show the applicants’ reasons and purposes for wanting to earn an MA in Sociology from Sacramento State, their ability and motivation for program completion, and their investment in our particular program and faculty members. The statement will reveal the applicants’ written and communication skills, how they add to the discipline of sociology in general and to our program, and interest and ability to succeed in the graduate program. Students’ statements should demonstrate a clear understanding of sociology and/or their objectives for acquiring the degree. Background, work, internship/volunteer experiences that relate to their sociological research/teaching interests may be considered as evidence of their commitment to our graduate program.
2. One Writing Sample
The ability and/or potential for applicants to conduct academic, theoretically-driven, empirical, and/or applied social research is also an important factor for the admissions process. The writing sample can provide us with valuable information to evaluate whether students can use sociological perspectives/theories, quantitative or qualitative research methods, critical analysis and problem-solving skills, information acquisition skills, and communication skills. The writing sample can also allow us to evaluate applicants for the ability and/or potential to effectively conduct social research projects, which analyze and explain significant social issues, questions, or problems facing us at local, national, and/or international levels. Additionally, the writing sample can highlight the applicants’ ability to provide insightful solutions or suggestions for decision-making and social policies.
3. GPA
GPA is an important factor in the admissions process, and a GPA of 3.0 or better is desired. Higher GPAs will have an advantage, but the grade point average will be contextualized to avoid excluding exceptional students who demonstrate evidence of academic excellence in Sociology. In analyzing the context of an individual GPA, the committee will look at the GPA that (1) relates to the discipline (Sociology), (2) reveals anomalies, such as a good GPA that was disrupted by an odd semester (e.g., personal hardship) that does not reflect the more stable pattern of academic excellence, and that (3) demonstrates familiarity/proficiency with sociological theory and methods (or in some cases, familiarity/proficiency with equivalent social science theory and methods).
4. Two Letters of Recommendation
Letters that speak to the applicant’s ability and potential to succeed as a graduate student are important in the admissions process. The letters can be evaluated for the applicant’s academic and related relevant experiences that highlight the applicant’s preparation for graduate school. The letters should show a good understanding of and familiarity with the student in the areas that would be indicative of the ability to succeed in the Sociology Program. For example, the recommendations ought to show the applicant’s critical thinking, analysis, and writing skills, engagement with social problems and innovative research, and enthusiasm for examining the social processes that influence people’s life outcomes and solutions to systems of stratification.
5. Diversity
Sacramento State highly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As a university with an Antiracism and Inclusive Mission and Campus Plan, the Sacramento State community, faculty, students, and staff engage in impactful dialogue, events, courses, and research regarding frameworks and processes to prevent racism, exclusion, and bias. Aligned with Sacramento State, diversity is important to the Sociology Department’s MA Program admissions process, and the Department is interested in receiving applications from those committed to advancing the University’s DEI goals, social justice efforts, and the understanding of diverse populations. Our department will look for evidence of applicant DEI in the submitted required application materials.
Graduate Coordinator Contact Information
Amanda M. Shigihara
Director, Sociology Graduate Program
Phone: 916-278-7572
E-mail: shigihara@csus.edu
Application Instructions
