Department of Sociology

Graduate Program

The IUPUI Department of Sociology offers a Master of Arts degree and a Minor Ph.D in Sociology.  The M.A. degree is designed to prepare its students for conducting applied and policy-oriented research, and to equip those already in the workforce with the critical skills necessary for assessing and applying sociological knowledge in their everyday responsibilities. 

Currently, the program features three formal areas of concentration-family/gender studies, medical sociology, and work/organizations.  The program of study culminates in either an internship or thesis experience. The faculty in Sociology is engaged in a wide variety of scholarly activities including research, journal editing, and community service-related projects.  Students will have opportunities to participate in these activities with faculty members and through Department- sponsored internships.  The program is designed to accommodate the needs of both full and part-time students.

Sociologists with a Master’s degree have enhanced opportunities to gain employment in a wide variety of settings. Research-related positions can be found in hospitals, medical centers, state and local government planning units, and social service agencies. Administrator or staff positions in community health agencies, youth programs, nursing homes, social service centers and community mental health centers, and other agencies are also available. Another avenue for careers is teaching social science subjects at junior high and senior high school, as well as in junior colleges and technical schools. Finally, opportunities exist for researchers and administrators in national research firms and in private "think tanks", including openings for management analysts, market researchers and human resource professionals.