Quick Links
McGill.CA / Sociology / Graduate Student Information

MA Programs

A Master's degree in sociology can be achieved in two ways: by means of five courses and a thesis or by means of seven courses and a research paper. In the Social Studies of Medicine Joint MA Program, the course requirements are six courses plus a thesis or seven courses and a research paper.

Students should not be fooled by the lesser number of courses into imagining that the former of these options is the easier: to the contrary, it is likely to be more difficult and to take much more time. Although we wish this option to be available for students wishing to have early research experience, our expectation--that most students would choose the non-thesis route so as to progress in their career (and especially, for those so wishing, into the doctoral program) as fast as possible--has been borne out by the facts.

Residency and Time Required to Complete Degree

Students entering the Master's Program will be required to spend three terms in residence at McGill. The non-thesis program is designed to take one calendar year, with the length of time for the thesis program resting upon previous background and success in quickly developing a thesis topic. Candidates for the Master's degree must complete the degree within three years. It is important to note that in order to be considered full time, students in residence must register for a minimum of 12 credits per term in both the Thesis and Non-Thesis Programs. There is no residency requirement while the student is writing the thesis.

TOP OF PAGE

Course Work

Quebec law insists on a minimum of 45 credits for a Master's degree. Some of these credits are earned by course work, but others are obtained by registering for thesis/research paper courses.

Reading and Research Course

A student may register for one independent reading and research course as part of the remaining elective courses. In this instance, students must complete the Reading and Research form ( Reading and Research form [.pdf] ) detailing the nature of the work involved and the method of evaluation, which is to be signed by the professor and returned to the Graduate Coordinator.

Courses Outside the Department

Students are also permitted to take one course during the program outside the Department in a related discipline. A copy of the course outline must be submitted to the Chair of the Graduate Committee to confirm that the course is equivalent to a graduate level course in this department. If the course is external to McGill, the student must complete the Credit/Exemption Form which is to be signed by the professor teaching the course and returned to the Graduate Coordinator.

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology; Non-Thesis Program (45 credits)

This program requires a research paper that will normally, but not necessarily, flow out of a paper written for one of the graduate seminars or an independent reading course. Comparable to an article in a professional journal, the paper ought to focus on a clearly defined research problem, demonstrating familiarity with the most important relevant scholarly work and the ability to carry out research and organize the results of the research. This paper is expected to be no more than 30 pages in length, exclusive of footnotes and bibliography.

Required Courses (36 credits)

  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1* (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice (3)
  • SOCI 603 Bibliographic Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 604 Bibliographic Methods 2 (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory (3)
  • SOCI 696 Research Paper 1 (3)
  • SOCI 697 Research Paper 2 (3)
  • SOCI 699 Research Paper 4 (12)

*Incoming graduate students who need to take SOCI 504 (Quantitative Methods I) will be required to demonstrate an adequate level of preparation before enrolling. Preparation will be assessed by an exam given to incoming students. This exam will be the final exam from our undergraduate statistics course (SOCI 350) or its equivalent, subject to consultation and approval by the instructor of 504. To qualify for 504, a student must pass the exam with a score of at least 75 per cent. Those who do not qualify by exam will have to take SOCI 350 and earn a grade of B+ or higher in it before they will be allowed to enroll in 504.  

Complementary Courses (9 credits)
9 credits of complementary courses at the 500 level or higher

The student must obtain clearance of the research project from the faculty member who has agreed to serve as the research supervisor. To gain such approval, the student will submit the seminar paper and a one page statement of intent outlining proposed revisions to the paper, to the research supervisor. A more elaborate research proposal, of five pages or so, is required where a seminar paper does not serve as a basis for the Research Paper.

After the Research Paper has been revised and rewritten under the guidance of the supervisor, two copies should be deposited with the Department's Administrative Officer. The deadline for submission of the M.A. Research Project is AUGUST 31st . In consultation with the student, the supervisor will call on another faculty member as a second reader. The two faculty members will submit grades using a form provided by the Department. The grades received for Soci 699 will be recorded individually and the average of the two grades submitted by the two readers (supervisor and second reader) will be the final grade. The final grade for each course, SOCI 696 and SOCI 697 will be either Pass (P) or Fail (F).

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Non-Thesis) – Development Studies Option/Concentration (45 credits)

Required Courses (39 credits)

  • INTD 657 Development Studies Seminar (3)
  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice (3)
  • SOCI 603 Bibliographic Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 604 Bibliographic Methods 2 (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory (3)
  • SOCI 696 Research Paper 1 (3)
  • SOCI 697 Research Paper 2 (3)
  • SOCI 699 Research Paper 4 (12)

Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits of complementary courses at the 500 level or higher related to international development studies.

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Non-Thesis) – Medical Sociology (45 credits)

This program is a cooperative effort of the Sociology Department and the Department of Social Studies in Medicine.

Required Courses (36 credits)

  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 * (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods * (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice * (3)
  • SOCI 603 Bibliographic Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 604 Bibliographic Methods 2 (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory * (3)
  • SOCI 696 Research Paper 1 (3)
  • SOCI 697 Research Paper 2 (3)
  • SOCI 699 Research Paper 4 (12)

*All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (9 credits)
3 credits, one of the following courses:

  • SOCI 515 Medicine and Society (3)
  • SOCI 538 Sel Top in Soc of Biomed Know (3)

3 credits, one graduate-level course in History of Medicine.
3 credits, one graduate-level course in Social Studies of Medicine.

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Non-Thesis)– Social Statistics Option/Concentration (45 credits)

The program complements disciplinary training with research experience applying statistical methods to Statistics Canada data (or equivalent). It requires a statistics-based research paper that will normally, but not necessarily, flow out of a paper written for one of the graduate seminars. Comparable to an article in a professional journal, the paper ought to focus on a clearly defined research problem, demonstrating familiarity with the most important relevant scholarly work and the ability to carry out research and organize the results of the research. This paper is expected to be no more than 30 pages in length, exclusive of footnotes and bibliography.

Acceptance into the program is by application to the Social Statistics Option Committee and is contingent on acceptance into the M.A. program in one of the participating departments (Economics, Geography, Political Science, Sociology).

Required Courses (39 credits)

  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 * (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods * (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice * (3)
  • SOCI 603 Bibliographic Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 604 Bibliographic Methods 2 (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory * (3)
  • SOCI 688 Social Statistics 1 (1.5)
  • SOCI 689 Social Statistics 2 (1.5)
  • SOCI 696 Research Paper 1 (3)
  • SOCI 697 Research Paper 2 (3)
  • SOCI 699 Research Paper 4 (12)

*All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits of complementary courses at the 500 level or higher.

For further information on the MA Option in Social Statistics, please visit the Social Statistics website.

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Non-Thesis)– Gender and Women’s Studies Option/Concentration (45 credits)

The Graduate Option in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet the degree requirements in Sociology who wish to earn 6 credits of approved coursework focusing on gender and women's studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The student's research paper must be on a topic centrally relating to issues of gender and/or women's studies.

Required Courses (39 credits)

  • [short SOCI 504] * (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods * (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice * (3)
  • SOCI 603 Bibliographic Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 604 Bibliographic Methods 2 (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory * (3)
  • WMST 601 Feminist Theories and Methods (3)
  • SOCI 696 Research Paper 1 (3)
  • SOCI 697 Research Paper 2 (3)
  • SOCI 699 Research Paper 4 (12)

*All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (6 credits)

6 credits at the 500 level or higher including:

  • WMST 602 Feminist Research Symposium (3)

or one 3-credit course on gender/women’s studies issues at the 500 level or higher (may be taken in the Department or outside)

Candidates for the M.A. degree follow an individual program approved by the Department.

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Thesis) (48 credits)

To provide students with some research experience, all candidates in this program must present a thesis based on their own research. While not necessarily requiring an exhaustive review of work in the particular field of study, or a great deal of original scholarship, the thesis must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must normally demonstrate the ability to carry out research and to organize results, all of which must be presented in good literary style.

Required Courses (12 credits)

  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory (3)

All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (3 credits)
One 3-credit graduate-level course, which may be in a cognate field, subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.

Thesis Component - Required (33 credits)

  • SOCI 690 M.A. Thesis 1 (3)
  • SOCI 691 M.A. Thesis 2 (6)
  • SOCI 692 M.A. Thesis 3 (3)
  • SOCI 693 M.A. Thesis 4 (3)
  • SOCI 694 M.A. Thesis 5 (18)

It is the responsibility of each student to find a faculty member willing to serve as supervisor for the thesis. A student MUST submit an acceptable MA thesis proposal to his/her advisor by August 31st at the end of the first year which must not exceed 15 pages in length. The first step is to seek out faculty members and informally discuss possible topics for the thesis. The student, however, is not bound by the outcome of any exploratory meetings. Ultimately, this will lead to subsequent meetings with one staff member who will become the supervisor. Once a supervisor is chosen, the student presents the thesis supervisor with ideas and a first draft of a research proposal. The thesis proposal should include a discussion of methods and data to be used, hypotheses, and a justification of the research.

In cooperation, the student and advisor select at least two faculty members, one of whom may be from outside the department, to sit on the thesis committee. Approval of such an external appointment must, however, be obtained from the Graduate Committee. The thesis advisor calls a meeting of the thesis committee to discuss and secure approval of the proposal. The main purpose of this meeting is to supply the student with advice as to the feasibility and possible problems with the project. A copy of the accepted proposal must be filed with the Department.

There are numerous requirements regarding the content and format of the M.A. Thesis. Please consult the GPS guidelines for the most current and detailed information on the thesis process and requirements.

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Thesis) – Development Studies Option/Concentration (48 credits)

The M.A. thesis must be on a topic relating to development studies, approved by the Development Studies Option (DSO) coordinating committee.

Required Courses (15 credits)

  • INTD 657 Development Studies Seminar (3)
  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory (3)

All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Thesis Component - Required (33 credits)

  • SOCI 690 M.A. Thesis 1 (3)
  • SOCI 691 M.A. Thesis 2 (6)
  • SOCI 692 M.A. Thesis 3 (3)
  • SOCI 693 M.A. Thesis 4 (3)
  • SOCI 694 M.A. Thesis 5 (18)

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Thesis) – Medical Sociology (48 credits)

This program is a cooperative effort of the Sociology Department and the Department of Social Studies in Medicine.

Required Courses (12 credits)

  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 * (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods * (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice * (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory *(3)

* All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (6 credits)
3 credits, one of the following courses:

  • SOCI 515 Medicine and Society (3)
  • SOCI 538 Sel Top in Soc of Biomed Know (3)

3 credits, one graduate-level course in History of Medicine.

Thesis Component - Required (30 credits)

  • SOCI 690 M.A. Thesis 1 (3)
  • SOCI 691 M.A. Thesis 2 (6)
  • SOCI 692 M.A. Thesis 3 (3)
  • SOCI 693 M.A. Thesis 4 (3)
  • SOCI 695 M.A. Thesis 6 (15)

TOP OF PAGE

M.A. in Sociology (Thesis) – Gender and Women’s Studies Option/Concentration (48 credits)

The Graduate Option in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet the degree requirements in Sociology who wish to earn 6 credits of approved coursework focusing on gender and women's studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The student's M.A. thesis must be on a topic centrally relating to issues of gender and/or women's studies.

Required Courses (15 credits)

  • SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 (3)
  • SOCI 540 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
  • SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice (3)
  • SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory (3)
  • WMST 601 Feminist Theories and Methods (3)

All students must have taken these courses or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (3 credits)
3 credits at the 500 level or higher including:

  • WMST 602 Feminist Research Symposium (3)

or one 3-credit course on gender/women’s studies issues at the 500 level or higher (may be taken in the Department or outside).

Candidates for the M.A. degree follow an individual program approved by the Department.

Thesis Component - Required (30 credits)

Preparation and completion of a thesis on a topic approved by the supervisor and by participating faculty members in the Gender and Women’s Studies program.

  • SOCI 691 M.A. Thesis 2 (6)
  • SOCI 692 M.A. Thesis 3 (3)
  • SOCI 693 M.A. Thesis 4 (3)
  • SOCI 694 M.A. Thesis 5 (18)

TOP OF PAGE

Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Submission Deadlines

Theses can be submitted at any time but there are submission deadlines for each graduation. Students wishing to graduate at a particular time should plan to submit within a week of the appropriate deadline. Students submitting in the summer can expect a longer delay.

For deadlines and theses submission information please see the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Page.

Classified as
Updated on Tue, 2013-03-26 19:48
top of page