Master of Arts in Social Science (M.A.S.S.)
This is a 36-hour generalist, thesis or non-thesis program designed to give graduate students a broad content area to further educational and career opportunities. The program, which may be used to enhance teacher certification, includes history, political science, psychology, and sociology. It is offered with two broad concentrations:
Community College Teaching and Generalist Concentration (Without Teacher Certification)
Option 1 (36 Hours)
The program consists of successfully completing 18 semester hours in two of the four disciplines of history, political science, psychology, or sociology for a total of 36 semester hours.
The student must complete nine hours of 600 level courses in each of the two fields of emphases.
If emphasizing history, HST 500 Historiography and Research is required; if emphasizing political science, POL 520 Seminar in American Politics is required; if emphasizing psychology, the student must take PSY 601 Advanced General I and PSY 602 Advanced General Psychology II; if emphasizing sociology, SOC 510 Advanced General Sociology and SOC 610 Contemporary Sociological Theory are required.
The candidate must pass the comprehensive qualifying written examination in both areas of emphases.
Option 2 (36 hours)
The program consists of successfully completing 18 semester hours in one discipline of history, political science, psychology, or sociology.
The student must complete (a) nine semester hours each in two other social science disciplines listed above of which nine semester hours must be in 600 level courses for a total of 18 semester hours.
The student must complete nine hours of 600 level courses in each of the field of emphasis.
If emphasizing history, the student must take HST 500 Historiography and Research; if emphaszing political science, POL 520 Seminar in American Politics is required; if emphasizing sociology, PSY 601 Advanced General I and PSY 602 Advanced General Psychology II are required; if emphasizing sociology, SOC 510 Advanced General Sociology and SOC 610 Contemporary Sociological Theory are required.
The student must pass the comprehensive qualifying written examination in the major and minor areas of emphases.
General Degree Requirements (Both Options)
No more than three graduate hours of “C” grade will count toward degree completion; the candidate must have an overall 3.0 grade point average for graduation. A maximum of twelve semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred from other accredited graduate institutions if those credits match the course requirements of the graduate program.
Note: The candidate must complete the program within five years.