Our graduate curriculum is flexible and allows students to pursue study in the areas of sociology that most interest them. No matter how you design your degree, however, you'll leave with a solid foundation in sociological theory and research methods.<br><br>The Master's program is small--cohorts are between five and ten students--and housed in a department without a PhD program. This means you'll get far more individual attention from faculty here than you might elsewhere.<br><br>All our sociology faculty have PhDs in sociology. Three of the four permanent full-time faculty have expertise and graduate training in criminology as well. Our professors have secured large research grants from statewide national agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Justice. As a Master's student, you can participate in their research through the criminology research group. The graduate course of study in General Sociology allows students to extend their undergraduate course work in Sociology. The graduate program is designed to provide extended training in theory and methods, and the application of theories and methods to social issues, problems, and policies. While the curriculum allows students considerable freedom to pursue their own sociological interests, it is necessary that the student's interests draw upon the interests of a particular departmental faculty member (please refer to the listing of faculty research interests). Students are encouraged to develop a plan of study with their advisor.