MA in Social Science

Master of Arts, Social Science – Statesboro

Degree Requirements : 36 Credit Hours

The Master of Arts in Social Science (MASS) is the first program of its kind in the University System of Georgia. Unlike traditional Master of Arts programs, which limit the number of courses students can take outside their home discipline, the Master of Arts in Social Science is designed to take advantage of an array of graduate seminars from the social sciences. Students enrolled in the program will work closely with the program director and an advisor from their area of emphasis – either in Anthropology, Political Science, or Sociology – to customize a program of study that combines theory, methods, and content with practice.

The MASS degree is perfect for individuals who want to take advantage of the resources within several disciplines to study a problem or simply to strengthen their training in applied or public service occupations (such as criminal justice, research and data analysis, historical or cultural resource management, service or policy practice, or nonprofit program management). The MASS program is designed to emphasize the skills that graduates need to become responsible, informed, and ethical workers (skills such as, civic competence, logical thinking, literacy, numeracy, historical consciousness, and an understanding of social scientific inquiry, diversity and social values.)

Like other Master of Arts programs, candidates in the MASS program will complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of coursework; these include 12 hours of required classes, 18 hours of electives, and six hours of either a research thesis or applied/public service courses. Most graduate seminars are offered in the evening making it possible for working professionals to earn a Master of Arts in Social Science degree by enrolling in night courses. This is a residential program which can not be completed online. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the graduate director via email to discuss the program prior to applying.

With more than 27,000 students, approximately 140 different degree programs, and three campuses with a single vision of growing others, Georgia Southern University is already moving and ready for more. The historic brick streets or moss-dripping oak trees may make our picturesque campuses seem pristine, but there’s a lot of roll-up-your-sleeves work going on here. Research is focused on community impact. Teaching is focused on the students. And the students are focused on their future.

Since 1906, the University’s hallmark has been a culture of engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and promotes student growth and life success. Central to the University’s mission is the faculty’s dedication to excellence in teaching and the development of a fertile learning environment exemplified by a free exchange of ideas, high academic expectations, and individual responsibility for academic achievement. Faculty, staff, and students embrace core values of collaboration, academic excellence, discovery and innovation, integrity, openness and inclusion, and sustainability.