A comprehensive sociology course needs to be conducted as part of the undergraduate program in order for students to pass an official sociological examination for licensure in a specific career field. Comprehensive exams in sociology therefore have two main functions: review the intellectual/theoretual and empirical aspects of the discipline in order to teach and conduct research on a particular specialization area in order to conduct advanced research in that discipline; and also to learn to read and critically analyze material that is organized according to the subject matter that they are studying in their coursework. The sociological exam will be taken by students who have completed their bachelor’s degree and are working towards getting a masters or PhD. It is administered by the Commission for Sociological Studies of Texas and is offered at several university exam centers across the United States. Students must pass the examination in order to complete their university degree.
There are many schools of sociology and each school offers different types of programs to students interested in pursuing a PhD. The two most common are the social sciences and related courses, and the humanities. The students who want to pursue doctoral degrees in social sciences or the related courses can either choose a master’s degree in social sciences or specialize. Master’s degrees in social sciences include social psychology and social behavior; social studies of science and technology; social work and clinical psychology; education and learning; gerontology; and sociology. A PhD in social sciences is an advanced degree and students who take it must be aware of the various topics that they need to study and what level of research they are qualified to conduct.
An important thing to consider while looking for a suitable school for graduate studies in social sciences is the curriculum. The curriculum must cover all the areas of the discipline and be designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the entire discipline. A proper mix of theoretical and empirical research and fieldwork is required and must be planned by the professor. The syllabus should be organized in such a way that students will be able to learn all the theories that are essential for successful research and writing in the field.
Students who opt for a master’s degree in social sciences can either choose one of two options. One is a two-year program or a four-year program that takes up to two years to complete. In a two-year program students specialize in a specific field of study and complete research papers in order to earn their degree and get a license to practice in that field. In a four-year program students specialize in a particular discipline and study as much as they can in that field. The fieldwork includes clinical internships, supervised clinical experiences and fieldwork.
Those students who want to earn a master’s degree in social sciences may specialize in their field of specialization. Students can choose to become a sociologist or an anthropologist. A sociologist specializes in studying the social groups and the dynamics of interaction among these groups and its related institutions. An anthropologist studies the social structures of human beings, its organization, and culture. He/she also studies the social and cultural factors that influence human behavior and development and analyzes this through various means such as sociological/historical and social scientific studies.
Students who specialize in a master’s degree in social sciences may also choose to specialize in a specific topic. They may opt to become a developmental psychologist, which studies psychological processes and their effects on human growth and development. There are also schools that offer a Master of Social Work, which allows the student to focus on a specific problem area. These areas are usually health, family, educational, juvenile, and adult development, among others. Other courses offered by these schools include marriage, family therapy, psychology of violence, and psychology of law and politics. The schools usually require a minimum number of courses in order for a student to take the course but the number of credits given depends on the student’s GPA.
Before enrolling in a Master’s degree in social sciences, it is necessary that a student should have good grades and be prepared to take courses on an academic level. After taking up to five years of college studies, the student must pass the written exam and the final examination before taking the Master’s degree. After graduation, he/she can choose to take up to two years of post-graduate studies.
