Research Fields
Master's students may specialize in the following research fields including mastery of relevant theory and methodology:
- Crime and Deviance
- Interpretive Sociology
- Social Inequality
- Survey and Fieldwork Methodology
- Work and Technology
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for students seeking admission to the MA program are as follows:
- normally an Honours Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in Sociology with at least a B+ overall standing (78%);
- three letters of reference from academic sources;
- official transcripts from all other post-secondary institutions;
- a sample of written work;
- a curriculum vitae;
- a statement of academic interest (approximately a page, outlining areas of interest and reasons for choosing to study at the University of Waterloo);
- results from the General Section of the Graduate Record Examination (optional);
- proof of competency in English (if applicable). A score of at least 600 is required in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). See Academic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification for other acceptable tests of English.
Note: The deadline for applications is February 1 for Fall admission. Applications received after this deadline will be considered only if positions are available.
Degree Requirements
There are three program options: the Course Work only option, the Master's Research Paper option, and the Thesis option.
Electing an Option
In the first term of the program, a student in consultation with the assigned Departmental Advisor will select a Master's option (Course Work only, Master's Research Paper, Thesis). A form will be signed by both the student and the Departmental Advisor and forwarded to the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs. Thereafter, the approval of the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs, is necessary in order to change an option. In the case of the Master's Research Paper and Thesis options, the Departmental Advisor will also assist the student in the identification of a potential supervisor. Students should keep in mind that it is strongly advised that they complete three courses in their first term.
Note: Course work beyond these minima below may be required at the discretion of the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs. If additional course work is required, the student will be notified in writing at the time of entry into the program. Additional course work may be required by those who in the estimation of the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs, do not possess the equivalent of an Honours Bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Waterloo.
The student must obtain at least a B (75%) average in courses presented in fulfillment of the MA requirements whether it be the Course Work only, the Master's Research Paper, or the Thesis option.
Students who choose the co-op option for the MA program will be required to submit a work report upon completion of the work terms
Master's Course Work only Option
Master's students who choose this option must complete:
- Theory: one of SOC 700 or 704
- Statistics: SOC 710
- Methods: SOC 712
- At least five other graduate courses with a minimum weight of 0.5 unit each. These courses must also require a substantial piece of research (project or essay).
Note: The Master's Course Work only requires that all eight courses are completed by the end of the third term (typically at the end of August).
Master's Research Paper Option
Master's students who choose this option must complete:
- Theory: one of SOC 700 or 704
- Statistics: SOC 710
- Methods: SOC 712
- At least three other graduate courses with a minimum weight of 0.5 unit each. These courses must also require a substantial piece of research (project or essay).
- prepare a research paper proposal;
- write and orally defend a research paper.*
*A research paper is considered to involve an amount of work equivalent to two one-term courses (1 unit, approximately 50 to 70 pages in length). As a guideline, the focus of a Master's Research paper can be on the research question, theory and methodology, and possibly some exploratory research on the state of the research but it is up to the supervisor, reader/examiner and student to set the direction for the MRP.
Note: A research paper proposal must be completed and approved by a supervisor and one reader /examiner by the middle of the third term (typically the end of June). The research paper must be defended by the end of the fourth term (typically, the end of December).
Sub-Specialization in Community Research Methodology
Any student admitted to the UW Sociology Master's program will be eligible to take the Community Research Methodology Sub-Specialization within the Master's Research Paper stream option.
Completion of the course of study shall be designated by the line "Community Research Methodology" on the Master's degree, and will certify that the degree holder has acquired an ensemble of skills qualifying him or her to design, administer, analyze and interpret social science fieldwork research and surveys.
Structure of the Sub-Specialization
The Sub-Specialization is a sequence of six courses (with unit weights equal to 0.50 each) plus a research paper. The Community Research Methodology comprises:
Core Master's Degree in Sociology (Community Research Paper Stream):
- SOC 700 or 704 (Theory)
- SOC 712 (1st course in Methodology)
- SOC 710 (Statistics)
- SOC 714 or 716 or 717 (Qualitative Methods)
- Any other Sociology course of the student's choice, other than the courses listed below. This normally will be a course in a substantive area of Sociology.
Courses Unique to Community Research Methodology Students:
- Either SOC 697(Surveys) and STATS 890 (Sampling) or SOC 766 (Participatory Action Research) and SOC 768 (Community Engagement & Social Development);
- 4-month field practicum;
- Research Paper in an area of surveys or community based research.
All students in the Community Research Methodology Sub-Specialization will share the core curriculum: Theory, Statistics, Methods, and Qualitative Methods, a four-month fieldwork practicum and a research paper. Students will choose an area of focus either in surveys or in fieldwork while being required to complete both Soc 697 and Stats 890 or Soc 766 and Soc 768. The fieldwork practicum will be at a site appropriate to the student's research focus. The research paper will be in an area of either survey methodology or community based research.
Master's Thesis Option
Master's students who choose this option must complete:
- Theory: one of SOC 700 or 704
- Methods: SOC 712
- Statistics: SOC 710
- At least one other graduate course with a minimum weight of 0.5 unit each;
- write and orally defend a thesis proposal;
- write and orally defend a thesis.*
*A Master's thesis is considered to involve an amount of work equivalent to four one-term courses (2.00 units, approximately 100 to 150 pages in length).
Note: A thesis proposal, approved by a supervisor and two readers, must be completed by the end of the second term (typically the end of April. The thesis should be completed and defended by the end of the sixth term.