Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Graduate Study

Units within the College of Social Science offer programs leading to degrees of Master of Arts, Master of International Planning Studies, Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Master of Public Policy, Master of Science, Master of Social Work, Master of Urban and Regional Planning, and Doctor of Philosophy.

The following dual degree programs are co-sponsored by the College of Social Science and Michigan State University College of Law: Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations and J.D.; Master of Social Work and J.D.; and Master of Urban and Regional Planning and J.D.

For information about the following interdisciplinary specializations, graduate certificates, and degree programs, see the referenced section of this catalog.  The College of Social Science is lead sponsor of:

  1. Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood, for master’s or doctoral students in the departments of Anthropology, Psychology or Sociology, or MSW students in the School of Social Work, and in a number of other departments and programs at MSU (see statement on this specialization, below)
  2. Graduate Specialization in International Development, for all master’s or doctoral students at Michigan State University (see statement on this specialization, below)
  3. Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Cognitive Science, for master’s or doctoral students in Geography or Psychology, and in a number of other departments and programs at MSU (see statement on this specialization, below)
  4. Graduate Specialization in Security Management, for master's degree students enrolled in master's degree programs at Michigan State University (see statement on this specialization in the School of Criminal Justice section)
  5. Graduate Specialization in Forensic Science, for doctoral students enrolled in doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University (see statement on this specialization in the School of Criminal Justice section)
  6. Graduate Specialization in Global Urban Studies, for doctoral students enrolled in doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University (see statement on this specialization below)
  7. Graduate Certificate in Chicano/Latino Studies, for graduate students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Michigan State University (see statement on this certificate below)
  8. Graduate Certificates in Youth Development Specialist and Youth Program Management and Evaluation, in collaboration with The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA) (see statements on these certificates in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies section)
  9. Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Social System Modeling, for graduate students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Michigan State University (see statement on this certificate below).
  10. Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation, for graduate students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Michigan State University (see statement on this certificate in the Department of Psychology section)

The College of Social Science is a co-sponsor of:

  1. Interdepartmental Ph.D. program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior for doctoral students in Anthropology or Psychology (see statement on this doctoral program in the College of Natural Science section)
  2. Interdepartmental Ph.D. degree program in Neuroscience (see statement on this doctoral program in the College of Natural Science section)
  3. Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations in Environmental and Resource Economics for graduate students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Michigan State University (see statement on this specialization in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources section)
  4. Graduate Specialization in Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change, for master’s or doctoral students in the College of Social Science (see statement on this specialization in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources section)
  5. Interdisciplinary Graduate Specialization in Women's and Gender Studies, which is administered by the Program in Women, Gender and Social Justice, for master’s or doctoral students (see statement on this specialization in the College of Arts and Letters section)

Requirements for the various degrees are summarized below.  For complete requirements of any given program or degree, contact the appropriate unit in the college and see the Graduate Education section of this catalog. A student must meet the standards of the university, college, and unit.


Master of Arts

Most students in the College of Social Science pursue the Master of Arts degree, although several other master's degree programs are available through the College.

Requirements for the Degree

A maximum of 8 credits is allowed for thesis research.

Academic Standards

The accumulation of grades below 3.0 (including N grades in the P–N grading system) in more than two courses of three or more credits each removes the student from the degree program; this policy does not apply to courses below the 400 level unless the courses are required for the student's program.

Time Limit

The time limit for completion of the master's degree is six years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit was earned toward the degree.

Other Master's Degrees 

Other degrees at the master's level offered by the College are listed below. For a description and summary of the requirements for each degree, consult the section of this catalog devoted to the appropriate department or school. The statements on Academic Standards and Time Limit for the Master of Arts degree also apply to all other master's degrees in the College.

DEGREE DEPARTMENT OR SCHOOL
Master of International Planning Studies  School of Planning, Design and Construction
Master of Human Resources  School of Human Resources and Labor Relations
Master of Science  Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences; School of Criminal Justice
Department of Psychology
Master of Public Policy  Department of Political Science
Master of Social Work  School of Social Work
Master in Urban and Regional Planning School of Planning, Design and Construction

Doctor of Philosophy

The successful completion of the Doctor of Philosophy degree requires scholarly ability of a high order. Ph.D. degree programs, with emphasis on specialization and research, are offered in each of the departments in the College of Social Science.

Academic Standards

A doctoral student may earn grades below 3.0 (including N grades in the P–N grading system) in not more than two of the courses required by the guidance committee.

 


Chicano/Latino Studies, Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Chicano/Latino Studies prepares scholars, researchers, and teachers in the social sciences and humanities to develop expertise in the historical and contemporary experiences of Chicanas/os/x and Latinas/os/x in their social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. The program emphasizes global, trans-disciplinary, comparative, and applied approaches to knowledge which enhance collaborative scholarly efforts within the university, peer educational institutions, and the broader community. It addresses Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x experiences in home communities in the United States, and international dimensions and diaspora experiences involving communities in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.   

Admission

Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chicano/Latino Studies is based on an evaluation of the student’s academic record. To be considered for admission to the program with regular status, applicants must have a master’s degree in an appropriate field or its equivalent, of at least 30 credits of approved course work beyond the bachelor’s degree. Applicants without a master’s degree or sufficient course work may be admitted provisionally and be required to complete a specified number of collateral courses, not to count toward the degree, before regular admission is granted.

Application forms for graduate school must be completed online for both domestic and international students. The Graduate School website contains all the information necessary to complete the application process. Applicants must submit the following materials:

  1. The online application form to the Graduate School.
  2. GRE General Test scores no more than five (5) years old, as well as two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, to the Chicano/Latino Studies Graduate Program Director.
  3. A statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample to the Chicano/Latino Studies Graduate Program Director. The letters of recommendation must be submitted by the recommender directly to the Chicano/Latino Studies office.
  4. Original transcripts from all colleges or universities attended sent directly from the institution to the Chicano/Latino Studies office.
  5. A writing sample of the applicant’s best example of written analytic and interpretative work that validates the applicant’s aptitudes and abilities in research and academic writing, and their preparation for scholarly work.
  6.  A statement of purpose of 1000 words or less providing the applicant’s explanation of why s/he wishes to pursue a doctoral degree in Chicano/Latino Studies, outlining an area of interest in Chicano/Latino Studies, and discusses career goals.

Guidance Committee

The graduate director will guide students in the selection of courses for the first year. By the end of the second semester of the first year, students should choose their major professor and their guidance committee. The committee shall consist of at least four members, at least two in Chicano/Latino Studies and up to two in related fields.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Chicano/Latino Studies

1. Students must complete 30 credits from the following:
a. All of the following courses (minimum of 15 credits):
CLS 810 Historiography and Social Science: Methods in Chicano/Latino Studies 3
CLS 811 Literary and Cultural Theory in Chicano/Latino Studies 3
CLS 893E Readings in Chicano/Latino Studies 1 to 4
CLS 894 Fieldwork in Chicano/Latino Studies 1 to 4
CLS 896 Seminar in Chicano/Latino Studies 3
b. A minimum of 3 credits in research methods in an area of specialization.
c. Complete 2 credits of electives from the following: American studies, anthropology, education, English, history of art, history, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, resource development, social work, sociology, and Spanish. The course work must be selected from an approved course list in consultation with the student's guidance committee.
2. Complete Spanish, Nahuatl, or another Amerindian language to fulfill the language requirement. Demonstrate advanced reading proficiency by passing oral and written examinations.
3. Pass two comprehensive written examinations as arranged by the guidance committee, one in Chicano/Latino Studies and one in the student’s area of specialization.
4. Complete 24 credits of CLS 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
5. Submit the dissertation proposal to the guidance committee and successfully pass the oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

Chicano/Latino Studies - Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Chicano/Latino Studies exposes students to methodologies specific to Chicano/Latino Studies, and to debates in the field that reflect larger transformations in United States culture and society. Students interested in research related to Chicanas/o/x and Latinas/o/x in the United States will find this certificate program of interest.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Chicano/Latino Studies, students must:

  1. Have a bachelor’s degree.
  2. Be currently enrolled in a Michigan State University graduate degree program other than the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Chicano/Latino Studies.
  3. Have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.
  4. Obtain approval from the student's primary major advisor and the Chicano/Latino Studies Graduate Program Director by submitting a short application form.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Chicano/Latino Studies

1. Complete all of the following courses (9 credits):
CLS 810 Historiography and Social Science: Methods in Chicano/Latino Studies 3
CLS 811 Literary and Cultural Theory in Chicano/Latino Studies 3
CLS 896 Seminar in Chicano/Latino Studies 3
2. Complete 3 credits in related content from another department or graduate-level program as approved by the Chicano/Latino director. This requirement may be met by either: (1) a graduate-level course that includes at least 50% Chicano/Latino studies content, or (2) a graduate-level course in which the student completes a research assignment addressing a Chicano/Latino studies topic related to course content.

Environmental and Social System Modeling - Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Social System Modeling is designed for students who desire to understand a variety of modeling techniques used to address environmental problems that span human and natural systems. The certificate program exposes students to a range of state-of-the-art techniques including agent-based modeling, systems dynamics modeling, multilevel modeling, and structural equation modeling.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Social System Modeling

Students must complete 9 credits from the following:
1. Both of the following courses (3 credits):
ESP 850 Introduction to Environmental and Social System Modeling 1
ESP 890 Modeling Environmental and Social Systems 2
2. Two of the following courses (6 credits):
CSUS 836 Modeling Natural Resource Systems 3
ENE 801 Dynamics of Environmental Systems 3
GEO 869 Agent-Based Modeling 3
SOC 883 Multi-Equation Quantitative Models 3

Environmental Science and Policy - Dual Major

The interdepartmental dual major in environmental science and policy is administered by the College of Social Science.  The dual major is available only to those students who are enrolled in a Ph.D. degree program that involves environmental science and policy and who have a graduate major at Michigan State University.  The student does not have the option of completing a dual major in environmental science and policy alone.

The educational objectives of the interdepartmental program are to (1) develop interdisciplinary knowledge and skills across natural and social science disciplines related to the environment and to enable collaboration with researchers and practitioners from other disciplines towards addressing environmental challenges; (2) gain knowledge of and experience with science based environmental policies, including how scientific knowledge can contribute to practical policies and how interdisciplinary collaboration can improve the effectiveness of policies; and (3) gain practical experience in communicating scientific research to multiple audiences, including scientific communities and the general public.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

In order to enroll in the dual major in environmental science and policy a student must also have been admitted to a major at Michigan State University.

The Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP) Graduate Program Council, composed of members of the faculty from participating departments will review applications for admission and recommend acceptance of applicants for admission.

In special cases an applicant who has deficiencies in background courses may be admitted to the dual major on a provisional basis.

Guidance Committee

The program shall be planned in accordance with the statement on Dual Major Doctoral Degrees in the Graduate Education section of this catalog. At least one member of the student’s doctoral dissertation committee shall be an environmental science and policy affiliated faculty member.

Students in the dual major in environmental science and policy are expected to attend a number of community-building activities with other students from different disciplines.

Requirements for the Dual Major in Environmental Science and Policy

1. All of the following courses with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 with no more than one course’s grade below 3.0 in courses used in fulfillment of the requirements for the dual major (12 credits):
a. The following course (3 credits):
ESP 800 Principles of Environmental Science and Policy 3
b. One of the following courses (3 credits):
ESP 801 Physical, Chemical, and Biological Processes of the Environment 3
CSUS 836 Modeling Natural Resource Systems 3
ENE 801 Dynamics of Environmental Systems 3
c. One of the following courses (3 credits):
ESP 802 Human Systems and Environment 3
AFRE 829 Economics of Environmental Resources 3
CSUS 820 Social-Ecological Resilience 3
CSUS  824 Sustainable Development 3
SOC 865 Environmental Sociology 3
SOC 869 Community and Conservation 3
d. One of the following courses (3 credits):
ESP 804 Environmental Applications and Analysis 3
FW 868 Water Policy and Management 3
2. Twenty-four credits in Doctoral Dissertation Research (course number 999) from the student's departmental major.
3. Pass a comprehensive examination that will be defined by the requirements of the student's major department and that will include a written examination in which the student demonstrates a knowledge of environmental science and policy as determined by the guidance committee.
4. Submit a dissertation that, in the judgment of the student’s guidance committee, represents the integration of environmental science and policy and the student’s departmental major.