Graduate Certificate in Sociology

The Graduate Certificate in Sociology is designed for post-baccalaureate students interested in attaining the necessary expertise to teach sociology at the high school and community college levels.  The program is intended to assist individuals with the skills and knowledge to teach courses in the area of sociology.

      Upon completion of the certificate program, students will have:

• Expertise in core sociological theories, concepts, and methods;
• Expertise in multiple topical areas in sociology;
• Knowledge of sociology pedagogy;
• Competency to teach sociology courses at the community college and high school levels.

The program is intended to serve:

• Community college teachers
• High school teachers 

This Graduate Certificate is eligible to receive Title IV funding – Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Graduate PLUS loans by request. To be considered for aid, students need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

All students seeking admission to the Graduate Certificate in Sociology must submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. Graduate Application: The Graduate Application is an institutional application required by SHSU. Students must provide biographical and educational information and information relevant to determining State of Texas residency.
2. Application fee: An application fee is required for all applications to graduate programs at SHSU.
3. Transcripts from all degree-granting institutions. *

Applicants having at least a 3.50 undergraduate GPA and a degree in Sociology will be automatically admitted. In addition to these required application materials, the graduate committee strongly recommends that applicants submit additional items based on their prior coursework and performance.

For applicants who have either a 3.5 undergraduate GPA without a Sociology degree or a 3.0-3.49 undergraduate GPA, we strongly recommend they include a response to the following prompt:

In 500 to 1,000 words, describe how your personal, professional, and/or educational experiences have prepared you to engage with sociological thinking. Then, select a social problem that is important to you and demonstrate how a sociological perspective can be used to consider potential solutions. Finally, identify professional or career goals and articulate how our program can help you to achieve them.

If applicants have a traditional writing sample that demonstrates their ability to apply a sociological perspective, they may submit that in the place of their response to the prompt.

For applications who have below a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, we strongly recommend they include (1) a response to the previously stated prompt (or a writing sample), (2) at least one letter from a professional reference, and (3) a statement explaining why their undergraduate GPA is not the best indicator of their potential to succeed in the program. 

*Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for review by the admissions committee. However, under university policy, admission decisions are contingent upon receipt of official transcripts.

Students will be admitted for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. The application deadline for Spring enrollment is December 1st; the application deadline for Summer enrollment is May 1; the application deadline for Fall enrollment is August 1st.

Notes

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Contact information:

Tze-Li Hsu, Ph.D. 
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Sociology
Sam Houston State University 
thsu@shsu.edu
936-294-2675

The Graduate Certificate in Sociology is an 18-hour certificate.  It entails three required courses and three elective courses.  The certificate is designed to be taken fully online.  Full-time students will be able to complete the program in a year. Students admitted into the Graduate Certificate Program are eligible to transfer into the Master of Arts in Sociology program if they meet the program requirements.    

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The Graduate Certificate in Sociology is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

• Expertise in core sociological theories, concepts, and methods.
• Expertise in multiple topical areas in sociology.
• Applied skills in data management and analyses.
• Competency to teach sociology courses at the community college and high school levels (with an existing MA).