Social Science, M.S.
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice offers an M.S. in Social Science degree, proudly designated as a Department of Homeland Security STEM degree program. This outstanding graduate program provides a solid foundation in social science research methods. It emphasizes practical and theoretical knowledge in the areas of sociology, anthropology and criminal justice, and focuses on the acquisition of social science research skills, theory application and field experience. The program prepares students to conduct theoretically sound, empirically sophisticated research projects, as well as evaluation studies of organizational programs and policies.
You can complete your degree in only 30 hours (for non-thesis students) or 36 hours (for thesis students) of graduate credit in typically 3-4 semesters. The core curriculum includes qualitative and quantitative research methods, social theory, survey design and/or evaluation methods, and professional development. Students can tailor their studies to suit their career goals with the guidance of their individual committees.
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Program Overview
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Social Science, with an emphasis on both practical and theoretical knowledge in the areas of social science research methods and theory. The program is designed to equip students with strong competencies in research design, data analysis, theoretical application and practical field experience. During the second year of study, students may choose between the thesis and non-thesis tracks, depending on their academic interests and professional goals.
Department faculty hail from the academic traditions of sociology, anthropology and criminal justice. United by a commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service, faculty members are dedicated to fostering both the academic and professional development of students. This commitment is grounded in the shared belief that expertise is cultivated throughout an individual’s career and is continually enriched through ongoing learning and engagement.
Graduates of our program are highly marketable and have an excellent employment record. They have been hired by governmental, public and private organizations including the National Opinion Research Center, Nielsen Media, Arbitron, Research Triangle Institute, United Way, Society for Human Resource Management, American Institutes for Research, District of Columbia Public Schools and the U.S. Census Bureau. Graduates are data analysts, evaluation researchers, policy analysts, statisticians and management consultants. Our graduates have successfully pursued doctoral and professional studies at public and private universities.
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4+1 Accelerated Track
The Bachelor-to-Graduate program at Clemson University offers an accelerated track to a master’s degree, allowing qualified students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years without taking the GRE. The Bachelor-to-Graduate program is open to all students with a social science background, including Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice majors. To qualify for this program, you must have completed your bachelor’s curriculum through your junior year (at least 90 credit hours) with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.4. If you are interested in the 4+1 M.S. in Social Science option, please email mssocialscience@clemson.edu expressing your interest or requesting more information.
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Research Opportunities
The M.S. in Social Science program offers a rigorous curriculum focused on research design, execution, and analysis, with an emphasis on applying social theory and constructing, managing and analyzing data sets to solve real-world problems. Students work alongside faculty in their research endeavors and conduct their own research, leading to opportunities for either employment or pursuing a Ph.D. Faculty members and graduate students often collaborate on research projects with colleagues from other departments.
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Graduate Faculty
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