Sociology and Criminology (SOCI)

Mindy Bradley
Department Chair
211 Old Main
479-575-3205
Email: mwbradl@uark.edu

Casey Harris
Graduate Director
479-225-1963
Email: caseyh@uark.edu

Department of Sociology and Criminology Website

Degree Conferred:
M.A. in Sociology (SOCI)

Primary Areas of Faculty Research: Community; crime, health and well-being; terrorism; social inequality, organization and change; social data analytics using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Areas of Concentration: General sociology and criminology.

M.A. in Sociology with General Sociology Concentration

Application Requirements for the MA in Sociology Program: Applicants for graduate studies in sociology must be admitted to the Graduate School and must also submit the following: 1) at least two letters of recommendation from people who can judge the applicant’s academic potential as a graduate student; 2) a sample of written academic work (i.e., a research paper); 3) a one page statement in which the applicant discusses the educational objectives sought by entering our graduate program; 4) satisfactory GRE scores.

Prerequisites to Degree Program: Prior undergraduate work in social theory, research methods, statistics, and writing is considered necessary for successful performance at the graduate level. SOCI 33003 (or an approved equivalent), SOCI 33103 and SOCI 34203 (or an approved equivalent) are required to eliminate deficiencies. Additionally, students applying to the criminology concentration must show prior undergraduate work in introductory criminal justice or criminology. SOCI 30203/CRIM 30203 (or an approved equivalent) is required to eliminate deficiencies for students pursuing the criminology concentration. Undergraduate deficiencies must be removed by taking the appropriate undergraduate courses during the first twelve hours of graduate work or the first time the courses are offered.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree: (Minimum 32 hours.)

In addition to these common core courses, the courses required in a specific concentration, and the six hours of specialization-specific restricted electives, the student must take sufficient hours of electives to reach 32 semester hours total. The Department of Sociology and Criminology retains the right to make exceptions to the list of concentration-specific electives. Such exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Committee and authorized in writing by the Graduate Director. A maximum of three elective credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level without prior approval by the Graduate Committee. Students may apply three hours of independent study toward the degree provided that a research proposal is approved by the instructor prior to enrollment in the course. The student’s adviser must authorize courses outside of the department. Except for rare circumstances, no more than three hours of credit outside of the department will count for the degree.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a thesis and non-thesis options. Completion of the program for all students is contingent upon passing a comprehensive examination covering major course work.

Thesis Option: Students must take 26 hours of course work and six hours of thesis credit. All M.A. candidates in this option are required to develop and present a prospectus of the thesis to their thesis committee. They must also write and orally defend their thesis, including research methods, theory, and the area of thesis concentration.

Non-Thesis Option, Practicum: Students must take 26 hours of course work and six hours of graduate internship credit. All M.A. candidates in this option are required to develop a practicum proposal in conjunction with a community partner agency and present this proposal to their practicum committee. They must also design, write and orally defend a descriptive paper based on their work or research with the partner agency. 

Non-Thesis Option, Comprehensive Exams: Students must take 32 hours of course work. Students must select an area of study as listed in the departmental graduate handbook. Under this option, students must take a written comprehensive examination in theory, research methods, and the area of study.

Students should also be aware of Graduate School requirements with regard to master's degrees.

M.A. in Sociology with a concentration in General Sociology: In addition to meeting all of the core requirements outlined above, students wishing to pursue a master’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in general sociology must complete the following courses: 

M.A. in Sociology with Criminology Concentration

Application Requirements for the MA in Sociology Program: Applicants for graduate studies in sociology must be admitted to the Graduate School and must also submit the following: 1) at least two letters of recommendation from people who can judge the applicant’s academic potential as a graduate student; 2) a sample of written academic work (i.e., a research paper); 3) a one page statement in which the applicant discusses the educational objectives sought by entering our graduate program; 4) satisfactory GRE scores.

Prerequisites to Degree Program: Prior undergraduate work in social theory, research methods, statistics, and writing is considered necessary for successful performance at the graduate level. SOCI 33003 (or an approved equivalent), SOCI 33103 and SOCI 34203 (or an approved equivalent) are required to eliminate deficiencies. Additionally, students applying to the criminology concentration must show prior undergraduate work in introductory criminal justice or criminology. SOCI 30203/CRIM 30203 (or an approved equivalent) is required to eliminate deficiencies for students pursuing the criminology concentration. Undergraduate deficiencies must be removed by taking the appropriate undergraduate courses during the first twelve hours of graduate work or the first time the courses are offered.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree: (Minimum 32 hours.)

In addition to these common core courses, the courses required in a specific concentration, and the six hours of specialization-specific restricted electives, the student must take sufficient hours of electives to reach 32 semester hours total. The Department of Sociology and Criminology retains the right to make exceptions to the list of concentration-specific electives. Such exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Committee and authorized in writing by the Graduate Director. A maximum of three elective credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level without prior approval by the Graduate Committee. Students may apply three hours of independent study toward the degree provided that a research proposal is approved by the instructor prior to enrollment in the course. The student’s adviser must authorize courses outside of the department. Except for rare circumstances, no more than three hours of credit outside of the department will count for the degree.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a thesis and non-thesis options. Completion of the program for all students is contingent upon passing a comprehensive examination covering major course work.

Thesis Option: Students must take 26 hours of course work and six hours of thesis credit. All M.A. candidates in this option are required to develop and present a prospectus of the thesis to their thesis committee. They must also write and orally defend their thesis, including research methods, theory, and the area of thesis concentration.

Non-Thesis Option, Practicum: Students must take 26 hours of course work and six hours of graduate internship credit. All M.A. candidates in this option are required to develop a practicum proposal in conjunction with a community partner agency and present this proposal to their practicum committee. They must also design, write and orally defend a descriptive paper based on their work or research with the partner agency. 

Non-Thesis Option, Comprehensive Exams: Students must take 32 hours of course work. Students must select an area of study as listed in the departmental graduate handbook. Under this option, students must take a written comprehensive examination in theory, research methods, and the area of study.

Students should also be aware of Graduate School requirements with regard to master's degrees.

M.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology: In addition to meeting all of the core requirements outlined above, students wishing to pursue a master’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in criminology must complete the following courses:

Graduate Faculty

Adams, Douglas James, Ph.D., M.A. (University of Arizona), Associate Professor, 1995, 2002.
Allison, Kayla, Ph.D., (Indiana University-Bloomington), M.A. (University of Arkansas), B.A. (Indiana University-Bloomington), Assistant Professor, 2020.
Bustamante, Juan Jose, Ph.D. (Michigan State University), M.S., B.A. (University of Texas Pan American), Associate Professor, 2012, 2018.
Drawve, Grant R., Ph.D. (University of Arkansas at Little Rock), M.A., B.A. (Southern Illinois University), Associate Professor, 2016, 2021.
Engen, Mindy Sue, Ph.D., M.A. (Pennsylvania State University), B.S. (Georgia State University), Professor, 2005, 2017.
Engen, Rodney L., Ph.D. (University of Washington), M.S., B.S. (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Associate Professor, 2009.
Fitzpatrick, Kevin M., Ph.D. (State University of New York at Albany), M.A. (University of South Carolina at Columbia), B.A. (Susquehanna University), University Professor, Bernice Jones Chair in Community, 2005, 2014.
Gruenewald, Jeffrey A., Ph.D. (Michigan State University), Professor, 2019, 2022.
Harris, Casey Taggart, Ph.D., M.A. (Pennsylvania State University), B.S. (Texas A&M University), Professor, 2011, 2023.
Holyfield, Lori C., Ph.D. (University of Georgia), M.A., B.S.E. (University of Arkansas), Professor, 1995, 2012.
Morimoto, Shauna, Ph.D., M.S. (University of Wisconsin-Madison), B.A. (University of Pittsburgh), Professor, 2008, 2023.
Niño, Michael D., Ph.D. (University of North Texas), M.A., B.S. (West Texas A&M University), Assistant Professor, 2020.
Sabon, Lauren, Ph.D. (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), M.S/M.A. (Marshall University), B.S., B.A. (West Virginia University), Teaching Associate Professor, 2014, 2017.
Shields, Christopher A., Ph.D., J.D., M.A., B.A. (University of Arkansas), Teaching Associate Professor, 2003, 2017.
Thomas, Shaun A., Ph.D., M.A. (Louisiana State University), B.A. (University of Akron), Professor, 2015, 2023.
Worden, Steven K., Ph.D. (University of Texas at Austin), M.A., B.A. (Portland State University), Associate Professor, 1986.
Yang, Song, Ph.D., M.S. (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities), M.A. (Nankai University, China), B.A. (Branch College of Nankai, China), Professor, 2002, 2016.
Zajicek, Anna, Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), M.S., B.S. (University of Silesia, Poland), Professor, 1994, 2006.