(Please visit the CUNY Schedule of Classes for this semester’s schedule.)

Courses

Thirty credits (ten of three credits each) are required for the M.A. Eight of these courses (24 credits) are usually “in class.” Of the remaning two courses (6 credits), one must be an independent research project, while the other can be an internship or another “in class” course. Students may also take courses in other departments or arrange for independent studies with members of the faculty.

Applied Computer Methods and Advanced Social Sciences

This two-term sequence gives students “hand-on” experience in te design, conduct, and analysis of research used routinely by advertising agencies, marketers, social agencies, government departments, educational institutions, and others. The course teaches up-to-date computer skills and enables students to “interest” with data and analyze them in a meaningful manner.

Applied Social Research

This two-term sequence introduces students to the man areas of applied social research, including market research, evaluation research, and allied fields. Th projects used for teaching are similar to those implemented by major market research firms and social research agencies.

Professional Writing and Communication for Applied Social Research

This course concentrates on improving students’ written and oral skills as preparation for entry into the professional arena. Through a variety of writing assignments and reviews, students learn the principles of concise and effective communication.

Contemporary Sociological Theory

This course acquaints students with work in social theory relevant to the social researcher.

The Research Process

This course teaches students how to apply the skills learned in other courses to the design and conduct of their own research projects. The course takes and integrated look at the entire research process as it is carried out by social researchers, and often includes presentations by leading professional researchers from various areas of applied social research.

Independent Research Project

This course is usually carried out by the student for a client, and is the final requirement for the degree.

Demography

Demography focuses on the U.S. population and how it has changed in recent decades, most particularly in the New York metropolitan area. This course is useful for anyone designing and carrying out research. (This course is not necessarily offered each semester.)

Evaluation Research

This course demonstrates how the techniques of social research are used to evaluate social programs, a burgeoning field of applied social research. (This course is not necessarily offered each semester.)

Contemporary Urban Society Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

This course examines the way population is distributed throughout the New York metropolitan area. It focuses on neighborhood and residential clustering, using a variety of social factors such as race, language, ethnicity, income, and the like. These systems are being increasingly used in social research. The department has a small GIS and multimedia laboratory for instruction in this area. (This course is not necessarily offered each semester.)