MS Applied Sociology- Practicum Track

What is a practicum?

A practicum is an applied research project designed to help an agency or organization achieve its goals or objectives. 

 

Although students’ practica will vary, students will combine the emphases of the program:

• sociological methods and statistics

• needs assessment

• impact analysis

• grant writing

• collection and analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data. 

Examples of Previous Students' Final Practica Reports

Our students have completed some amazing applied research projects. You will see a variety of project research because the practicum is driven by the agency need.

  • Evaluating People’s Community Clinic Toxic Stress Prevention Program
  • An Analysis of Special Olympics Texas Areas: Proportions of Eligible Population Being Served and Demographic Characteristics
  • Evaluation of Alliance LGBTQIA Faculty and Staff Organization
  • Evaluation of Cultural Competence at It's Time Texas
  • Bexar County Reentry Center Evaluation: Assessing the Experiences of Reentering Offenders with a Substance Use Disorder
  • SARAH San Antonio: Evaluating Permanent Supportive Housing Outcomes
  • Faculty Experience Transitioning to Remote Teaching At the Onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic
  • Applied Qualitative & Quantitative Research for the Center of Diversity & Gender Studies
  • Homelessness in the City of San Marcos: Evaluating Trends and Determining Next Steps
  • An Evaluation of People's Community Clinic's Trial of the FIND Program

Why Applied Sociology?

According to the Sociological Practice Association, employment for social scientists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. This increasing demand is the result of concern about issues such as the environment, urban development, and a competitive global economy, as well as a shortage of trained evaluators. Job prospects are best for students with advanced degrees and graduates from applied programs in sociology will be specifically equipped to take advantage of the trend toward research, evaluation, and data analysis. 

MS Applied Sociology Alumni

Graduates from the MS program will be qualified to fill positions including, but not limited to, market researcher, program evaluator, policy analyst, grant writer, and various positions requiring data gathering, analysis and interpretation.

Ricardo Lowe

The MS in Applied Sociology degree is a solid career-oriented program. The various research skills I acquired here made me eligible for numerous employment opportunities-not to mention the remarkable support of the faculty and my fellow students, which strengthened my ability to work effectively in groups. Any student unafraid of challenges and eager to capitalize off opportunities will find this degree efficient, and with proper initiative, their value will be easily recognizable in both the academic and professional arena. -Ricardo Lowe

 The skills I acquired from the MS program courses in impact analysis, quantitative and qualitative research methods, demography and data analysis, all play a major role in my day-to-day responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include: creating evaluation surveys, conducting interviews, analyzing response data, conducting a process evaluation, and finalizing evaluation reports. I owe a lot to the Sociology department for helping me gain all of the knowledge and skills that I have today that allow me to conduct my position as is required. -Jessica Cohen

Jessica Cohen
Lindsay Halligan

Due to the dedication of the sociology department at Texas State University, I acquired the desired skills and knowledge needed to obtain a career in research. Currently, I am employed by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as a research specialist.  In my position, I analyze data related to regulatory findings, identify disparities and trends, and recommend changes to rules and regulations to foster better treatment of vulnerable Texas populations.  Although earning a master’s of science with a major in applied sociology was a difficult and challenging journey, I feel deeply rewarded and successful after graduating.  Not only did completion of the program aid my career but it also cultivated a better comprehension of myself and the society I live in, which has proven to be invaluable. -Lindsey Halligan

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