Graduate Programs: Master's Degree Programs

1. General Requirements
   1. Candidates must complete a minimum of two quarters of residency on the Columbus campus. To meet this requirement, the student must be en-rolled in at least one course each quarter on the OSU main campus.
   2. Master's programs must be planned by the student and his/her advisor and committee and submitted to the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee by the end of the student's first quarter. The Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Chair will be vested with the authority to review programs for the committee. The student, in collaboration with the advisor, will identify at least two additional faculty members to serve with the advisor as an advisory committee. A majority of members on the student's committee will be comprised of the Rural Sociology faculty and associate faculty. The Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Chair will communicate any concerns about the program to the student and/or his/her advisor and committee.
   3. The student's advisor must submit Master's programs to the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee. Majority approval of the program is required. The advisor will then forward the program to the department's Graduate Studies and Research Committee for approval for admission to candidacy. Programs should be submitted before the student has completed his or her first quarter.
   4. Master's programs must be completed within six years from the date of first enrollment as a graduate student. If not, then all course work taken more than six years previously must be replaced with new course work or competence in the courses must be documented by taking an examination or presenting by petition to the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee demonstrating the candidate's knowledge or the argument that the knowledge is still current.
   5. Attendance during the oral examination is limited to the candidate and the members of the master's advisory committee.
   6. The advisor of the master's candidate must notify the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair -of the decision (must be unanimous in order to pass) of the master's advisory committee related to the performance on the final examination.

2. Master's of Science Degrees: Program Options and Specialization

   The Master's Program in Rural Sociology requires courses and seminars which provide a systematic treatment of sociological theory and research methods in application to rural problems. Within the Master's Program, we also offer a specialization in Community Development. There are two program options: Plan A (the thesis option) requires a minimum of 45 credit hours of course work plus a thesis; Plan B (the exam option) requires a minimum of 50 credit hours of course work plus a written exam. All students must complete a Master's oral examination.

   Students following the Plan A Thesis Option will be expected to complete a two-hour oral examination (commonly referred to as the defense) after completion of the thesis. There will be no written exam for Thesis Option students.

   Student following the Plan B Option will take a comprehensive written examination followed two weeks later by an oral examination. The written examination is planned by the student's advisory committee. The written exam centers on the student's understanding of the core areas in theory, research methodology, general Rural Sociology and speciality areas within Rural Sociology.

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