Sociology, Accelerated Master's Pathway

The Sociology Department at UCCS offers an Accelerated Master’s Degree Pathway, allowing Sociology majors to earn both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in as little as five years. 

This program enables students to apply up to 12 credit hours toward both degrees, reducing both time and cost while providing a seamless transition to graduate studies.

To participate, students must submit an Application of Intent during their junior year for approval by the Sociology Department. The Sociology Department will waive the application fee for students who do not qualify for a financial aid waiver. For more details, contact the Graduate Director.

Eligible students can formally apply to the Accelerated Master’s program during their final year of undergraduate study. This pathway streamlines the process, allowing students to earn their graduate degree more efficiently.

The Accelerated MA in Sociology program allows students to apply 12 semester credits toward both their Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Arts (MA) in Sociology. To qualify for dual credit, courses must meet the following criteria:

• Be approved by the Graduate Director of Sociology.

• Be completed with a grade of B+ or higher.

• Be taken for graduate credit (5000-level courses).

• Be offered by the UCCS Department of Sociology.

Once admitted to the program, undergraduate students complete four graduate courses with a minimum grade of 3.33 in each course. They must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all coursework and a 3.33 GPA in major-related coursework.

After completing 12 graduate credits (which count toward both degrees) and 111 undergraduate credits, students will officially transition to graduate student status. At this stage, they must fulfill all remaining master’s degree requirements, except for the four graduate courses (12 credits) completed as undergraduates. Students who previously completed a combined 4000/5000-level course at the 4000 level cannot retake the same course at the 5000 level.

Academic Standing and Program Policies

The Accelerated Program Administrator, in coordination with the Sociology Chair and Graduate Dean, will oversee matters related to academic progress, petitions, appeals, transfer credits, and grievances. The Administrator also has the authority to place students on probation or dismiss them if they fail to meet the minimum academic requirements.

Plan of Study

Within two weeks of acceptance into the Accelerated MA program, students must submit a Plan of Study Form outlining how they intend to complete the required 30 credit hours. This plan should detail projected MA courses over the next 2-3 years in alignment with their BA coursework.

Program Exit Policies:

• Students who leave or are dismissed before their mid-program review can still complete their BA under standard program rules.

• Students who leave or are dismissed after a successful mid-program review will be awarded their BA and may apply to the MA program, with the possibility of transferring unused graduate credits (subject to standard limitations).

General Requirements

Current UCCS sociology majors are eligible to apply after meeting the following: ·

• Completed UCCS lower-division core courses.
• Completed 90 credit hours, which include SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology and SOC 3070 Research Methods.
• Minimum 3.00 overall cumulative GPA.
• Minimum 3.33 cumulative GPA in sociology courses.

To apply, please follow the step-by-step guide.

To get details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog, or contact the Sociology Graduate Director.

Requirements for Transfer Students

Sociology majors transferring from other institutions are eligible to apply after meeting the following:

• Transfer and complete 90 credit hours, which include:
  • Introduction to Sociology and Research Methods (or equivalent courses).
  • 12 credit hours of sociology courses completed at UCCS.
• Minimum 3.00 overall cumulative GPA.
• Minimum 3.33 cumulative GPA in sociology courses.

To apply, please follow the step-by-step guide.

To get details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog, or contact the Sociology Graduate Director.

Exemptions may be possible on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Graduate Director, Lei (Frank) Zhang, to determine if you are eligible.

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships