Certificate in Applied Social Science Research

The Certificate in Applied Social Science Research is an interdisciplinary certificate aimed at developing students’ research skills in the social sciences through a combination of course work and hands-on research experience. Completing the certificate allows students to develop their research skills and to gain professional experience by participating in an applied social science research project. Students may pursue the Certificate while fulfilling existing requirements in their discipline by choosing courses (see below) for 15 units.

Certificate Requirements (15 units)

3 units in introductory statistics course from

3 units in an introductory overview course in social science methodology from

6 units in advanced methods or statistics courses from

3 units from

SOC 415 - Applied Research Internship

OR

3 units in a Capstone social science research project involving either a research internship or research-based honors thesis/individual study, usually with a faculty member in the student’s home department or program.

Note:

To obtain credit for the certificate, students are expected to submit an Intention to Complete form by the Fall of their intended year of graduation. The Intention to Complete form and the Certificate Advisor contact information is available on the Department of Sociology website.

All students must publicly present their research projects. Students taking SOC 415 present their project with their cohort as part of the course. For students taking a different Capstone course, other presentation options for students to present their project will be considered, with the approval of the Certificate Advisor.

Students may apply for other courses to count toward the Certificate and should check eligibility of the topic in SOC 402 toward the certificate, by seeking the approval of the Certificate Advisor.

Any course outside of SOC 415: Applied Research Internship that is being used to satisfy the capstone or research internship course must be signed off by the Certificate Advisor. Students are advised to get approval before commencing the capstone or internship.

Linguistic majors may use a combination of three 300- or 400-level Linguistics classes to meet the credit requirements of the introductory overview course in social science methodology.

Linguistics courses used towards meeting the 3-unit introductory overview course in social science methodology cannot also be used towards meeting other course requirements for this certificate.

Students, however, should consult with the advisor of the certificate.

Course offerings are subject to change.