UJ MA in Sociology, Industrial Sociology, SIA or in Urban Studies

• Advanced Theory or SIA – 25% of final mark
• Methodology module 1 and 2 – 25% of final mark
• Mini dissertation – 50% of final mark

• Advanced Sociological Theory: A course that engages with the latest ideas in sociological theory, including, race, class and gender, and globalisation. It also provides an opportunity – through a ‘focused study’ – for each student to work with a senior member of the department on an area of special interest. This component of the MA is taught during the first semester, at times to be announced. It represents a quarter of the coursework MA degree in Sociology or Industrial Sociology.
• Social Impact Assessment: The UJ Sociology Department invites applications for the interdisciplinary MA degree in Social Impact Assessment. This degree, which involves coursework and a minor-dissertation, can be pursued either full-time (for at least one year) or part-time (for at least two years). It is taught by the Departments of Sociology and Development Studies.

• Advanced course in Social Research Methodology: This is an advanced course in qualitative and quantitative methods, plus the theoretical issues underpinning these approaches. It includes an introduction to SPSS, and consideration of applied as well as academic research. Regular MA students are joined by experienced practitioners working for an accredited certificate in Social Research Methodology. The taught element of this component is presented in two weeks of intensive teaching during the winter months. An additional element is the preparation of a report based on engagement with research presented to the UJ Sociology & Anthropology Wednesday Seminar. A successful learner will be able to plan, design, and execute a research task and report on its findings. They will be able to select an appropriate methodological approach for a specific research question and defend their choice. Further they will be able to understand, interpret, and analyse research data and critically evaluate research designs employed in social science research. The most important outcome of the advanced course course is a fully developed research proposal in the candidate’s field of interest. (For students who receive an NRF bursary, the area will be related to their NRF project.) This course also represents a quarter of the MA degree.

• Minor-dissertation: MA students write a dissertation on a subject of their own choice. Normally, this will be based on original research, and will between 75 to 100 pages in length. To assist with their project, students are assigned a supervisor and a co-supervisor, usually members of the UJ Department of Sociology. Areas of expertise within the department are given on the home page of this website, though senior members of the department are generally able to supervise minor-dissertations outside their own fields of interest. Students with NRF funding are expected to undertake research related to the general theme of their NRF project. The minor-dissertation represents half of the whole MA.

Hours of Study and Employment for MA Students
Our programmes are designed so that a good student can complete their work in 12 months of full-time or 24 months of part-time study. A small group of students enjoy the privilege of being able to enroll as fulltime students. Full-time students should allocate at least 40 hours per week to their studies.

The bulk of our students enroll on a part-time basis. Part-time students are expected to study for less than 40 hours per week or four hours daily. Students should make arrangements with their employers to allow them to attend the compulsory graduate seminar on Wednesday afternoons and the Masters Workshop organised by the department. Students who are not in a situation where this commitment is possible, are likely to find themselves unable to cope and are discouraged from registering.

Application procedures
Applications should be submitted electronically, as this is free, whereas the hard copy process is more cumbersome and has a fee attached to it. The departmental application form: Postgrad application form2017.doc.pdf should be uploaded together with all other documentation when you upload the central UJ application information, available here: https://www.uj.ac.za/studyatUJ/sec/Pages/Academic%20Application.aspx

International students are urged to contact the UJ International Office regarding additional application / admission requirements and costs.

Further enquiries

Further queries not covered above may be sent to the Masters Coordinator, Dr Tapiwa Chagonda, at tchagonda@uj.ac.za.