Graduate Program in Military Sociology
The graduate program in peace, war, and military organization, which is unique in its size and scope, is built upon and integrated with the standard degree program in Sociology. Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program, but may earn the M.A. degree in the second year of the program.
The following courses carry graduate credit:
SOCY 652 Diversity in the Military
SOCY 654 Military Families
SOCY 664 Armed Forces & Society
SOCY 685 War, State and Society
SOCY 663 Power, Status and Leadership in Groups
SOCY 699x any 699 courses designated as meeting the military area requirements
SOCY 769 Advanced Special Topics in Military Sociology
Students are also expected to enroll in the 1-credit 869 Research Seminar in Military Sociology to facilitate intellectual exchange around research in progress within and outside the department on relevant military topics.
SOCY 869 Research Seminar in Military Sociology
Students seeking a Ph.D. with a specialization in military sociology will fulfill all of the Department's general Ph.D. requirements, will take a minimum of 9 credits of course work in military sociology, will write their second year papers on a topic in military sociology, and will take one of their two doctoral exams and write their dissertation in the field of military sociology.
In addition to a graduate program within the sociology department, the military sociology program is a contributor to the interdisciplinary Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program, which is a one-year professional M.A. degree program for Navy and Marine Corps officers who have been selected to be company officers at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
The following courses carry graduate credit:
SOCY 652 Diversity in the Military
SOCY 654 Military Families
SOCY 664 Armed Forces & Society
SOCY 685 War, State and Society
SOCY 663 Power, Status and Leadership in Groups
SOCY 699x any 699 courses designated as meeting the military area requirements
SOCY 769 Advanced Special Topics in Military Sociology
Students are also expected to enroll in the 1-credit 869 Research Seminar in Military Sociology to facilitate intellectual exchange around research in progress within and outside the department on relevant military topics.
SOCY 869 Research Seminar in Military Sociology
Students seeking a Ph.D. with a specialization in military sociology will fulfill all of the Department's general Ph.D. requirements, will take a minimum of 9 credits of course work in military sociology, will write their second year papers on a topic in military sociology, and will take one of their two doctoral exams and write their dissertation in the field of military sociology.
In addition to a graduate program within the sociology department, the military sociology program is a contributor to the interdisciplinary Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program, which is a one-year professional M.A. degree program for Navy and Marine Corps officers who have been selected to be company officers at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Research Opportunities
Research assistantships are available through the Center for Research on Military Organization (CRMO). The military sociology program is also associated with the multidisciplinary Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM). Our location in the Washington area enables us to maintain relationships with many Federal and State agencies including the U.S. Institute for Peace, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, and the Defense Manpower Data Center among others. These relationships provide opportunities for graduate student support, for participation in ongoing research programs, and facilitate access to data for seminar papers, theses, and dissertations. Additionally, several programs around campus have growing interests in military and veteran communities, providing students interdisciplinary opportunities for research and learning across campus. Our expanding research program has attracted increasing numbers of graduate students to College Park. Most of our graduate students have been civilians, but many military officers have come to the University of Maryland for graduate degrees with the support of the armed forces of the United States and allied nations. Our uniformed students have gone on to become senior personnel managers in their respective forces or to teach at service academies. Civilian alumni have gone on to positions in university teaching and administration or to research organizations. Our alumni have been important contributors to the sociological literature on armed forces and society.
Undergraduate Program in Military Sociology
CRMO faculty offer several undergraduate courses related to the study of the military, war, and society. Our undergraduate courses count toward the "Social Organizations" concentration in the Sociology major. Our courses count as electives in the "Military Studies Minor" program through the Air Force ROTC program. Our faculty are also involved with campus veterans initiatives.