COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Sociology and related interdisciplinary programs at Texas State University are designed to prepare students for professional, applied, and research-focused careers addressing real-world social challenges. The Applied Sociology degree offers both a non-thesis option and a practicum option, allowing students to either pursue advanced coursework and comprehensive evaluation or gain hands-on experience through a supervised field-based practicum. This flexibility supports career preparation in areas such as program evaluation, policy analysis, community development, and applied social research.The program also includes a specialized M.S. in Dementia and Aging Studies, which focuses on one of the most pressing issues in contemporary society: aging populations and long-term care. Within this degree, students can choose from three concentrations—Dementia and Long-term Care, Practitioner, and Research—each tailored to different career goals. The Dementia and Long-term Care concentration emphasizes care systems and support structures, the Practitioner concentration focuses on applied service delivery and professional practice, and the Research concentration prepares students for analytical and investigative roles in aging-related fields.In addition, the M.S. in Sustainability Studies is offered with both non-thesis and thesis options. This program examines environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability, preparing students to address complex global challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. The thesis option emphasizes original research, while the non-thesis option provides broader coursework-based training. Overall, these programs equip graduates with strong analytical, practical, and research skills, preparing them for careers in social services, healthcare, environmental organizations, policy development, and applied research institutions.