Coterminal MA program

Stanford undergraduates from any major who wish to explore graduate work in sociology may apply to the department’s coterminal program.

Students interested in the program are encouraged to attend our information session on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 pm in McClatchy Hall, Mendenhall Library 101A.

Iris Raheema Haik

International Relations BA '22, Sociology Coterminal MA '23 (UC Berkeley, School of Law JD '26)

Admission eligibility

To apply for a coterminal MA degree, undergraduates must meet eligibility requirements set by the Registrar's Office and the Sociology department. General requirements include completing at least 120 units and six non-summer quarters at Stanford. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in previous undergraduate work is required, but not sufficient, for admission. It is also recommended that applicants complete at least one Sociology course at the 100 level with a grade of B or better. The admissions decision is a holistic one that carefully considers the student's statement of purpose and letters of recommendation.

The department accepts applications once a year for Spring Quarter enrollment, with the next deadline on January 22, 2026. Please be sure to submit all the materials online by this date as late applications cannot be considered. For questions or guidance, please contact student services officer Patricia Jacobus.

Applications are now open!

It is important to note that the department does not fund coterminal MA students.

Program requirements

45 units of coursework

All units for the coterminal MA must be taken at or above the 100 level.
At least 23 of the 45 units must be at the 200 level or above.

Grading and minimum GPA

All units applied to the coterminal MA degree must be taken for a letter grade
An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or better is required for the degree.

Required courses

All coterminal MA students are required to take the introductory theory and methods courses, as they are an important component of graduate training in the social sciences:

SOC 270 Classics of Modern Social Theory and
SOC 280A Foundations of Social Research (or their 100-level counterparts if taken previously as a sociology BA).

Optional but highly recommended courses

Enrollment is strongly encouraged in the following courses:

SOC 202 Preparation for Research
SOC 204A Capstone Research Seminar
SOC 280B Introduction to Data Analysis

Together, these courses provide foundational skills for research opportunities within the department and in academic or professional careers.

Non-sociology courses

No more than 5 units can be taken outside of the department
Outside courses must be taken in other social science departments (Anthropology, Communications, Economics, Political Science, and Psychology).
Students who wish to take courses outside the department must request approval in advance.

Independent studies, research, and apprenticeship

Students on the Standard Track can count up to 12 units of the SOC 290 series.
SOC 290 Coterminal MA independent studies. (maximum 5 units)
- Allows students to work with a faculty member to design a personalized course with tailored readings and assignments on a topic of interest.
SOC 291 Coterminal MA directed research.
- For students working on a research project and seeking faculty supervision, taken with a thesis advisor.
SOC 292 Coterminal MA apprentice.
- Offers a chance to assist a faculty member with research, such as literature reviews or interview transcription, providing valuable hands-on experience.
These courses must be taken with a faculty member or an affiliated faculty member appointed in the Department of Sociology.
Before enrolling in a 290 series course, students must obtain approval from the faculty member with whom they plan to enroll. If the professor's name does not appear as a option for course selection, contact Patricia Jacobus, the program's student services officer.

Transferring courses between careers

After accepting admission to this coterminal degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

Quarters back rule

Students admitted into the program Spring 2023 or earlier follow the three-quarters back rule, meaning that classes taken three quarters prior to the first graduate quarter can be considered for transfer to the graduate career. For example, if admitted to the program Spring 2023, classes taken Spring 2022 or later can be considered.
For students admitted into the program Spring 2024 or later, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

University coterminal MA requirements

Coterminal degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in the Stanford Bulletin.
The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned during the student’s first graduate quarter, even though the undergraduate career may still be open.
The University also requires that a Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department before the start of the student’s second graduate quarter. The deadline to submit program proposals for newly matriculated students is Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Advising

The Department of Sociology is committed to providing academic advising in support of the scholarly and professional development of all coterminal MA students. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee:

The coterm director guides students in key areas, such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.
The Department of Sociology Student Services Office is also available to assist students in navigating policies, degree requirements, and with mapping out a program proposal.
Students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for knowing and adhering to Stanford University and Department of Sociology policies, standards, and requirements for coterm students.

Sample program proposals

Standard coterminal MA coursework (2025-2026)

Course List	Units
SOC 214 - Economic Sociology	4
SOC 226 - Social Networks	4
SOC 242 - Sociology of Gender	4
SOC 230 - Education and Society	4-5
SOC 255 - Changing American Family	5
SOC 270 - Classics of Modern Social Theory	4
SOC 275 - Understanding China's Rise	4
SOC 280A - Foundations of Social Research	4
SOC 280B - Introduction to Data Analysis	4
SOC 292 - Research Apprenticeship	3
Outside Sociology coursework	5

Research-focused coursework (2025-2026)

Course List	Units
SOC 202 - Junior Seminar: Preparation for Research	5
SOC 204A - Capstone Research Seminar	5
SOC 270 - Classics of Modern Social Theory	4
SOC 280A - Foundations of Social Research	4
SOC 280B - Introduction to Data Analysis	4
SOC 291 - Coterminal MA Directed Research	3-9
SOC 292 - Coterminal MA Research Apprenticeship	2-9
Outside Sociology coursework	5