Graduate Programs

The objective of the Master of Social Sciences degree is to offer a program for students interested in course work in the social sciences rather than in research. The major areas are history, political science, or administration of justice. The thesis is not required. 

The Student’s advisor will be the chair of the department of the major or otherwise assigned.

Depending upon options selected, the Master of Social Sciences degree program requires 30 or 36 graduate hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students declaring a major in either History or Political Science must take HIS 6555 - Historical Research and Methodology.

In addition to the comprehensive oral examination required of all Master’s Degree candidates in History, candidates for the Master of Social Science must pass a comprehensive written examination during the last semester of their enrollment.

Admission to the Program

1. All general requirements for admission to the Graduate School of Mississippi College must be met.
2. Must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
3. Must have a minimum of 30 semester hours of undergraduate work in the social sciences (economics, history, administration of justice, and political science), of which 15 semester hours are in one field. A minimum of six hours must be in the field of the declared major.
4. GRE Requirement: A verbal score beginning in the range of 146-150 or greater (equivalent to 400-450) and a quantitative score beginning in the range of 140-141or greater (equivalent to 400-450), or a score within these ranges on either section and a score of 2.5 on the writing assessment of the GRE, General Record Examination, is required. The verbal and quantitative scores will not be combined. Departments may exercise discretion for students who score below this range.
   
   Students seeking Class AA Educator License must have a composite score of 1000 or better on the pre-1983 NTE or have met the State minimum scores on the three sections of the NTE Core Battery (Communication Skills-651; General Knowledge-646; Professional Knowledge-649) or PPST (Reading-172; Writing-173; Mathematics-172) or CBT (Reading-316; Writing-318; Mathematics-314).

Plan A 

30 semester hours

1. Eighteen semester hours in one of three major areas; either 1) History, 2) Political Science, or 3) Administration of Justice.
2. Six semester hours in each of two others as minors.
   (Economics may be used as a minor.)
3. In their last semester of enrollment, candidates for the MSS must take written and oral comprehensive examinations based upon course work used to satisfy degree requirements. If applicable, the oral exam will also include a defense of the thesis. If judged unsatisfactory, all or part of the written and/or oral examination may be retaken once in the following semester or summer term.

Plan B

36 semester hours

1. Eighteen hours in each of two fields; either 1) History, 2) Political Science, or 3) Administration of Justice.
2. In their last semester of enrollment, candidates for the MSS must take written and oral comprehensive examinations based upon course work used to satisfy degree requirements. If applicable, the oral exam will also include a defense of the thesis. If judged unsatisfactory, all or part of the written and/or oral examination may be retaken once in the following semester or summer term.

Admission

Applicants must have a minimum of six semester hours in history and three semester hours in sociology at the undergraduate level. Any deficiency must be completed prior to admission to candidacy for a degree.

Requirements

1. Twelve semester hours of graduate credit in Profesional Education core courses
2. Eighteen semester hours in social sciences, of which a minimum of three semester hours must be taken in each of the disciplines of history, political science, and sociology, but no more than nine hours in any one discipline
3. In the last semester of enrollment, candidates for the M.Ed. in Social Sciences must take written and oral comprehensive examinations based upon course work used to satisfy degree requirements. If applicable, the oral exam will also include a defense of the thesis. If judged unsatisfactory, all or part of the written and/or oral examination may be retaken once in the following semester or summer term.