Can you get into a PhD prog with a non-sociology MA?

[DustSNK]

Thanks for looking, I'll make it short and sweet

So I did not prepare well in Undergrad for an Adcom to be impressed by my application. Currently I'm taking grad courses in Soc as a non-degree student, and am doing good work (also 2 papers with heavy empirical research). I hope this time around that a semesters worth of extra fine tuning will show my abilities in a better light. But there is always that chance it won't!

In that event, I think most in my position might agree, spending another xxxx$ on classes as a non-degree might be crushing to the soul. So I am looking at MA programs that would help me show my stuff more, and also contribute at least to my future goals of PhD work.

I'm applying to several soc programs in Ontario, and one school has a "Cultural analysis and social theory" program. Seems to be a nice mix of soc,anth,and various humanities rolled up into one. My main goal would be to get into a PhD prog in Soc, focusing on race/ethnicity/migration/culture/globalization. I think this program could contribute in a good way if I needed to take this route, but would it contribute to the chance of landing a spot in a Soc PhD prog? Or at the very least getting into a MA prog in Soc?

Any opinions on this matter would be great to hear! Esp if you have gotten into a PhD prog with a non-soc MA. Thank you all.

(also my BA was in Sociology if that helps)

Edited September 24, 2011 by DustSNK

[spunkrag]

Narrow your interests for research; find an MA program; hit it out of the park while you are there. Then, when you get close to being done you can evaluate whether obtaining a Ph D suits your career needs, but until then it would be advisable to focus on completing an MA with the highest degree of competency possible. I think that would be the most remunerative route.

[socialcomm]

I have two masters degrees in areas other than sociology and got into a sociology phd program. I had even less of a soc background than you as my undergraduate was also not in soc! I think you'll be fine -- when you're applying for soc programs make sure you can tie your interests together and articulate how a soc program can fit your needs. But is there a reason you're not applying to phd programs now?

[DustSNK]

I have two masters degrees in areas other than sociology and got into a sociology phd program. I had even less of a soc background than you as my undergraduate was also not in soc! I think you'll be fine -- when you're applying for soc programs make sure you can tie your interests together and articulate how a soc program can fit your needs. But is there a reason you're not applying to phd programs now?

Thank you for the advise I'm just a bit confused how to say this will fit my needs. I would just like to teach, and do various research now and then.Would it be too common sense to express how I can not properly teach or conduct sophisticated research without being in a grad program? This would have to be the area of a SOP I'm most worried about. I don't want to pigeon hole myself in listing too specific an idea, because I am open to variation! Have any advice on how to articulate this into a more substantive statement? I'm not apply directly to PhD programs because almost all the programs in Ontario I have seen require you to hold an MA first in Sociology (or sometimes listed as maybe a related field can apply). I've gone to conferences and met with professors who seems to like my ideas and some said they are dissertation worthy, but I have quite an unhappy Undergrad GPA. I did great in my Social science classes, but kind of said "mehh" to everything else which was foolish.

Edited September 26, 2011 by DustSNK

[socialcomm]

I wouldn't worry about pigeon-holing yourself -- a lot of people change their research focus after they start programs. I'd just make sure you show how your research interests fit into the programs you're applying to.