Graduate Certificate in Social Science Methods

Plan Description

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The Social Science Methods Certificate Program provides students with an expanded breadth of methodological training for graduate students in relevant disciplines. This program encompasses the full range of empirical social science methods and is interdisciplinary by design. Students will gain a broad understanding of the role and forms of methodology in the social sciences. Students will gain expertise in the methods most relevant to their research question. This expertise will be demonstrated in the original research and colloquia presentations they produce.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

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Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

To be admitted to the program, students must:

1. Be admitted to a master’s or doctoral program at UNLV for which social science research methods are an appropriate tool of inquiry.
2. Have earned at least a B+ in an approved research methods course.
3. Submit a completed application and the required application fee.
4. Must submit a “plan of study” that has been approved by a member of the Consortium Faculty and the home department’s graduate coordinator.

All applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Students are accepted into a certificate program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

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Total Credits Required: 15

Course Requirements

Core Discipline Methods Coursework I  – Credits: 3

ANTH 790 - Research Design, Professional Ethics, and Grant Writing for Anthropologists  

PSC 701 - Research Design and Methodology  

PSY 707 - Research Methods  

SOC 701 - Logic of Social Inquiry  

COM 710 - Survey of Communication Studies  

ECO 770 - Econometrics I, Statistical Modeling  

CRJ 702 - Proseminar on Research Methods  

PUA 721 - Quantitative Methods for Public Administration  

PAF 710 - Theory and Design of Research  

Core Discpline Methods Coursework II  – Credits: 3

ANTH 770 - Quantitative Methods in Anthropology  

PSC 702 - Advanced Quantitative Methods I  

PSY 708 - Statistics for Psychologists I  

SOC 702 - Quantitative Methods  

COM 712 - Empirical Research Methods  

ECO 772 - Econometrics II  

CRJ 703 - Proseminar on Statistics  

PUA 723 - Research and Analytical Methods  

PAF 711 - Advanced Seminar in Quantitative Research in Public Affairs  

Elective Methods Courses – Credits: 6

Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved methods course electives. 

Outside Department Methods Course Electives – Credits: 3

Complete 3 credits of advisor-approved methods course electives from outside the home department. 

Certificate Requirements

1. A completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of social science methods courses.
2. The grade point average for all courses counted toward the degree is at least 3.00.
3. No grades lower than a B- are counted toward the certificate requirements.
4. Any changes to the plan of study has prior approval of the Certificate Coordinator

Plan Certificate Completion Requirements

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1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation in MyUNLV by the appropriate deadline.
2. The student must present original research in the Colloquium Series.