College of Agriculture > Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology > Graduate Program

M.S. in Rural Sociology

Graduate study in rural sociology is available at the master's level through the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Sociology. The program faculty include rural sociologists from DAERS and sociologists, anthropologists, and others from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work in the College of Liberal Arts on the AU main campus as well as from the Department of Sociology at Auburn University-Montgomery. There are both thesis and non-thesis options available.

Faculty

• Dr. Conner Bailey was presented the Distinguished Research Award by the Rural Sociology Society at its 2007 Annual Meeting in Santa Clara, California.
• Dr. Joseph Molnar was served as elected President of the Rural Sociological Society during 2008-2009.
• Dr. John E. Dunkelberger is Emeritus Professor of Rural Sociology and retains Graduate Faculty Status.
• Dr. Michelle Worosz joined the Auburn faculty in August 2008 and works on the sociology of food and agriculture, including questions related to food safety and the impact of technological change.

Student Support

Most of graduate students in rural sociology are appointed as Graduate Research Assistantship that provides a stipend and tuition waiver. Several GRA positions are associated with grants and contracts that provide research training and generally lead to a thesis related to research objective. In recent years, student theses have addressed problems in community development, the adoption and diffusion of technology, organic farming, watershed management, agricultural development, rural housing, and a variety of topics pertaining to forestry and other natural resources.

In addition to specific degree options in rural sociology, graduate student can pursue the Master of Agriculture (MAg) in rural sociology requires no thesis but a minimum of 32 graduate credit hours, 18 in the major, as approved by the major professor and the advisory committee. The advisory committee administers the final oral examination.

Contact:
Conner Bailey
Graduate Program Officer
202 Comer Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849
334-844-5632
bailelc@auburn.edu

Last Updated: December 07, 2011