“Research methods are, arguably, one of the subjects most amenable to interdisciplinary instruction.”
-John Aldrich in Interdisciplinarity (2014, 152)
The Social Science Methods Certificate Program aims to expand the breadth and depth of methodological training available to UNLV graduate students in the social sciences. The Certificate Program provides advanced interdisciplinary 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 method and methodology in the social sciences. Students will gain expertise in the methods most relevant to their research, both in and outside their discipline. An interdisciplinary perspective is emphasized, allowing students the opportunity to make connections with and draw upon the methods and methodologies of other social science traditions. The Certificate Program offers a certification for UNLV graduate students who complete 15 credit hours of advanced graduate research methods courses in the social sciences, at least three credits of which are taken outside of their home department. The Certificate Program is housed in the College of Liberal Arts, but participation is open to graduate students in other UNLV colleges.
The Certificate Program has a number of key goals. Among them are:
- providing a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of social science research methods;
- tailoring research methods training to individual student needs;
- credentialing students who have achieved mastery in social science research methods;
- encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to the substantive research questions in the existing social science disciplines;
- developing a reputation for producing scholars who excel in the innovative use of the most relevant and cutting-edge research methods, and;
- creating a culture of interdisciplinary conversation among UNLV’s students and faculty with the aim of developing formal centers for interdisciplinary social science research.
Admission Requirements
Applications are available on the UNLV Graduate College Website, along with application deadlines (for fall: 8/1/2016). To be admitted to the program, students must:
- be admitted to a masters or doctoral program at UNLV for which social science research methods are an appropriate tool of inquiry.
- have earned at least a B+ in an approved research methods course or equivalent prior to admission to the program.
- submit a completed application and the required application fee.
- submit a proposed plan of study that has been approved by the home department’s graduate coordinator.
The application in the UNLV Grad Rebel Gateway requires a $60 application fee as well as some basic information about your academic history and the like.
Plan requirements
Completion of the Certificate Program requires 15 credits to be distributed as follows:
- Core Discipline Methods Coursework I (3 credits).
- Core Discipline Methods Coursework II (3 credits).
- Elective Methods Courses (6 credits). Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved methods course electives.
- Outside Department Methods Course Elective (3 credits). Complete 3 credits of advisor-approved methods course electives from outside the home department.
Please consult the UNLV Graduate College Website or the SSMC Program Handbook for more details.
GPA Requirement:
The grade point average for all courses counted toward the Certificate requirements must be at least 3.00. No grades lower than a B- are counted toward the Certificate requirements.
Proposed Plan of Study:
As part of the admissions process, Certificate students must submit a proposed plan of study that has been approved by the home department’s Graduate Coordinator. Any changes to the proposed plan of study must have prior approval of the Certificate Coordinator. Students and their advisors should use the Proposed Plan of Study Form, which should be forwarded to the Certificate Coordinator.
Additional Resources:
- List of relevant courses offered at UNLV
- Proposed Plan of Study Form
- Certificate Plan of Study
- Degree Worksheet
- SSMC Program Handbook
- Program Page and Link to Application
- SSMC Facebook Page
