FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Many universities are home to two distinct types of master’s degree programs—academic master’s degrees and professional master’s degrees. The Master of Social Science program at UCLA awards a professional master’s degree. Professional master’s degree programs often can be completed in one academic year.

With the MaSS degree, you will be prepared for professional research careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. We provide substantial advising and support to prepare you for the next step after the degree, whether you are seeking professional employment or considering applying for a PhD.

Throughout the academic year, you will have access to an array of on-campus career development resources. Our staff will work with you to identify career opportunities and prepare you for the job search process.

Our intensive program is three-quarters long, running from September to June each academic year.

We are a small, highly-selective program. We expect to enroll approximately twenty-five students each year.

The MaSS curriculum includes seven core courses especially designed for and exclusively taught in the program. MaSS students are also required to enroll into two elective graduate courses selected from the extensive graduate course offerings available at UCLA.

The MaSS core courses are:

  • SOC SC 400: Social Science Research and Perspectives (4 units)
  • SOC SC 401: Qualitative Social Science Research Methods (4 units)
  • SOC SC 402: Quantitative Data Analysis in Social Sciences (4 units)
  • SOC SC 410: Engaged Social Science (4 units)
  • SOC SC 420: Research Analysis and Writing (4 units)
  • SOC SC 430A: Community-Based Research (4 units)
  • SOC SC 430B: Community-Based Research (4 units)

Yes! You can take two elective courses selected from the graduate courses selected from the extensive graduate course offerings available at UCLA.

The MaSS program does not have a master’s thesis requirement. To complete the MaSS program, students must fulfill a capstone requirement that comprises a portfolio of academic work completed throughout the program, including a collaborative research project and an individual research paper.

Applications to the MaSS program are made through UCLA Graduate Division. Click here to apply. For more information, see UCLA’s minimum requirements for all graduate program applicants.

Definitely.

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose should identify your areas of academic interest, relevant prior academic and professional training, and your plans after obtaining the MaSS degree. Please explain why you are specifically interested in pursuing training in multidisciplinary social science research approaches rather than in a specific discipline or field (e.g. sociology, psychology, or business). The Statement of Purpose should do more than simply list past coursework, experience, and accomplishments. We want to know about the intellectual curiosity that motivates you—what kinds of research problems and challenges interest you, and why? The Statement of Purpose should not exceed 500 words.

Personal History Statement

The Personal History Statement is intended as a supplement to your Statement of Purpose. This is the place for you to describe relevant aspects of your background, accomplishments, and life experiences that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in reviewing your application and evaluating your contribution to the University’s diversity mission. The Personal History Statement should not exceed 500 words.

Exams

*The GRE is optional for the 2023-2024 admission cycle

GRE General

TOEFL (min. score 100) or IELTS exam (min. score 7.5)

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required. At least one letter, but ideally both, must come from an academic instructor. Please note that letters from graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) are welcome as long as they are co-signed by the course instructor. Applicants have the option to submit a third letter.

Transcript

Unofficial bachelor’s degree transcript or unofficial in-progress transcript are to be submitted with applications. If admitted, the official/signed/sealed transcript with the degree awarded will be  needed.

Foreign students need to submit transcripts from their home institution both in the original form and in English translation.

Writing Sample

Applicants must submit a writing sample. Examples of writing samples include course papers or professional reports. The writing sample should be at least 1250 words.

*The GRE is optional for the 2023-2024 admission cycle.
The GRE must be taken no more than 5 years prior to the intended quarter of entry. You should send your GRE scores directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Note that UCLA’s ETS code is 4837 and the MaSS department code is 2209. Please contact the program administrator with questions about other qualifying graduate exams.

Applicants whose native language is not English, and who do not meet exclusion criteria (contact the program for more information) are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). UCLA’s ETS code is 4837 and the MaSS department code is 80. The MaSS program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100.

For applicants who take the IELTS exam, please request the scores be sent to our program, and to the UCLA Graduate Division. The MaSS program requires a minimum IELTS score of 7.5.

There is no minimum GRE score requirement to apply to the MaSS program. We review all applications holistically to determine a prospective student’s fit with and potential to benefit from our program.

We require a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL or 7.5 on the IELTS. The demanding MaSS curriculum does not allow time for students to enroll in ESL courses while completing the degree.

We require a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL or 7.5 on the IELTS. The demanding MaSS curriculum does not allow time for students to enroll in ESL courses while completing the degree.

Yes. Applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify for admission.

All academic records should be mailed to:

Allie Westrup
University of California, Los Angeles
2500B Public Affairs Bldg.
Box 957174
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7174

International students should consult this guide to learn of additional materials required (degree certificate, diploma, etc.). Required documents may vary by country.

Dates for Fall 2024 applications will be released in Fall 2023.

After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Estimated total charges for the 2023-2024 academic year, including student fees, health insurance and tuition, are $53,000. Please note that MaSS is a self-supporting degree program and has a different fee structure than state-supported programs at UCLA. Click here for more information about self-supporting degree program fees.

The MaSS Program is pleased to offer merit scholarships, and we encourage all strong applicants to apply. Please contact us for further information about financial aid opportunities.

Yes! The MaSS Program offers merit scholarships. Please contact us for further information about financial aid opportunities.

Students in self-supporting programs such as MaSS are limited in their eligibility for certain types of fellowships and financial aid. In general, students are not able to receive any of the following:

1.    Graduate Division or University Foundation funding
2.    GSR or TA positions
3.    State-funded fellowships/scholarships

You CAN apply for:

1.    Extramural funding that will be awarded directly to you
2.    Federal subsidized and un-subsidized loans (if you are eligible)

You can find a list of extramural funding opportunities here.

MaSS tuition/fees are eligible for tuition coverage under the Post 9/11 GI Bill or the Voc Rehab program up to the amount of your eligibility percentage found on your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA. Apply for your VA GI Bill or stipend benefits by going online to www.vets.gov. To apply for Voc Rehab benefits please make an appointment with a local Vocational Rehab Counselor.

Once your application is approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) which will list the benefit(s) you are eligible for.

To have your benefits processed, email your Certificate of Eligibility to the Veterans Benefits Coordinator at vabenefit@registrar.ucla.edu.

For more information about Veteran Services at UCLA visit http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Student-Records/Veteran-Services

Yes. Students can either apply for UCLA-owned housing or choose from UCLA community housing to find off-campus apartments.

UCLA-OWNED HOUSING: The assignment of university graduate housing is lottery-based. Before applying for UCLA graduate housing, you must 1.) Be admitted to the program, 2.) Accept the offer (SIR), and 3.) Create a MyUCLA account.

After you have created a MyUCLA account, follow these steps to apply for UCLA Housing:

1) Go to the UCLA Housing page
2) Click on the “My Housing” icon
3) Click on “Access Housing Application & Offers” where you apply for housing and manage your housing preferences and offer
4) After logging in, you will land on the application page. Go to the top of the page, then click on the “Application” tab

To learn more about UCLA graduate housing click here.

UCLA COMMUNITY HOUSING: The Community Housing Office (CHO) provides non-university owned rental listings and rental resources to the entire UCLA community. Full-time UCLA students may search listings for free (you must have a MyUCLA account). The office also maintains additional resources to assist those searching for housing in the Los Angeles area. Click here to access listings.

Because the MaSS curriculum is based on a coordinated course sequence, you must enroll as a full-time student beginning in Fall.

MaSS is a highly intensive, three-quarter long program. MaSS students are enrolled full-time, and are expected to earn a grade of B or better in all core courses, and maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA overall. MaSS students must spend significant time on campus attending classes, workshops, mentoring meetings, and talks, as well as completing assignments. Given these obligations, the MaSS program affords students limited flexibility for outside employment. Applicants should take these demands into account before committing to attend the program.

The Fall 2022 Quarter begins on Monday, September 19th, 2022.
Classes begin on Thursday, September 22nd, 2022.

Recommended preparation includes introductory statistics and other social science research methods courses. However, prior coursework in these areas is not required to apply.