The Certificate in Applied Social Research is designed for students who are interested in answering questions about the social world with qualitative and quantitative data and scientific research methods. This program prepares students for jobs in applied social research and for graduate study. Students gain training in advanced statistics, social science computing, and a variety of research methods. By selecting appropriate electives and internships, students may focus their training on demography, survey research, marketing and communications, criminal justice, health care, education, social services, natural resources, organizations, or personnel and human resources.
How to Get in
Students may declare the certificate after completing at least one Introductory Statistics course and at least one Social Science Methods course with a 3.000 GPA. This GPA is computed on all attempts prior to and including the first passed attempt of any eligible course in each group.
Students must meet with either the Sociology undergraduate advisor or the CASR program director to declare the certificate. Appointments may be arranged via email or in Starfish.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Statistics | ||
| Complete one of the following: | ||
| SOC/C&E SOC 360 | Statistics for Sociologists I (preferred) | 4 |
| STAT 301 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 3 |
| STAT 240 | Data Science Modeling I | 4 |
| STAT 324 | Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering | 3 |
| STAT 371 | Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| ECON 310 | Statistics: Measurement in Economics | 4 |
| ED POL 209 | Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Education Policy | 3 |
| I SY E 210 | Introduction to Industrial Statistics | 3 |
| B M E 325 | Applied Statistics for Biomedical Engineers | 3 |
| CBE 355 | Statistics for Chemical Engineers | 3 |
| PSYCH 210 | Basic Statistics for Psychology | 3 |
| MATH/STAT 310 | Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| Social Science Methods | ||
| Complete one of the following: | ||
| SOC/C&E SOC 357 | Methods of Sociological Inquiry | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 170 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3-4 |
| LSC 250 | Research Methods in the Communication Industry | 3 |
| HDFS 425 | Research Methods in Human Development and Family Studies | 3 |
| CNSR SCI 201 | Consumer Insights | 3 |
| SOC WORK 650 | Methods of Social Work Research | 3 |
Requirements
The Applied Social Research certificate requires a minimum of 15 credits. Students must complete a separate course for each requirement below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics (complete one course): | 3 | |
| Statistics for Sociologists II | ||
| Introduction to Applied Econometrics | ||
| Introductory Econometrics | ||
| Applied Regression Analysis | ||
| Data Science Modeling II | ||
| Data Management (complete one): | 3 | |
| Data Management for Social Science Research | ||
| Economic Decision Analysis | ||
| Research Electives | 6 | |
Complete at least 6 credits with a minimum of 3 credits in SOC | ||
| Introduction to Survey Methods for Social Research | ||
| Statistics for Sociologists III | ||
| Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | ||
| Poverty and Place | ||
| Social Network Analysis | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Demographic Techniques I | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Agricultural and Applied Economics | ||
| Economic Decision Analysis | ||
| Data Science Programming II | ||
| Technology of Computer-Based Business Systems | ||
| Applied Dynamical Systems, Chaos and Modeling | ||
| Introduction to Stochastic Processes | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Elections and Voting Behavior | ||
| Public Opinion | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| R for Statistics I | ||
| R for Statistics II | ||
| R for Statistics III | ||
| Introduction to Time Series | ||
| Introductory Nonparametric Statistics | ||
| An Introduction to Sample Survey Theory and Methods | ||
| Applied Categorical Data Analysis | ||
| Statistical Data Visualization | ||
| Statistical Methods for Epidemiology | ||
| Data Science Computing Project | ||
| Statistical Methods for Spatial Data | ||
| Research and Evaluation for Equity | ||
| Using Secondary Data: Applied Quantitative Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Survey Methods for Education Research | ||
| Capstone | ||
| SOC/C&E SOC 693 | Practicum in Analysis and Research | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- At least 8 certificate credits must be completed in residence.
- Minimum 3.000 GPA on all certificate courses.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and practice principles of accurate, reproducible social research
- Evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of various social science research methods for addressing different types of research questions
- Process, manage, and analyze social science data
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of data for answering different types of research questions
- Communicate research findings effectively to a variety of audiences, including applying best practices for data visualization
- Think critically about ethical questions arising in the conduct of social science and design research according to best ethical practices
- Articulate relevance of applied social research skills to careers and graduate education
Advising and Careers
Students should consult with the undergraduate advisor in Sociology or the Certificate in Applied Social Research faculty director to declare the certificate.
Where can I use social research skills?
Almost anywhere! Learning social research skills prepares students to pose research questions, understand what kinds of data can answer them, manage and analyze data and have the background to assess its quality. These skills can be deployed in many types of careers. Recent graduates have jobs such as data analyst, associate planner, risk analyst, research associate, study coordinator, and operations data specialist. They work in settings such as research centers, all kinds of business fields, and federal, state and local government offices and nonprofits. Recent graduates also have also pursued masters and doctoral degrees in Sociology and adjacent fields such as public health, policy, law, and medicine.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students