Applied Social Research Micro-Credential

Smaller than a minor, a certificate, or a degree program, micro-credentials allow you to meet your personalized learning needs by gaining knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your academic or professional goals. Micro-credentials equip you with digital badges that showcase your achievements and all it took to get there.

This program is open to any graduate student who would like to learn more about applied social research. Sociology MA and PhD students might consider enrolling in this program to gain expertise in this area. Students from other departments may find that this program adds value to their degree program. Non-degree students, looking for a credential, but not yet ready to pursue a graduate degree, may be interested as well.

Applied social research methods are applicable to nearly every field. You will learn how to design clear, concise, ethical, and thorough research studies; develop skills to collect and analyze data; effectively communicate research ideas, methodological approaches, and findings in oral and written formats; understand the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods and will be able to apply appropriate methods to different research questions; and interpret, apply, and perform basic statistical techniques in order to test hypotheses. Students can tailor their learning to specific methods or approaches through workshops in the Summer Research Institute.

Approximately two semesters plus one summer if you take the three Summer Research Workshops in one summer. The program can be completed more slowly if you take fewer summer workshops at once.

You will earn a notation on your academic transcript as well as a digital badge that you may use on your digital resume or social media sites.

• Students must earn a B or better in the following courses:
  • SOC 504, Introductory Statistics for Social Sciences
  • SOC 606, Social Research Methods
• You must successfully complete any three workshops in the Summer Research Institute (see website for more details);
• And you must submit for evaluation a 4-5 page essay in response to a prompt that ties the workshops and courses together. The essay must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies within two months of completing all courses and workshops.

Please complete and submit the following application form:

To learn more about micro-credentials and digital badges please visit buffalo.edu/micro-credentials

For more information specifically about the Applied Social Research Micro-Credential, contact Susie Sheron, graduate program coordinator in the Department of Sociology.