<p>If you're applying to MA programs, is it okay to mention professors whose research corresponds with your dissertation interests? </p>
<p>This is a given when applying to PhD programs, but I've read for an MA, it depends on the university (because sometimes professors aren't taking any more research students that year). One of the professors I'd mention welcomes students to contact her for research opportunities on her webpage.</p>
<p>That said, if anyone has any insight that would be great- even if it's specific to your own program, I will still get a better idea of what's appropriate.</p>
<p>When I applied, I applied to both master’s programs and doctoral programs. Furthermore, most of the master’s programs I applied to were professional programs - although they certainly could serve as preparation for a doctoral program (which was my intent). I both contacted a few professors ahead of time and wrote professors’ names into my statement of purpose in connection to the research I wanted to do (some of whom I did NOT contact ahead of time), and I was accepted into all of the programs to which I applied. I would imagine this would be even more normal at academic MA programs.</p>
<p>One trick to it is wording - I think I wrote something like “Professor X’s research on underwater basketweaving intrigues me, and is related to my interest in blah blah blah.” Phrase it as if it’s a plus when applying to the program because you would like to learn from professors who have interests similar to yours. Even if that professor is not taking students, it doesn’t matter so much for an MA student as you don’t need a direct advisor like a doctoral student does.</p>
<p>And of course be sure to include other resources - I cited centers, special programs, libraries, connections the school had to other organizations, and other special opportunities that made those schools to which I applied unique.</p>
<p>Thanks, Juillet! Regarding the wording: You implied that you wanted research guidance from Professor X, rather than directly stating it? That’s what I’m assuming based on how you worded it. </p>
<p>One of the MA programs I’m applying to is interdisciplinary. I’m assuming I can choose a professor to mention in my SOP from any department (so long as her research is related to my specific dissertation interest). I’m having trouble finding a second professor to mention (it feels feigned and forced to just pick someone whose research generally relates to my interests). I might just phrase a statement similar to how you did above; I would mention a professor (whose class I would presumably take) and imply that I’d like to learn from her. If you would advise against that, please let me know. I’ve appreciated all your advice on my posts!</p>
<p>Yes, I implied it rather than directly stating it.</p>
<p>I think you can go a little more general. You may have a specific dissertation project in mind now, but your project may change when you actually get to the dissertation phase - my ideas about what I wanted to do my dissertation on in my first and even second year of graduate school are quite different from what I actually ended up doing it on. As you learn on-the-ground realities about your research (and as you read more in the field), your interests and priorities may shift a little bit. (Including time. One of my priorities was getting it done posthaste, so I chose to do a subject that had already collected data.) The other thing to remember is that you are currently applying to an MA program; while you do intend to do a PhD later, you won’t be writing the dissertation in the next few years, so it’s totally okay to go a little further afield from what you know you want to do your dissertation on.</p>
<p>So I’d take it a step back from your specific dissertation interest and think more broadly about your area. When I was writing, I was specifically interested in school-based HIV intervention programs for black American adolescents, but I was more broadly interested in cultural and social psychological influences on adolescent sexual behavior. So I used that more broad interest to select three professors whose work interested me.</p>