Since 2005, Birmingham native Macey Taylor has worked as a professional touring musician performing with various artists across the globe. These days, he has added another role to his busy schedule as an online student in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’sMA in Sociology program.
“With my unpredictable traveling schedule with music, the online MA in Sociology program offered me the opportunity to continue my education and take classes on the road.”
The flexible course structure allows Macey to develop new skills and perspectives as a sociologist and explore potential career paths he may not have considered previously, all without giving up on his passion for making music. For example, he was able to keep up with his courses whiletouring in Asia during the fall semester.
“I have always been taking this as an opportunity to start a new act in my life,” he says. “As I navigate through the program, I am actively communicating with educators and professors that utilize sociology in their work and finding pathways to employment tied to my studies.”
Macey’s interest in sociology began in 2020, when his touring career was put on pause due to the pandemic. “I had the opportunities to explore changes in my life and found a new passion in academia,” he says. Macey resumed his college journey at UAB and began pursuing an undergraduate degree in Sociology.
When travel restrictions lessened, Macey was able to return to his career as a musician while maintaining his studies by balancing online and in-person classes. He graduated with his BA in Sociology in the spring of 2024.
Encouraged by faculty members who recognized Macey’s passion for sociology and unique schedule, Macey continued his studies by enrolling in the fully online MA in Sociology program. As for what intrigued Macey most about the program, he says, “Not only the great reputation the program has, but the opportunity to study with people from all wakes of life. Living all around the world offers a valuable perspective uniquely suited for sociology.”
The Online MA in Sociologyprogram at UAB has been consistently recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind in the nation. This fully accredited program is available 100% online, does not require a thesis, and is tailored for professionals.
For Macey, pursuing his master’s in sociology is leading to new career paths, both now and in the future. “[My degree] will unlock new opportunities to new forms of employment that would have been unthinkable before and provides me a new perspective on my life as a musician and how that relates to the larger sphere of society.”
For those considering enrolling in the MA in sociology program, Macey encourages them to go for it. “It can be balanced with any lifestyle while adding skills and perspective to a variety of professions.”
Learn more about applying to UAB’s Online MA in Sociology today. Questions? Email Cullen Clark, PhD, Director of the online MA in Sociology program, at culclark@uab.edu, call (205) 934-3322, or complete the Request More Information form and we'll reach out to you to answer your questions.
