phd courses in sociology

Graduate Program

Graduate program in sociology.

The Berkeley Sociology Graduate Program is the heart of our collective enterprise. Berkeley welcomes a wide diversity of students with far-ranging research interests and equips them with the sociological training, resources, and supportive community necessary to succeed in academia and beyond. Students who come here find a graduate program that has been carefully designed to offer them a rich and complete sociological education, while simultaneously allowing space and incentives to explore and develop their original ideas. 

Factors distinguishing our graduate program from others nationwide include: 1) our rigorous training in general social theory, 2) our emphasis on public sociology and social justice, and 3) our embeddedness in a vibrant interdisciplinary community. Our emphasis on social theory is demonstrated by our required graduate theory sequence, elective theory courses, qualifying examination in theory, and teaching opportunities within Berkeley’s undergraduate theory sequence. As a department, we also maintain an abiding focus on public sociology and offer a number of fellowships, grants, and awards for students pursuing research that advances social justice. Finally, beyond the department, many students and faculty engage with university-wide institutes and clusters including the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, the Institute of Governmental Studies, the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, the Latin America research cluster, and many others.

Students admitted to Berkeley sociology receive a competitive funding package which includes six years of full support (including tuition and a living stipend) through a combination of fellowships and teaching, with many opportunities to secure funding past year six. Additionally, students are mentored in the skills needed to secure nationally competitive fellowships. In the past dozen years, Berkeley graduate students were awarded nearly one-quarter of the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships in Sociology (53 of 226), almost double that of any other program. In addition, our students support their research with fellowships from the Ford Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the Fulbright Graduate Student Program, and more.  They also receive funding for their dissertation research from the National Science Foundation, the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, the Charlotte Newcombe Foundation, the American-Scandinavian Foundation, the German Marshall Fund, and the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.

Berkeley graduate students receive mentorship to publish widely and influence the field. In the 24 years that the American Sociological Association has awarded an annual prize for the best dissertation in sociology, Berkeley graduate students have won a quarter of the time (6), far more than any other department. The “News” section of this site details some recent graduate student publications. Following completion of their Ph.D.s, Berkeley graduate students frequently end up publishing their dissertations as books. For example, the students who finished from 2000 through 2007 currently have 34 books published or in press.

Training in our department has prepared many of our graduates to obtain research and teaching positions in research-oriented universities; recent graduates currently hold faculty positions at Harvard, Michigan, Stanford, Chicago, Northwestern, UCLA, Columbia, Cornell, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCSF, UCSC, Syracuse, USC, Arizona, Washington, Illinois Urbana-Champaign, MIT, Georgetown, Boston U, SUNY Albany, UMass Amherst, William and Mary, Tufts and Oregon. Other students have taken jobs at more teaching-oriented schools, such as the Cal State campuses, Oberlin, Wellesley, Barnard, Boston College, Wesleyan and Sarah Lawrence.  Outside the US, students have taken jobs at McGill (Montreal), University College (Dublin), Universidad Carlos III (Madrid) and Tsinghua (Beijing).  A smaller but significant number have pursued careers in research institutes, business, government, and nonprofits.

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Ph.D. Program in Sociology

Director of Graduate Studies: Emily Rauscher

The Department of Sociology at Brown University offers outstanding doctoral training. Our graduate student community is small, enabling students to have fulfilling mentoring relationships with faculty and to collaborate meaningfully on research and teaching. Due to this advantage, we have partnerships with research centers and institutes across campus, including the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), the Watson Institute for International Studies , the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society , Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4) and Urban Studies , among others. As a result, Brown graduates have an outstanding record of research, publications, and professional accomplishment. The Department of Sociology through the Graduate School offers incoming doctoral students five years of guaranteed financial support , including a stipend and health and dental insurance subsidies, through mechanisms including fellowships, traineeships, and teaching and research assistantships.

For details, please see the Ph.D. Graduate Student Handbook .

For program information, please see the Ph.D. Program Flyer .

Harvard is one of the world’s leading centers for training and mentoring the next generation of sociologists. The Department of Sociology offers several programs of graduate study leading to the Ph.D. in Sociology , the Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy , and the Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior .

The aim of the Graduate Program in Sociology is to prepare students for scholarly and applied research and for teaching in sociology. The program combines an emphasis on competence in social theory and research methods with opportunities for the development of each student's own interest.

Doctoral candidates are expected to achieve a solid proficiency in fundamentals that will enable them to teach basic and advanced sociology courses and engage in both quantitative and qualitative research. Students are trained in several sub fields of sociology in which the faculty has concentrations of expertise. Among these are social stratification and inequality (including race and ethnic relations), the study of complex organizations, economic sociology, political sociology, comparative/historical sociology, health and social policy, cultural analysis, urban sociology, criminology, and life course. The program includes a sequence of required courses on theory and theory construction, designed to acquaint every student with skills necessary for developing social explanations, and required courses in both qualitative methods and advanced statistics to familiarize students with techniques for collecting and analyzing data.

Sociology Faculty and Student Involvement in University Initiatives

For further information on the research topics that Harvard students have explored and the careers of some recent graduates, see Graduate Degrees Awarded .

Harvard Griffin GSAS does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classification.

Graduate Office

660 William James Hall

Office Hours (Fall 2023) Monday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (remote) Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (on campus) Wednesday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (on campus) Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (remote) Friday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (remote)

Email [email protected]

Phone 617.495.3813

Director  David Pedulla

Program Coordinator Jessica Matteson

Elena Ayala-Hurtado

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Our faculty encourages you to become a creative independent researcher. During your graduate career, you will read broadly across fields and generate work that is theoretically, empirically, and analytically rigorous. The program provides advanced training in quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as mixed methods.

Students in the program have conducted research on a variety of projects, including investigating food insecurity in Atlanta, the social effects of climate change, and community policing in a public housing project.

The program has an excellent placement record with graduates securing faculty positions at institutions such as Stanford University, Yale School of Management, Harvard Business School, University of Chicago, and University of Toronto. Others have gone on to non-academic careers at organizations such as The Urban Institute, Abt Associates, and Facebook.

Related Programs

Students considering the PhD program in sociology may also be interested in the PhD programs in Sociology and Social Policy or Organizational Behavior , both of which are offered jointly with the Department of Sociology . Students who wish to apply to one of these programs in addition to the PhD program in sociology may do so.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Sociology and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Sociology .

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required as part of the application and should be a term paper, senior thesis, master’s essay, or similar written work. Citations and references are not included in the page limit.

Personal Statement

Standardized tests.

GRE General: Required

Theses and Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Sociology

See list of Sociology faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Earning A Ph.D. In Sociology: Everything You Need To Know

Updated: May 30, 2023, 2:17am

Earning a Ph.D. in sociology helps you build a high-level career in a competitive field. As the discipline’s terminal degree, a doctorate in sociology qualifies graduates for roles in academia, business, government and nonprofits.

Ph.D. in sociology programs provide a strong grounding in sociological theory and practice and the opportunity to conduct original research.

If you want to explore a Ph.D. in sociology, this article is for you. We’ll explain what to expect from a doctoral program in sociology, including admission criteria, common requirements and sociology careers for graduates.

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What Does a Ph.D. in Sociology Entail?

What is sociology ? This field studies societies and the human relationships within them, often with the goal of addressing inequities and divisions.

A sociology Ph.D. prepares you to conduct independent research or teach at the college level. Here’s what you should expect if you plan to earn a Ph.D. in sociology.

Ph.D. in Sociology Admission Requirements

Admission to Ph.D. in sociology programs is highly competitive, with acceptance rates at some schools as low as 4%.

Admissions committees look at several factors when considering grad school applicants . Ph.D. in sociology programs typically require a minimum GPA of 3.0 to 3.5, plus a statement of purpose, scholarly writing samples, a résumé, recommendation letters and GRE scores.

Competitive applicants hold strong social science backgrounds with completed coursework in sociological theory, statistics and research methods. Most doctoral programs in sociology accept candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s in sociology or a related field. Those with bachelor’s degrees in sociology typically earn a master’s midway through the doctoral program.

Applicants without a sociology background can use their personal statement to explain how their experience and interests align with a sociology program.

Ph.D in Sociology Program Formats

Most doctoral sociology programs are traditional on-campus programs. Fully online Ph.D. programs in sociology are rare, though students may take individual courses online.

Ph.D. candidates spend less time on campus once they begin their dissertations. However, it’s wise to select your school and living situation with regular campus visits in mind.

Learners set on an online program are more likely to find an online Ph.D. program in a related major, such as a doctorate in social work .

Common Ph.D. in Sociology Degree Requirements

Sociological theory.

Many Ph.D. in sociology programs include one or more required theory courses. Understanding sociological theory helps future sociologists engage with the discipline’s history and its contemporary debates as researchers, thinkers and teachers.

Theory courses cover seminal theorists like Karl Marx, Max Weber and Émile Durkheim and explore how contemporary writers and researchers apply, challenge and adapt classical sociological thought to current issues and perspectives.

Social Data Analysis and Research

Courses in social data analysis and research bring theory into practice. A Ph.D. is a research-oriented degree that prepares graduates to produce independent research projects like dissertations.

Students learn to conduct sociological studies, draw conclusions and present findings. Data analysis and collection methods include interviews, field notes and statistical analysis.

In some programs, candidates build hands-on skills in a research practicum. Learners can also gain research experience (and help pay for their degrees ) through faculty research assistantships.

Complete Residency Credits

“Residency credits” refer to how many courses you take at your degree-granting institution. Most Ph.D. candidates fulfill residency requirements simply by completing their program’s coursework. Sometimes, a doctoral student can earn residency credits by completing a master’s degree in sociology from the same school as their doctorate.

However, transfer students and those intending to study abroad should consult an advisor or registrar to ensure they meet residency credit requirements.

Careers for Ph.D. in Sociology Graduates

What can you do with a sociology degree ? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports only 3,000 sociologists working in the United States as of 2021, though many individuals with doctorates in sociology hold other job titles. Doctoral degrees demonstrate research skills and specialized training to set candidates apart in a tight job market.

For many roles, particularly in academia, a Ph.D. is mandatory. Below, we highlight some common career paths for Ph.D. in sociology graduates. All salary data mentioned below is sourced from the BLS.

Sociology Professor

Median Annual Salary: $79,640 Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +12% Job Description: Sociology professors train the next generation of sociologists. Depending on their institution and experience, sociology professors teach undergraduates from other majors as well. Along with classroom responsibilities, sociology professors may conduct research, publish articles and books, attend academic conferences and serve on administrative committees.

Human Resources Manager

Median Annual Salary: $126,230 Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +7% Job Description: Sociologists use data to understand human behavior and can apply this knowledge to many business subfields, especially in people-focused fields like human resources . Human resource managers have many personnel-centered responsibilities, including hiring and training, mediating disputes and helping shape an organization’s workplace culture.

Sociologist

Median Annual Salary: $92,910 Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +5% Job Description: Sociologists in and out of academia can pursue research roles. According to the BLS , more sociologists hold research and development roles in social sciences and humanities than in any other industry. Sociologists study social behavior, design and conduct research studies, and present their findings through reports, articles and presentations.

Social and Community Service Managers

Median Annual Salary: $74,000 Projected Job Growth (2021-2031): +12% Job Description: A social and community services career suits Ph.D. in sociology graduates seeking applied—rather than research-based—careers. Managers in this sector plan, shape and oversee programs and services that support public well-being.

Social and community service managers work for nonprofit and for-profit social services organizations and government agencies and target needs such as elder services, child and family services, food security or mental health.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Ph.D. in Sociology

What can i do with a sociology ph.d..

Many Ph.D. in sociology graduates go into academia and research-focused careers. However, sociology graduates can also find work in human resources, marketing and social services.

How much do you make with a Ph.D. in sociology?

A Ph.D. in sociology qualifies graduates for various high-paying jobs. One of the highest-paying jobs is human resources manager, with an annual median salary of $126,230 as of 2021, according to the BLS . Sociology professors and research sociologists earn median annual salaries of $79,640 and $92,910 as of 2021, respectively.

How many years does it take to get a Ph.D. in sociology?

A typical Ph.D. in sociology program lasts five to six years. Students with work or family obligations may take longer to complete their degrees. Conversely, candidates with a master’s in sociology may finish faster. Some programs allow candidates to take up to nine years in certain circumstances.

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Boston University Academics

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• PhD in Sociology

The Sociology PhD program trains future scholars in the fundamental skills of the discipline of sociology. Students will acquire advanced knowledge of sociological theory and research in their chosen areas of specialization within the discipline in order to make a significant and original contribution to the field. Graduates of the program are prepared to take up teaching and research positions in academia or beyond. Applicants should have at least a bachelor’s degree in any discipline; a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in sociology is preferable but not required.

Learning Outcomes

• Produce and defend an original significant contribution to sociological knowledge.
• Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
• Be able to conduct scholarly activities in a professional and ethical manner.
• Be able to teach undergraduates.

Course Requirements

Candidates admitted to the PhD program must complete 16 courses, including 5 required and 11 elective courses (64 units).

Basic requirements (5 courses for a total of 20 units):

• CAS SO 701 Advanced Sociological Theory (Classical)
• CAS SO 702 Proseminar: Sociological Methods
• CAS SO 708 Contemporary Sociological Theory
• CAS SO 712 Qualitative Methods (or an approved course in qualitative methods in the social sciences)
• CAS SO 724 Quantitative Methods in Sociological Analysis* (or an equivalent Graduate Programs Committee–approved advanced quantitative methods course)

Strongly encouraged (two 2-unit courses run over two terms for a total of 4 units):

• CAS SO 951 and SO 952 Professionalization Workshop

Elective courses (11 courses, can include SO 951 and SO 952, for a total of 44 units)

The CAS SO 701 and SO 702 required courses should be completed in the first year of study. All first-year students are also strongly encouraged to register for CAS SO 951 and SO 952. The student’s remaining coursework should be chosen in conjunction with their advisor. Please consult the Department of Sociology Graduate Student Handbook for further details.

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for this degree.

Qualifying Requirements

After all courses are complete but before students write their Dissertation Prospectus, they must first meet two qualifying requirements. For each of two subfields of Sociology, students must complete either a: (1) critical essay, (2) critical exam, or (3) research paper suitable for submission to a scholarly journal. Each product shall demonstrate intellectual mastery of theories, concepts, methods, and research in the discipline. Students should select a format for each subfield in consultation with their advisor. Upon completion and approval of each paper, exam, or critical essay, the work is defended in a Comprehensive Oral Examination.

The oral examination will primarily cover the fields in the critical essay and research paper, but it may also cover other substantive, methodological, or theoretical material from the students’ coursework.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

Candidates shall demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship. A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the director of graduate studies, and the department chair/program director. Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation. All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS General Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree and the Graduate Student Handbook .

Students who choose to withdraw from the PhD program and graduate with a terminal MA in Sociology must complete all of the requirements of the MA program , including the minimum 8 graduate-level courses (32 units) and the master’s thesis on a project of original research. Students should consult the Graduate Student Handbook for additional details about required courses for the MA program.

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Sociology Ph.D. Program

What can i expect from the sociology ph.d. program  .

The Ph.D. program in sociology at Baylor University is collegial, rigorous, and supportive.  A defining feature of the program is mentorship.  Faculty and students work closely together in research and teaching.  We offer special concentrations in community analytics, sociology of health, and the sociology of religion (see below), but students are free to pursue their own research interests.   

The first three years of the program concentrate on coursework. By the end of the second year, students will complete research resulting in a journal article or its equivalent, culminating in a master’s thesis. Upon completing comprehensive exams after the third year of the program, students are admitted to Ph.D. candidacy and spend their fourth and fifth year writing their dissertation.  

We also have a two-semester teacher-in-training sequence that all students must complete before they are allowed to teach a course at Baylor. This training will help students understand the many different areas of preparation that are necessary to establish and successfully manage a college course.  

What about an M.A. Degree?  

The Sociology Department offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree.  Students admitted into the PhD program will also earn an M.A. along the way.  The M.A. in sociology is only available to students admitted into the Ph.D. program which is usually completed by the second year of the program. For students seeking to enter the program with previous post-baccalaureate experience, the admissions committee will evaluate the work of the student and may apply a maximum of nine semester hours of previous graduate coursework toward their graduate work at Baylor University.  

What Resources are Available?  

At Baylor we take academics very seriously so we have made it a priority to offer full graduate assistantships and tuition remission to all whom we accept into the program. This funding maximizes the amount of time that students have to pursue their own independent research. We only admit a small cohort of student each Fall in order to ensure that quality funding and attention will be given to each student. With continued satisfactory progress toward the terminal Ph.D., funding is renewed for five years. All students have their own workspace and desktop computer with access to a wide variety of data analysis software (STATA, SAS, SPSS, GIS, Geoda, HLM, R, Nivio).  

All graduate students in the department of sociology of are expected - and financially supported - to attend and present research papers at annual meetings for field-related associations, such as the Southwestern Sociological Association and the American Sociological Association. Students can expect support from the department and from the graduate Graduate school School for two meetings per year.  

In addition to cutting-edge sociological research, the Baylor sociology department is recognized for its outstanding pedagogical training.  Graduate students participate in a two-semester Seminar in Teaching, equipping them to design, implement, and evaluate their own college courses.  While students will teach their own college course at least once during their doctoral studies, financial packages are designed to maximize the amount of time students have to conduct research projects they choose.   

Additionally, our department is the home to the nationally-recognized Baylor Religion Survey .  Every three to four years we partner with the Gallup Organization to measure the religious beliefs and values of the American population. In the past we have examined the relationships of religion in its varied forms to trust and civic engagement, politics, the paranormal, image of God, consumption patterns, race, gender, family, health, and work to name a few.

What is the concentration in the Sociology of Health? 

The Health and Society track in the Department of Sociology at Baylor focuses on understanding how social forces are linked to individual health and health behaviors. As a transdisciplinary area of study, Health and Society infuses sociological theories and principles with allied work in public health, epidemiology, and gerontology. Social mechanisms are emphasized as are sociological approaches to illuminating the roles of biology, genetics, and stress in evolving levels of mental and physical well-being across the life course.  

Course offerings include Sociology of Health, Population Health, Health Inequalities in America, and Sociology of Mental Health. Students also learn to use advanced quantitative methods to address key population health issues. Graduate students conduct research independently and in collaboration with our highly-productive faculty. We tailor research mentorship to each student’s interests and goals.   In addition, health items have become an integral aspect of the ongoing Baylor Religion Survey [LINK], reflecting faculty and student interest in the link between religion and health. 

What is the concentration in the Sociology of Religion? 

The Department of Sociology at Baylor University is recognized for its distinction in training sociologists of religion.  Our curriculum combines seminars of substantive interests and independent research. Two required seminars introduce students to theory in the sociology of religion. We train all students in advanced quantitative data management and analytic techniques, and a required methods course on doing research with sociology of religion data. In addition, students may choose among six elective seminars on such topics as religiosity, family and religion, religious organizations, religious deviance, and race/gender and religion. It is our belief that students learn best by hands-on experience. Consequently, our financial packages are designed to maximize the amount of time students have to pursue their independent research topics.  

Students also have exclusive access to the Baylor Religion Survey , which many students use to write their M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations.   This survey is administered every three to four years and is the most comprehensive national religion survey in the United States.  All graduate students in the sociology of religion are expected, and financially supported, to attend and present research papers at the annual meetings of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Students also routinely present research papers at the American Sociological Association annual meetings. Students can expect support from the department for two meetings per year.  

What is the concentration in Community Analytics? 

The community analytics track for a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology provides preparation for a career path in government agencies, institutes and corporations in which specialists in applied research are desired, or for a career path in teaching and research at the college and university setting.  Graduates in this concentration are highly trained in mail, telephone, and web-based survey methodology, needs assessment, interviewing and focus group research skills, mock juries and jury selection, demographic modeling, GIS, and the ability to use major statistical techniques and programs to analyze and interpret the results of such research.  

Students also work at the Baylor Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD) . The CCRD is a multi-disciplinary/method laboratory in which sociologists perform most of the research, while experts from varying fields lend their support. CCRD researchers employ several methods, and oftentimes extend their studies beyond the Waco metropolitan area.  The philosophy of the CCRD is to encourage Baylor faculty and students to engage in “hands-on” projects that positively and tangibly change organizations and communities. Students learn to apply community analytics methods to real-life settings and gain an understanding of an exceptional model for relations between community and academia.  

How Do I Apply?  

Please make your application via Graduate School Online Application .   

Have Additional Questions?

Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator or the Graduate Program Director.

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Ph.D. in Sociology

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about OUR PROGRAM

Ranked among the top 10 programs in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report), the UCI graduate program in sociology offers students six years of guaranteed funding .

Scholars in the department have a proven record of earning competitive research funding from national agencies including the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health; from private foundations including the Russell Sage Foundation and Grant Foundation; and from campus-level fellowships, such as the Public Impact, Fletcher Jones, and Chancellor's Club fellowships.

Faculty in the department publish regularly in the field's top academic journals, and graduate students have incredible opportunities to publish alongside them.

And if that wasn't enough, the UCI campus is located less than 10 miles from Newport Beach, is the #1 university doing the most for the American dream ( New York Times College Access Index ), and a top 10 best value university ( Princeton Review ). And USA Today College ranked UCI the #8 best place to earn a sociology degree while U.S. News & World Report ranks UCI sociology #9 among public university programs in the U.S.

Learn more about sociology at UCI...

university committed to economic diversity and upward mobility - New York Times College Access Index

best value university - Princeton Review

best public sociology program in the U.S. - U.S. News & World Report

public university in the U.S. - U.S. News & World Report

LOCATION Campus is located less than 10 miles from Newport Beach.  

FUNDING Admitted students receive 6 years of guaranteed funding.  

METHODOLOGY Quantitative, qualitative, and multi-method approaches to social issues.  

DEGREE Ph.D.; a master's degree may be earned while in pursuit of the Ph.D.  

ENROLLMENT Full-time, on-campus with housing.    

SPECIALIZATION The department offers a dozen areas in which graduate students can focus their studies.

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  A top 10-ranked program with research strengths in population, family, immigration and inequality.  

what makes us

  UCI sociology is internationally recognized for research and training that supports studies across the spectrum of quantitative, qualitative, and multi-method approaches to social issues. Research specialties within the department include:

• Economy, inequality, labor, and organizations
• Gender and family
• Global inequality and change
• Immigration
• Political sociology
• Social movements
• Race and ethnicity
• Social networks

Sociology faculty contribute not only to the department and the wider field but also to the campus's interdisciplinary units, providing leadership and core faculty to the institutes and centers. Students have an opportunity to earn a master's degree while in pursuit of their Ph.D., and are encouraged to enroll in interdisciplinary coursework.

Alumni have entered tenure-track positions at top research universities, highly competitive post-doctoral positions, and research-oriented jobs in both the public and private sectors.

In short, graduate students in sociology at UCI join a vibrant, collegial, rigorous academic program, with instruction from leading experts in the field, and a collaborative atmosphere that fosters success.

So what are you waiting for?

APPLY TODAY

If full funding, opportunities to publish, and a proven track record of excellence in the field are what you’re looking for in a graduate program, contact us today to learn more about UCI sociology.  

UCI Department of Sociology

Online Application

Department Chair

David John Frank   [email protected]  949.824.1117

Co-Graduate Director

Edwin Amenta   [email protected]  949.824.6800

Wang Feng   [email protected]  949.824.1417

Graduate Advisor

Jennifer Gerson   [email protected]  949.824.4074

connect with us

© UC Irvine School of Social Sciences - 3151 Social Sciences Plaza, Irvine, CA 92697-5100 - 949.824.2766

Sociology and Criminology

Sociology PhD

Sociology phd program.

At Iowa, the PhD program in Sociology is designed to provide you with rigorous training in theory and methods, with specialized programs in social psychology, gender, and social and political organizations. Our program offers intensive faculty guidance, interdisciplinary coursework, and a wide array of research and teaching opportunities to prepare you for careers in academic, private, and government institutions.

Affiliated Faculty

Michael Sauder, Ph.D.

Jennifer Glanville, Ph.D.

Sarah Harkness, Ph.D.

Jennifer Haylett, Ph.D.

Steve Hitlin, Ph.D.

Michael Lovaglia, Ph.D.

Freda B. Lynn, Ph.D.

Mary Noonan, Ph.D.

Victor Ray, Ph.D.

Louise Seamster, Ph.D.

Yongren Shi, Ph.D.

Ion "Bodi" Vasi, Ph.D.

• Skip to Main
• Policies and Procedures

Current PhD Students

• PhDs on the Job Market
• Affiliated Faculty
• Global Network Faculty
• Undergraduate Advising Information
• Major in Sociology
• Major in GPH/Sociology
• Minor in Sociology
• Minor in Law and Society
• Transfer Students
• Sociology Honors Program
• Independent Study/Internship Information
• Undergraduate Course Offerings
• Requesting a Letter of Recommendation

Ph.D. Program

• NYU Shanghai Ph.D. Track
• PhD Job Placement
• Puck Seminar - Pilar Gonalons-Pons
• CASSR and NYU Pop Center Seminar- Xiang Zhou
• Puck Seminar - Patrick Egan
• Puck Seminar - Raul Perez
• Puck Seminar - Gil Eyal
• CASSR and NYU Pop Center Seminar- Rebecca Sandefur
• Puck Seminar - James M. Thomas
• CASSR and NYU Pop Center Seminar- Per Engzell
• Puck Seminar - Michael Burawoy
• Puck Seminar - Sanyu A. Mojola
• Puck Seminar - Victor Ray
• Author Meets Critics - Iddo Tavory, Sonia Prelat, and Shelley Ronen's Tangled Goods
• 2023-2024 Workshops
• Crime, Law and Punishment Workshop
• Economic and Political Sociology Workshop
• Sociology of Culture
• Inequality Workshop
• Ethnography Workshop
• Race and Ethnicity Workshop
• Teaching Resources

Key to the doctoral training offered by the NYU Department of Sociology is a distinguished faculty doing cutting-edge research on topics important to theory and policy. The faculty includes individuals using diverse perspectives and methodological approaches. Thus, the selective cohort of 9-12 students admitted each year receives training that is broad and deep. Areas in which the department has faculty strength include: Comparative/Historical Sociology; Criminology and Law; Culture; Demography; Education; Environment; Family; Gender; Inequality; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Quantitative Methods; Theory; and Urban Sociology. 

The program is designed to make students producers, not merely consumers, of knowledge. Training includes a two-semester course that guides a student through executing his or her own research project and writing a publishable paper. In addition to formal course work, the program includes an opportunity to do collaborative research with a faculty member the summer after students’ first year. It is common for faculty members to coauthor published papers with doctoral students arising from collaborations.

Doctoral students’ training is further enhanced by six regularly meeting workshops where students and faculty present research, get feedback, and learn from each other’s research. Students are encouraged to participate in at least one of the workshops throughout their time of study. Current workshops are in Crime, Law, and Deviance; Cultural Sociology; Economic and Political Sociology; Ethnography; Inequality; Race and Ethnicity; and Sociology of Education.

Students get training and experience in undergraduate teaching through opportunities to work as teaching assistants to departmental faculty during the fall and spring semesters, and through opportunities to teach their own courses during the University's summer sessions.

Prospective PhD Applicants

• Prospective PhD FAQ
• PhD Application Requirements
• Application Resource Center
• PhD Job Placements
• NYU First Year Housing Opportunity
• Graduate Course Offerings
• Faculty-Doctoral Student Publications
• Current Doctoral Student Publications
• PhD Virtual Info Session Video
• Fall 2024 Course Schedule
• Spring 2024 Course Schedule
• The NYU Sociology Department PhD Guidebook
• PhD Checklist
• Doctoral Student Forms
• Dissertation Defense and Submission Policies
• GSAS Policies and Procedures
• Preliminary Exams & Research Paper Requirements
• NYU Doctoral Student Policies

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of Sociology

Ph.d. in sociology.

UConn’s Ph.D. in Sociology trains students to scientifically analyze culture, human interactions, and social relationships. Graduates pursue careers in academia, research, government, and industry, where they work on important topics that impact our society.

The Department of Sociology offers a Master of Arts (MA) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Sociology. Most students enter with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and obtain the MA in Sociology in the first two years of the program, then proceed to the Ph.D.

Students who are admitted with the MA in Sociology from another institution will typically finish the Ph.D. program in a shorter time. Students entering with graduate degrees in disciplines other than Sociology must fulfill the requirements of both the MA and Ph.D.

Contact the Director of Graduate Studies

• Graduate Handbook
• Graduate Academic Regulations
• Registrar's Graduate Forms
• Registrar Steps to a Successful Graduation

Request Information

Apply to UConn

Degree Requirements

Below are the general requirements for the Sociology MA/Ph.D. degree, consistent with the Graduate School policies in the Graduate Catalog . For more detailed information please see the Graduate Handbook.

MA/Ph.D. Track

Students entering the Ph.D. program without a Master of Arts in Sociology (with completed thesis) must complete additional requirements to earn a Master's degree before completing the requirements for the Ph.D. in Sociology. It is expected that most students will complete the MA degree in two years.

In Sociology, students follow the Plan A (thesis) requirements for the Master's degree and continue into the Ph.D. program. Students only enroll in the Plan B (non-thesis) program if they will be discontinuing from the MA/Ph.D. program.

See the Registrar's Steps to a Successful Graduation with a Master's Degree  for full information regarding required timelines and paperwork.

Courses and Credits for the MA

The Master’s degree in Sociology requires a minimum of 39 credits in Sociology, including the following:

• SOCI 5001 & 5002 Proseminar (year long, 3 credits)
• SOCI 5201 The Logic of Social Research (3 credits)
• SOCI 5203 Quantitative Methods I (3 credits)
• SOCI 5231 Qualitative Methods I (3 credits)
• SOCI 5251 Core Theorists (3 credits)
• GRAD 5950 Master’s Thesis Research (9 credits)
• Plus 15 additional credits in Sociology

MA Plan of Study

The Master’s plan of study should be filed by the end of the fourth week of the student’s final semester before the degree is completed. Make sure to count only 39 Sociology credits toward the Master’s Degree. Additional credits can be carried forward to the Ph.D. program.

Credits for 6203 and 6231 should not be included on the MA Plan of Study and will carry forward to the Ph.D. program. Students that decide to take both SOCI 6203 & SOCI 6231 in the same semester of their second year will need to take an additional elective in the Spring of the second year.

To complete a Master’s thesis, students need to have their Master’s thesis research plan approved by their Advisory Committee. Students in consultation with their Advisory Committee may be asked to hold a Master’s thesis proposal defense, but a formal proposal defense is not required of a Master’s thesis. All students who complete a Master’s thesis must pass a formal Master’s thesis defense. Students are expected to complete the Master’s thesis ideally by the end of their fourth semester in the program.

Plan B (non-thesis)

Students who do not wish to continue in the program may elect to complete the Plan B option. In addition to completion of the coursework outlined above, students must also submit a portfolio of their scholarly work. The portfolio should consist of a minimum of 3 papers, each at least 15 pages in length, that together illustrate a command of sociological theory, research methods, and at least one substantive area. The scholarly work may originate from:

• Formal course requirements, such as research papers that demonstrate competency in one or more of the areas outlined above. Students are urged to pursue with their Advisory Committee the appropriateness of course related submissions
• Research or writing done in an independent study
• Non-course related accomplishments, such as grant proposals or conference presentations

In all cases, any written material that is co-authored is not eligible for submission as part of the student’s portfolio. The portfolio should be designed in consultation with the major advisor and will be evaluated by the student’s three-person advisory committee. Please note, students who choose this option cannot continue into the PhD portion of the program and thus the election of this option is only advised for students seeking a terminal Master’s degree.

Please note that Plan B students do not receive thesis credits. These students must take additional elective classes to attain the 39 total credits necessary for the Plan B Master's.

Ph.D. Track

Once the MA is completed, the Ph.D. typically requires an additional four years to complete. Students entering the Ph.D. program with a MA in Sociology, with a completed thesis, may be required to complete additional coursework to cover equivalent material as students who attained their degrees at UConn.

See the Registrar's Steps to a Successful Graduation with a Doctoral Degree for full information regarding required timelines and paperwork.

Courses and Credits for the Ph.D.

• SOCI 6203 Quantitative Methods II (3credits)
• SOCI 6231 Qualitative Methods II (3 credits)
• 12 credits of Sociology elective seminars
• 15 credits of GRAD 6950 Doctoral Dissertation Research

Major Advisor and Advisory Committee

All students in the graduate program must have a Major Advisor who is a tenured or tenure track member of the Sociology Department and the UConn Graduate Faculty. The Major Advisor should be selected by mutual consent between the student and the faculty member based on similarity of interests and/or availability of the faculty member. The Major Advisor serves as a mentor to the student, Chair of the Master’s Thesis Committee, General (Area) Exam Committee, and Dissertation Committee. The Director of Graduate Studies will facilitate the selection of an initial Major Advisor for students entering the program. Students may change the Major Advisors if it becomes apparent that another faculty member is more suitable. In such cases, appropriate forms must be filed with the Graduate School to make the change official. By the start of their second year in the program, all students should have an Advisory Committee of at least three members, the composition of which is described in the paragraph below. The Advisory Committee serves as the student’s Master’s Thesis Committee.

The members of the Advisory Committee are also chosen by mutual consent of the student and the faculty members. The Advisory Committee consists of two faculty members in addition to the Major Advisor. In cases where the student forms a three-person Advisory Committee, all three must be members of the Sociology Department or affiliated members of the Sociology Department. All members of the three-person Advisory Committee must be members of the UConn Graduate Faculty. In cases where the student forms an Advisory Committee of more than three faculty members, these faculty must meet the same requirements, except that a fourth and fifth member may also be: a) a faculty member from another UConn department who is a member of the Graduate Faculty, b) a faculty member from another university who receives approval from the Graduate School.

Most students constitute an Advisory Committee of only three members during the M.A. portion of the program and increase the Advisory Committee to four or five persons during the PhD portion of the program . The decision about the size of the Advisory Committee is at the discretion of the student in consultation with the Advisor and other members of the Advisory Committee. Students may change members of their Advisory Committees if other faculty are more suitable and are willing to serve. When a change is made to the Advisory Committee, appropriate paperwork should be filed.

Ph.D. Plan of Study

The Ph.D. plan of study should be submitted when no more than 18 credits of coursework toward the degree have been completed. Forms should be filed with the Registrar’s Office. The Plan of Study should reflect all content coursework and research credits (GRAD 6950). Please note that students who completed more than 39 credits before filing for their MA degree should include the excess credits on the Ph.D. Plan of Study.

Ph.D. General Exam

The General Exam must be taken after all Sociology coursework for the Ph.D. is completed (including removal of all incompletes), unless there is unanimous consent by the General Exam Committee that it can occur earlier. The General Exam is designed to demonstrate mastery over at least one area, of sociological expertise, but two areas is more typical. The Exam should be considered a “bridge” between coursework and the dissertation. It is designed to go beyond previous coursework that a student has taken, and to be broader than a dissertation-specific topic. The breadth of the General Exam should dovetail with that of an ASA section or the intersection of two ASA sections .

The reading list for the General Exam will be tailored to the student’s interests within the area and will be determined by a process of negotiation between the student and the members of the General Exam Committee. Those faculty members with greater expertise in the area will typically have greater influence in shaping the reading list, but all committee members must approve the list before the exam can be scheduled.

The General Exam shall have both a written and oral component. It is important to simultaneously schedule both the written and the oral components. Students will have two weeks to complete the written portion. The written portion is take-home, with open book and open notes. Students will typically respond to at least three questions designed to emphasize a broad understanding of theory, methods, and substantive areas. Faculty have leeway as to how they ask questions and what choices students have in answering questions. Student responses must be 40 pages or less (not counting references).

The oral portion of the General Exam must be completed within one week of turning in the written portion. During the oral portion, committee members may probe answers that seem insufficient, ask about questions the student did not choose to answer, or raise anything else within the parameters of the reading list. There can be no feedback from committee members to the student between the written and oral portions, except for questions of clarification.

The written and oral portions shall be assigned a single grade of either “Pass” or “Fail.” A grade of “Pass” requires a positive vote of at least four members of the General Exam Committee. There is no grade of “Partial Pass” and there is no provision for retaking just a portion of the General Exam.

If the student fails the General Exam, they may schedule a second opportunity to take it within six months of failing the first exam. The student may constitute a new General Exam Committee for the second exam, but ordinarily this is not advisable. If the student fails the exam a second time, or does not complete it within six months, this is grounds for dismissal from the graduate program.

Dissertation Proposal

According to Graduate School rules, the Dissertation Committee must consist of five faculty members. If the student’s Advisory Committee has less than five members, then the student must ask additional faculty members to be present at the dissertation defense as members of the Dissertation Committee. A fourth and fifth member may also be:

• a faculty member in Sociology who is a member of the Graduate Faculty
• a faculty member from another UConn department who is a member of the Graduate Faculty
• a faculty member from another university who receives approval by the Graduate School. These additional members do not have voting status on passing the dissertation, but they must sign the paperwork required to indicate they were present at the defense.

The decision to approve the dissertation is made by those members of the Dissertation Committee who are also members of the student’s Advisory Committee. Approval of the dissertation is thus determined by a majority of faculty on the Advisory Committee voting to approve the dissertation. A majority is defined as 2-1 in the case of a three-person Advisory Committee, 3-1 in the case of a four-person Advisory Committee, and 3-2 in the case of a five-person Advisory Committee.

Final Semester

Student's should complete these steps to prep for graduation in their final semester:

• Apply to Graduate in the Student Administration System by the  fourth week of the semester . This application can be withdrawn at any time by the student if needed.
• Check name and addresses
• Prepare for oral defense (two weeks prior)
• Submit final paperwork (deadline published on Academic Calendar )
• Submit dissertation
• Check email to confirm progress of steps to graduation

See the Registrar's Steps to a Successful Graduation for the Doctoral Degree for full details regarding degree conferral.

Applications are due by January 5.

Prospective students may apply to the program online via the Graduate School’s website.

Full Admissions Requirements

For more information about the Ph.D. in Sociology, please contact:

Jeremy Pais

Cornell’s Graduate Field of Sociology provides top-notch training toward the PhD in Sociology, and has long been known for its emphasis on both theoretical innovation and methodological rigor. The Field, which is much larger than the Department, has close to thirty  faculty  members. 

Explore the Graduate Program

Graduate spotlight: career placement.

Students in the graduate field of sociology have gone on to achieve professional success in academia, industry, and the non-profit and public sectors.  Click here to browse  a comprehensive list of career placements for our graduate students.

The department also actively supports recent Ph.D. and Ph.D. candidates seeking permanent employment.  Click here to explore  profiles of our current job market candidates.

Graduate Students in the News

Grad student receives funding for research on COVID-19, incarceration

Alumna Spotlight: Youngmin Yi, Ph.D.

Soc PhD named to Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

Cornell ranked among best in U.S. News grad school rankings

PhD: How to Apply

The Sociology Department recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

The Sociology Department welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars, and we are committed to providing a supportive environment for all students whom we admit. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field .

Minimizing pre-admission communication with faculty: We appreciate that prospective graduate students are often instructed to reach out to faculty in advance of applying. However, our policy is to avoid any protracted discussions between faculty and candidates prior to admission since research shows that fair and transparent process can easily be clouded by back-channel communications.  We don’t mean to be off-putting! Instead, our goal is to ensure that everyone has equal opportunity and is considered fairly. For more information, you can review Stanford's Guide to Getting into Grad School.

Application Requirements

The 2025-26 Sociology Ph.D. application deadline is December 4, 2024.

Please be aware that you must submit your online application by the deadline.  Incomplete applications cannot be completed or submitted after the deadline. Recommendation letters and official test scores from ETS can be submitted by faculty and ETS after the application deadline date. 

PhD Admissions FAQs

Join dozens of  Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  (KHS).

KHS admits up to 100 applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of KHS's leadership program, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford.

Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment.

If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 9, 2024. Learn more about   KHS admission .

The fee to apply for graduate study at Stanford is $125 .  You may submit only one application per year (unless one of the applications is to one of the professional schools (Law, Medicine or Business). Acceptable form of payment is by credit/debit card (Visa or MasterCard only.) We do not accept electronic check payments or checks by mail. 

The fee is non-refundable and must be received by the application deadline. 

Many applicants qualify for application fee waivers. Stanford offers several application fee waiver options to ensure that the application process is available to everyone who wishes to apply. 

In the electronic application, you will be asked to upload scans of transcripts (see specific information below), a statement of purpose, a writing sample, and your CV or resume. When preparing your application materials to be uploaded into the electronic application, please note the following:

• File size must be 10MB or LESS
• Files cannot be password protected
• PDF files cannot have a digital signature
• Save each document separately

When scanning hard copy materials to upload into your electronic application please note the following:

• Resolution should be no more than 300dpi
• Scan in black and white only
• Removing images will help reduce file size

The statement of purpose (also known as a "personal statement") should describe your reasons for applying to the Doctoral Program in Sociology at Stanford.  This document is not to exceed two pages in length (single-spaced).  You should include details regarding your qualifications, academic and research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid our admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology. You will be asked to upload your statement of purpose in the online application.

You must upload one scanned version of your transcript(s) in the online application. Please read the  Applying  section of this website for important information submitting transcripts.

If offered admission:  Please see this page for information on submitting final official transcripts .

Stanford accepts electronic letters of recommendation via Stanford online application system - we no longer accept paper letters.

Three letters of recommendation are required, and they must be submitted using the online service.

As part of the online application, you will be required to register the name and contact information, including e-mail address, of each of your recommenders. Recommenders will then receive an e-mail with directions on how to proceed. At least one letter should be a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years.)

• Please inform letter writers of the application deadline.
• Letters of recommendation cannot be mailed, e-mailed, or faxed; they will be rejected.
• Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test

* GRE Fee Reduction Waiver

Register early to maximize the chances of scheduling your preferred test date and time

We strongly advise you to take the GRE no later than September, so that your scores will be received by the application deadline.

Late test scores may disqualify you from admission.

We require the GRE General Test only - we do not require the subject test.

Scores must be from an examination taken within the last five years. No exceptions.

Scores must be reported directly to Stanford from the Educational Testing Service.

The Stanford institution code is 4704 .  Please do not specify  a department code.

For more information regarding the GRE, please contact ETS directly.

GRE scores from ETS are valid for five years.  For questions about the validity of GRE scores, please contact ETS. If ETS can send your GRE scores, we will accept them.

Arrangements to take the GRE General Test can be made online or by writing:

P.O. Box 600, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000, USA

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission.

TOEFL scores are required of all applicants whose first language is not English. Stanford does not accept IELTS scores.

TOEFL EXEMPTIONS:

You are  exempt  from submitting a TOEFL score if you meet one the following criteria:     A. You (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally- accredited college or university in the United States (territories and possessions excluded).     B. You (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

You may request a  waiver  if you (will) have an equivalent degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction.

NOTE: Being a U.S. citizen does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL; if the applicant’s first language is not English, the applicant must meet the exception above or submit the TOEFL.

TOEFL scores must be submitted from a test taken within the last eighteen months.

We urge you to take the TOEFL by November to be eligible for admission for the following Autumn Quarter. Evidence of adequate proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions.

The TOEFL is administered through: EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151

Information on registration, test centers, dates, and test formats .

The University Minimum TOEFL Score for Doctoral programs is 250 for Computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test, and 100 for Internet-based test. More information is available via the Stanford University Office of Graduate Admissions web site.

• Scores must be reported directly to Stanford from Educational Testing Service (ETS)

The Stanford score recipient number ( also called "Institution Code")  is  4704.  You do not need to specify a department code.

All scores are sent electronically to the Graduate Admissions Office, which will share your scores with your department.

Evidence of adequate English proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions.

TOEFL scores are retained for 20 months by ETS. For questions about the validity of TOEFL scores, please contact ETS. If ETS can send your TOEFL scores, we will accept them.

The Department of Sociology requires a writing sample from all applicants to the Ph.D. Program. The Admissions Committee will be looking for original work giving evidence of both writing ability and the capacity for research, analysis, and original thought at the graduate level. Your writing sample could be an honors or master’s thesis, published paper, co-written paper, or comparable article.

• Papers originally written in a language other than English must be submitted in English Translation.
• Samples may be up to 50 pages long.  Other things equal, a short, effectively written sample is preferable to a longer sample. If you decide to submit a longer sample, please indicate which pages should be reviewed by the admissions committee. Your writing sample can be uploaded with your online application as a text file as an addendum to your personal statement or under 'additional information'. Writing samples can be single or double spaced.
• You must upload your writing sample in the online application per "supporting documents" instructions above.

We do not require a CV or resume for application, but you may upload your CV or resume per the "supporting documents" instructions above.

The  2025-26 Graduate Admissions Application will open for entry in mid-September 2024.

• Undergraduate
• Anthropology
• Criminology
• Academic Advising
• Add or Change a Major
• Career Paths
• Honors Programs
• M.A. in Anthropology

Ph.D. in Sociology

• For Current Students: Anthropology
• For Current Students: Sociology
• Graduate Student Trajectories
• Student Information and Forms
• Faculty and Staff Resources
• Department Guidelines Manual
• Forms, Policies and Procedures
• Sociology Teaching Resources
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences Intranet

‘Prepare for a career in academia, research, or industry with one or more of our department’s substantive strengths.

Program Overview

The 72-credit hour doctoral program is an intellectually stimulating and academically rigorous, yet supportive, environment. Our faculty and graduate students work in subfields that are central components of our discipline – like race, gender, work and organizations, criminology, family, education, environment, culture, law, stratification, and health . Providing an understanding of the constitutive nature and impact of social inequalities on the social world is one of the most important tasks of the sociological enterprise. Faculty and students alike study settings such as families, workplaces, schools, courtrooms, neighborhoods, farms, and markets, as well as online spaces, and their relationships to the structural sources of inequality across class, gender, race/ethnicity, and space, and the interplay between these processes and the broader global economic, political, and cultural contexts. As a department, we run the gamut of methodological orientations and encourage students to each develop a holistic approach in recognizing the complex connections between culture, work, politics, and everyday life. 

Doctoral students have the opportunity to:

• Pursue a wide range of research topics and interests.
• Receive top-notch methodological training.
• Gain valuable teaching skills and experience.
• Collaborate on scholarly and applied research with our outstanding faculty and fellow graduate students.

For students who wish to become critical analysts of social problems, NC State’s graduate program in sociology offers excellent training for academic, research and applied careers.

Curriculum and Courses

Our core curriculum includes courses in sociological theory and research methods (with various quantitative and qualitative options).

Substantive coursework includes classes pertinent to students’ research interests. Some classes we offer regularly include:

• SOC 722: Social Control
• SOC 721: Theories of Deviant Behavior
• SOC 798: Race and Ethnic Inequality
• SOC 752: Work and Industry
• SOC 736: Social Stratification
• SOC 762: Sociology of Food Systems

Program Milestones

On the way to earning the Ph.D., students entering without a master’s degree complete a thesis to obtain their master of science degrees. They also complete a written comprehensive exam in their selected field to demonstrate mastery of subject material and develop a proposal for their dissertation research in consultation with faculty advisors. Finally, students defend their dissertation research – an independent and original contribution to sociological knowledge – to complete the degree.

Students entering with a master’s degree can complete the requirements in four years. Students entering without a master’s degree may finish in five years.

How to Apply

Prospective students apply through the NC State Graduate School .

Completed applications include transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a writing sample. Accepted prospective students will be invited to visit the campus and meet with faculty in the spring (date TBD).

Application Deadline

The deadline for fall admissions is Jan. 1 , with all supporting material so that the review committee can begin the review process in mid-January. We will only accept materials submitted electronically.

Our program accepts full- and part-time students to begin their studies during the fall semester. We do not accept applications for spring admissions. Also, please note that we no longer accept students for sociolinguistics.

Application Requirements

A completed application includes transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a writing sample. The Admissions Committee is unable to consider incomplete applications. GRE scores are not required but you may submit them if you would like.

• Transcripts:  You will need to upload unofficial transcripts of all your academic course work since high school, including each higher education institution you have attended. You only need to send official transcripts to the Graduate School if you are admitted.
• Letters of Recommendation:  We require three letters of recommendation. The online process includes a form for your references to use. This form only has a small space for comments. Please ask your references to add a letter in which they provide more detail. Specifics about their experience with you are particularly informative. If you are not currently in school, please take care in selecting people to write these letters, as we need to know how you are likely to perform in an academic setting.
• Personal Statement:  This is usually a relatively brief statement of about two pages. We are especially interested to know how graduate training in sociology fits into your professional and intellectual goals and plans. Please indicate in your statement which of our program specializations you are most interested in and why. If you have a preference for working with specific professors, that would be helpful to include as well. 
• Writing Sample:  We pay very careful attention to the example of your writing that you submit. We look for organization, use of evidence, logic of argument, and quality of analysis. Typical submissions include course papers and senior thesis chapters. We strongly prefer writing samples of approximately 15-25 pages in length. If you would like us to read part of a large work, you could attach an explanation of how the part relates to the whole. 
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE):  The GRE is  optional  for admission. Students do not have to submit GRE scores, and your application will not be penalized if you do not submit GRE scores. If you would like to submit GRE scores, the university’s code is 5496.

Application Fee

The Graduate School requires a payment of a $85 application fee ($95 USD for International applicants). Application fee payments are non-refundable.

International Applicants

To apply, you may complete an online application for admission to the NC State Graduate School. If you complete the form electronically, however, you must still mail in your check for the application fee (currently $85 in U.S. currency drawn from a U.S. bank or from an international bank with a U.S. affiliate) and other parts of the application, noted below.

• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies.
• TOEFL scores for applicants who are not native English speakers. You can view our  English Proficiency Requirements  for more information. (Please note: Teaching Assistants may require additional English Speaking screening )
• Three letters of recommendation (we will be especially interested in reading the recommendation of a social scientist who can assess your promise as a social scientist).
• A sample of your writing, such as an academic paper you have written.
• A personal statement of the relationship of graduate training in sociology in our department for your long term interests, including your professional career intentions. 
• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the general tests is  optional  for admission.

Transcripts

After admission, official transcripts should be sent to:

The Graduate School North Carolina State University 1020 Main Campus Drive, Room 2300A Campus Box 7102 Raleigh, NC 27695-7102

Sociology and Anthropology Graduate Student Association

A student-centered organization promoting academic and professional success.

Financial Assistance

We offer teaching and other assistantships on a competitive basis through NC State’s Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP) . Assistantships provide tuition coverage for fall and spring semesters, health insurance for the year and a biweekly stipend from August to May.

We also advocate for students by applying to special funds and scholarships — and helping strengthen student applications for aid.

Support Package for Graduate Students

Our support package for funded students is very competitive with those offered by other doctoral programs. Assuming normal progress to degree, the packages are good for five years for students entering with a bachelor’s degree (four years for students entering with a master’s degree in sociology).  The support package includes:

• Graduate assistantships with a $20,000 9-month stipend. These assistantships have a 20 hour/week work obligation.  During typical assistantship appointments, students assist faculty with their courses and research. Students entering the program with a master’s degree are eligible to teach their own courses after one full year in the program. All other students may teach on their own after two years. 
• Full tuition remission for the first academic year (both in-state and out-of-state).  Students are responsible for their own fees.
• Health insurance.
• Office space in the 1911 Building.  Every funded student has his/her own desk and computer.
• Full access to departmental and college computer networks, including most popular analytical packages (Stata, R, SAS, SPSS, etc.)
• Support for travel to present at professional conferences

Director of Graduate Programs

Dr. Michaela DeSoucey

[email protected] 

Graduate Academic Advisor Coordinator

Shayna Baker

[email protected] 

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Sociology, PhD

Graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania is conducted through graduate groups formed according to different areas of study. These groups administer programs leading to the AM and PhD degrees. Those seeking a graduate degree in Sociology should apply to the Graduate Group in Sociology. Sociology students earn their MA on the way to the PhD. There is no terminal Master's degree program.

It is possible to earn a joint Ph.D. in Sociology and another discipline by being admitted to and satisfying the requirements of two Ph.D. programs and writing a single dissertation. Currently, students are enrolled in joint degrees with Demography, Education, Communications, and Africana Studies. Students seeking a joint Ph.D. combining Sociology with another program must be admitted in that program (as well as Sociology); admittance to the second program may occur after admission to the Sociology program.

For more information: http://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/graduate_resources

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

A minimum of 16 course units are required. A minimum of 12 course units must be taken at the University of Pennsylvania.

 Three electives must be in Sociology.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Sample Plan of Study

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PhD Degree Requirements

Phd overview.

PhD students receive training in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, sociological theory, and major substantive fields within sociology such as gender, sexuality, environment, race and ethnicity, culture, social networks, labor, immigration, and political economy. The department places a strong emphasis on research, and many students will find opportunities to participate in projects conducted by faculty members.

MA or MS and PhD in Sociology

Students are required to complete 55 credit hours of graduate-level work for the master’s degree, and an additional 20 credits, plus 18 dissertation credits, for the PhD. Students who have earned a master’s degree from another program must still complete the master’s paper requirement from the department as one of the steps toward earning the PhD. 

Students having completed graduate-level work in sociology prior to admission to the department may transfer credits to fulfill department requirements if a formal request is submitted to and approved by the Curriculum Committee. Most graduate courses are five (5) credit hours. All required courses must be taken on a graded basis. Students who are Graduate Employees (almost all students their first few years) usually take two or three (2-3)courses per term. The minimum number of credits required for students to enroll in is nine (9) if they have a contract, and three (3) if they do not.

Required Courses

Sociology 607 (Introduction to Graduate Sociology) All incoming students must take this seminar for three (3) credits. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the department and the university community and should be taken their first term.

• Sociology 512 and 513 (Sociological Research Methods): These courses cover quantitative methods, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, multiple regression, regression methods with dichotomous and limited dependent variables, and an overview of other advanced quantitative methods. 
• Sociology 612 (Research Design): This course provides hands-on coverage of research design issues, including problem/question formulation, literature review, hypothesis construction, sampling decisions, choice of method for data collection, and strategies for data analysis. The final assignment is a comprehensive proposal for research suitable for the master’s paper requirement. To assist their progress toward the proposal, students work through exercises resulting in draft components of the proposal. Enrollment is normally restricted to sociology graduate students. 
• Two (2) advanced methods courses (Sociology 613), one (1) of which can be taken post-master’s. Advanced methods classes taken must include two (2) separate methods, as determined by the judgment of the student’s advisor.
• One (1) advanced theory course (Sociology 615): These courses focus on specialized traditions of social theory or the works of a major theorist. A second advanced theory course can be substituted for one of the substantive graduate seminars (see G below), as long as the content differs substantially from the first 615 course, as determined by the student’s advisor. The second course may be taken post-master’s. 
• Sociology 617 and Sociology 618 (Sociological Theory I and II): These courses cover major 19th, 20th, and 21st century social theorists, especially Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, and major themes in contemporary sociological theory.

Substantive Seminars

Students must take four (4) substantive graduate seminars or three (3) substantive seminars and a second advanced theory course. In either case, at least two (2)substantive seminars must be taken pre-master’s. 

The substantive seminars are: 

• Sociology 616 (Environment and Resources)
• Sociology 644 (Race and Ethnicity)
• Sociology 646 (Work and Organizations)
• Sociology 656 (Issues in the Sociology of Gender)
• Sociology 664 (Political and Economic Sociology)

Any of the above seminars may be taken more than once, so long as the class content differs substantially each time. Both syllabi must be submitted to the Curriculum Committee to confirm the difference.

Master’s Paper and Electives

To meet the master’s requirement, students take two (2) classes (10 credits) of electives in sociology at the 500- or 600-level. Only one (1) independent study course (SOC 601 - Research or SOC 605 - Reading), taken for a grade, can  be used to meet elective requirements.

Students register for five (5) credits of SOC 608 - Master’s Paper in the term they complete their master’s paper.

Master’s Paper

• All students must complete a master’s paper. Students should be able to complete the course requirements for a master’s degree and the master’s paper requirement in their first six (6) terms of enrollment. Students can be granted an extension to a seventh term without consequence if they make a formal request in writing before the end of their sixth term providing a brief explanation of the reason the extension is required, and so long as this request is approved by both committee members and the director of graduate studies. Students who have not completed the requirements within the first six (6) terms will not be in good standing and will not be assured of a GE position until they complete the requirements (they may receive one if a position is available). Students who do not complete the requirements by the end of nine (9) quarters of enrollment will need to appeal for an extension. This extension will only be granted if both committee members, the director of graduate studies, and the department head agree that it is warranted. 
• The paper is to report original empirical research with an appropriate theoretical context. The paper should be of a style, length, and content appropriate for submission to a peer-reviewed journal in the social sciences. The standard of assessment is whether the paper is worthy of submission to the selected journal. 
• The student may base the paper on research conducted for an academic degree at another institution or in another program at the University of Oregon. With the approval of the committee, the student may also submit for this requirement an article already published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed social science journal. A student who has completed an empirically based master’s thesis that is sociological in content in another program may revise it so that it fits with the department’s expectations and format and submit it for the master’s paper requirement. 
• For the master’s paper, the student will need to select a committee of two faculty members, one of whom is the chair. The thesis committee does not require an outside member or an oral defense. The Master’s Paper requirement is met when both committee members approve the paper.

Comprehensive Examination 

The Comprehensive Examination (c-exam) will determine the degree to which a student has gained a mastery over the substantive knowledge, theory and methodology of one area of sociological inquiry distinct from the area to which the master’s paper contributes as determined by the c-exam committee. 

• The area of the examination is selected by the student in consultation with a special committee consisting of at least three (3) faculty members, two (2) of whom must be sociology faculty; the chair of the committee must also be a sociology faculty member. The committee will be responsible for preparing and evaluating the examination. The examination is a three-day (3-day) written examination of the student’s mastery of a reading list approved by the committee. Although the student may suggest a list of questions for the examination, the committee decides on the questions. The committee poses the questions to the student at the start of the exam, and the student has three (3) days to submit their answers.
• In defining the areas of examination, the committee has the responsibility of guarding against both narrow specialization and unrealistically broad aspirations on the part of the student. The current list of sections within the American Sociological Association should serve as models for balancing breadth and depth.
• Students who fail to pass an examination on the first attempt will be permitted to take the examination a second time. Students failing an examination twice will be terminated from the program. 
• To remain in good standing, a requirement for assurance of departmental funding, students must complete the c-exam by the end of their ninth term of enrollment (excluding summers) in the department based on the regular academic calendar.
• Students should negotiate in advance with the c-exam committee for when they can commit to completing the evaluation. The committee should be given at least three (3) weeks to complete its evaluation.
• Students are advanced to candidacy after completing coursework and passing the c-exam. Students will be promoted to GE 3 the term after advancement.  

Doctoral Dissertation 

Once the c-exam and coursework are complete, students are advanced to candidacy and begin work on their dissertation proposal.

• The doctoral dissertation committee will be composed of at least three (3) sociology faculty members and an additional outside member of the UO graduate faculty not affiliated with the Department of Sociology who serves as a representative of the Dean of the Graduate School. This committee should be proposed to the Dean of the Graduate School by the fall of the student’s fifth year of enrollment and no later than six (6) months before the date of completion of the Ph.D. degree.
• The dissertation committee will be formed at the student’s initiative after passing the Comprehensive Examination (c-exam). All PhD candidates must prepare a dissertation proposal and formally defend it before their committee no later than the fall of their fifth year of enrollment, or they will not be in good academic standing, potentially making them ineligible for departmental funding. Students are encouraged to defend before the end of their fourth year in the program.
• The student should refer to the Style Manual for Theses and Dissertations published by the graduate school. This manual includes regulations for the dissertation and a checklist of timing for completion of certain administrative procedures.
• Students are required to enroll in at least three (3) credits of SOC 603 both the term before they defend AND the term they defend.

Apply to Our Graduate Program

Ready to apply? Start your application on Slate, the centralized application portal for graduate admissions at the University of Oregon.

Graduate Program Director

Kari Marie Norgaard Email: [email protected] Phone number: 541-346-8615 Office hours: By appointment

Graduate Coordinators

Sharon Kaplan Email: [email protected]

Rachel Claric Email: [email protected]

Request Info

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UMass Boston

• Sociology PhD

Embark on a journey of critical inquiry, rigorous research, and social transformation.

The Doctoral Program is an innovative approach to sociology and its application to resolving national and international issues. Taught by faculty actively engaged in research and advocacy, students will be prepared for academic careers as well as for leadership roles as applied sociologists in public / private agencies and research organizations.

The program is heavily grounded in research methodology and students engage in detailed study of theory, methodology and statistics as well as their own individual areas of focus. Doctoral students will find a community of scholars and numerous opportunities to work collaboratively with each other and with faculty through conference presentations, journal articles and fieldwork.

In this program, you will:

• Apply theoretical concepts to empirical issues
• Analyze data to address a research question
• Demonstrate scholarly expertise in a substantive area(s)
• Design and execute a research project of their own
• Demonstrate scholarly independence.

Career Possibilities

Teach sociology courses and conduct research in academic institutions as a professor. Work as a policy analyst and analyze social issues to provide evidence-based recommendations. Or, engage in activism and advocacy work, promoting social justice, equity, and the rights of marginalized communities. These are just a few of the possibilities.

Become a(n):

• Professor/ Researcher
• Policy Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Nonprofit Manager
• Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

Start Your Application

Plan Your Education

How to apply.

  In addition to the criteria below, applicants must complete general graduate admission requirements .

• Applicants for the 36-credit post-MA PhD program must have an MA degree in sociology or a related field from a nationally accredited college or university or its international equivalent. The review committee will admit applicants with degrees in other disciplines at their discretion.  Note: Students who apply for admission to the PhD program without an MA from a nationally accredited college or university or its international equivalent must first complete requirements for UMass Boston’s 30-36 credit MA degree in applied sociology.
• Preference will be given to all applicants whose transcripts show completion of these courses with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.25 and graduate GPA of 3.50, taken within the past seven years.
• Three letters of recommendation from persons with whom the applicant has had extensive academic and/or professional contact
• Academic writing sample
• Specific interest in a PhD in sociology and rationale for pursuing the PhD
• Current major research and interests in the field of sociology
• Description of professional post-PhD goals

Deadlines & Cost

Deadlines: December 1 for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: Bursar's website

Required Courses (12 Credits)

• SOCIOL 607 - Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 609L - Qualitative Methods and Field Research 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 652 - Advanced Quantitative Methods 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 700 - Proseminar I: Introduction to Graduate Sociology 1 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 701 - Proseminar II: Planning a career in Sociology 1 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 702 - Proseminar III: Developing professional skills and preparing for job market 1 Credit(s)

Electives (18 Credits)

Complete 18 credits of additional graduate SOCIOL courses.

With approval of the graduate program director, up to six credits from another graduate program may be applied toward this requirement.

Dissertation (6 Credits)

Complete a minimum of six credits from the course below.

• SOCIOL 899 - Dissertation Credits 1-9 Credit(s)

Graduation Criteria

Complete a minimum of 36 credits from ten or more courses including six required courses, 18 credits of electives, and at least six dissertation credits.

Students admitted without an MA in sociology must also complete the requirements for the   Applied Sociology (MA) program.

Dissertation:   Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Doctoral candidacy:   Passage of two comprehensive examinations taken in two parts; theory/methods and substantive area concentration.

Statute of limitations:   Ten years.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply theoretical concepts to empirical issues;
• Analyze data to address a research question;
• Demonstrate scholarly expertise in a substantive area(s);
• Design and execute a research project of their own;
• Demonstrate scholarly independence. 

Graduate Program Director Cinzia Solari cinzia.solari [at] umb.edu Bio

Applied Sociology Department sociology.gradprog [at] umb.edu

Sociology Department

Learn more about UMass Boston's Sociology Department, our research, and our faculty.

College of Liberal Arts

Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Liberal Arts.

Graduate courses

These summaries are not official course outlines. You will receive detailed course outlines for all courses you're registered in on the first day of class.

Courses are dependent upon enrollment numbers. 

Search for classes in  Online Tools  to confirm dates, days, times and locations. 

Fall 2024 500-level courses

SOCI 503 - Foundations of Sociological Explanations

Instructor: Katelin Albert

Schedule:  Mondays 1:00 - 3:50pm

Delivery: In Person

Course description

This course focuses in on the foundations of sociological thought – from foundational thinkers and the history of sociology to more contemporary thinkers and knowledge politics.

We will study a group of theorists whose work provided key intellectual resources for the foundation and development of social theory and sociology. It will include the canonical ‘founding’ figures of Karl Marx and Max Weber, but will also cover other founding scholars whose work has been erased or forgotten, such as Jane Addams, Martineau, Du Bois, Cooper, and Wells-Barnett. We also cover some contemporary foundational thinkers such as Harding, Mohanty, and Patricia Hill Collins.

There will be large emphasis on (i) knowledge politics and the different ways theory informs both the study of society and our explanations of the social world, and (ii) the history of sociology.

The course will also attempt to follow through on some of the key sociological themes (e.g. class, capitalism, power, the state) developed by these thinkers, and trace how they have been transformed and still influence contemporary theoretical issues and debates within sociology and social theory more broadly.

Of particular interest, there is a focus on how contemporary sociological explanation considers the intersection of class, race and gender in understanding current structural patterns of inequality, and how these complex, interrelated dimensions of social power form the basis for ongoing political and social struggles. We will also look closely at the intersectional theory – its origins, uses and politics.

Key questions for the course are: what have been the various sociological explanations of the past, and how did each theorist arrive at that explanation? What does this mean for our contemporary explanations of political, economic, social and cultural phenomena?

Course outcomes/objectives

Theory is about learning what has been said, but it is also about learning a unique vocabulary and history that is tied to knowledge politics that continue to shape the work we do today as contemporary sociologists and theorists.

To that end, the objectives of this course are:

• To understand and learn these thinkers on their own terms. You will learn to read them, think critically about them, and to see their usefulness.
• You will come to see how their biography and social location shaped their method, theory, and explanations. The methods we use are rooted in theoretical traditions and assumptions, which fundamentally shape what we can and cannot know, our causal arguments, and what we observe and see.
• You will learn about the politics of theory, theorizing and the history of sociology itself and how this shapes theory building and our empirical work.
• You will learn to expand your idea of classical theory.
• You will also learn to theorize in a creative way.
• As a student, you will also learn how to be a class leader and facilitate a healthy peer learning environment.

Mode of delivery

This class is a seminar style class and is very hands on for students. Students will be class leaders wherein they facilitate the class. This is not a presentation but is early practice in learning to design and organize class time. Students play a big part in facilitating discussion and learning.

This is a face-to-face course and will not be recorded. Students are expected to come to class. There may be several in-class workshops. There may be a few classes held over Zoom to accommodate guest speakers. This course will make use of many of the online tools on Brightspace.

This course description is provided in advance of the course to help with planning and to help students make decisions about their studies. The course focus and direction may change by the time the course is offered.

SOCI 515 - Qualitative Research

SOCI 515: Qualitative Research

Instructor: Anelyse Weiler

Schedule:  Thursdays 2:00 - 4:50 pm

What are the unique insights offered by qualitative research methods? How can these insights better inform academic debates, policymaking, and social change?

In this course, we will take a hands-on approach to understanding qualitative methods. The class will provide you with the opportunity to conduct an original research project on a topic of your choice. You will gain practical skills in designing a rigorous proposal, sampling protocols, a theoretical foundation, research ethics, data collection, analysis, and sharing your findings.

Throughout the class, we will examine several qualitative research methods, which may include interviewing, observation, participatory approaches, Indigenous methods, social media analysis, journalling, and Freedom of Information requests.

Developing strong skills and practical experience in qualitative methods is useful for a wide range of careers, including academia, social work, law, counselling, market research, government, and non-profits.

Course objectives

• Describe some of the key debates and theories in qualitative research, along with approaches including Indigenous and participatory research methods.
• Conduct an original research project on a topic of your choice, including a plan for ethical conduct, sampling, data analysis, and sharing results in a final written paper and oral presentation.
• Apply skills in select qualitative research techniques taught in the course, such as interviewing, writing memos and coding.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and reflexivity.
• Collaborate with team members by actively engaging in course material.

SOCI 598 A01 - Major Research Paper

SOCI 598 - Major Research Paper

Delivery: on-campus

SOCI 598 A02 - Major Research Paper

Delivery: off-campus

599 A01 - Thesis

599 A02 - Thesis

Fall 2024 600-level courses

SOCI 693 A01 - PhD Candidacy Examinations

SOCI 693 A02 - PhD Candidacy Examinations

SOCI 699 A01 - PhD Dissertation

SOCI 699 A02 - PhD Dissertation

Spring 2025 500-level courses

SOCI 504 - Current Issues in Social Theory

Instructor: Steve Garlick

Schedule:  Thursdays 1:00 - 3:50pm

Social theorizing has always been informed by different materialisms, and this course examines how materialist theories have persisted and re-emerged in different forms through the linguistic and cultural turns of the late 20th century, with particular concern for how these shifts inform our understandings of key sociological concepts such as power, order, freedom, and social change.

The course is divided into 2 parts. The first part focuses on key 20th-century theorists whose >work has implications for materialist theorizing.

The second part takes up recent developments in new materialist social theorizing, with particular attention to their relationships to forms of Indigenous theorizing.

The course offers students the opportunity to engage with some of the most important and influential social theories and theorists of recent decades.

The course has 3 main objectives:

• To ensure that students have a solid understanding of important theorists whose work informs much contemporary social theorizing.
• To ensure that students have familiarity with contemporary issues and debates in social theory.
• To develop students’ abilities to theorize in relation to their own areas of research interest.

Topics covered

We will begin with the Frankfurt School of critical theory, which in certain respects anticipates aspects of recent new materialist theories. We then work our way through the writings of a number of key late-twentieth-century thinkers (Fanon, Bourdieu, Foucault, Butler, & Collins) whose work is both influential today and of consequence for materialist theorizing.

In the second half of the term, we move on to examine some of the most influential trends in recent social theorizing associated with posthumanism, complexity, biopolitical capitalism, affect, Indigenous theorizing, and feminist new materialisms.

Course organization and coursework

This is a seminar-style course. Students will each present and lead the discussion of the readings in at least one class session.

Students will write weekly response papers and a final research paper. All coursework is designed to assist students in developing their abilities to engage in theorizing.

SOCI 507 - Intermediate Social Statistics

Instructor: Ruth Kampen

Schedule:  Lecture: Wednesdays 10 - 12:50pm.  Lab: Thurdays 10 - 10:50am

The purpose of this course is to introduce useful statistical methods (especially multivariate regression models) for social scientists, including various extensions of linear models, logistic models, and count models.

In each class, we will both study the statistical model and its empirical application in substantive fields. For sociology students, the most helpful way to study a statistical model is to look at how it can be employed to address sociological questions in practice.

The course provides an overview of useful techniques, rather than going into great technical details. We will discuss some pertinent statistical theories in class sessions, but the emphasis will be on applications.

You will learn to conduct data analysis with the aid of a software package Stata. The computing facilities on campus have Stata on their computers. If you would like to work with Stata on your own computer, you may want to purchase a student copy of the  Strata software . As an important part of this course, the lab will provide instruction on how to use Stata.

Attendance at labs is mandatory. The labs reinforce the material introduced during lecture and provide an opportunity to practice running models and interpreting the output. Students will be evaluated through lab homework assignments, an in-class exam and a quantitative research paper which will require synthesizing the course and lab material using the analysis tools learned.

At the end of this course, you should have sufficient familiarity with regression techniques to (1) feel more confident reading literature that uses advanced regression techniques, and (2) apply these procedures properly in your own research.

This course will also lay the foundation for more advanced studies in statistical models. It is hoped that some of you will use the methods learned in this course in your own thesis/dissertation research.

Prerequisites

This course is intended to build upon the statistical knowledge students have acquired in Sociology 271. That is, I assume that students have had Sociology 271 or equivalent.

For students who completed their undergraduate training elsewhere, this implies one semester course in statistics, covering basic descriptive and inferential statistics, ideally including bivariate regression analysis.

SOCI 525 - Current Issues in the Sociology of Gender, Racialization and Ethnicity

Schedule:  Mondays 10 - 12:50pm.

This course is a seminar that is designed to explore some of the major theoretical and empirical approaches that feature gender as a focal point of analysis and study.

The topic of gender has had a complex treatment, and it is continually being treated differently as disciplines grow and interdisciplinary projects evolve. Gender sits in a nexus with other social relations and power structures, it mingles with capitalism, it has many meanings as a concept and is often sent to the margins of sociological thought.

This seminar will follow some of the different developments in gender and related interdisciplinary theories, and it is designed to help cultivate your own thinking and theorizing in this area. It is meant to be a somewhat comprehensive and dynamic overview or survey of the field. It will include work from various perspectives and social and global locations.

In general, readings will include both theoretical or conceptual works and empirical works, and my hope is to introduce you to topics and readings that work with your own interests, but also move you outside of what you might typically read and think about as well.

Students are encouraged to come to this seminar with their own research projects, whatever stage they may be at. This might be a term paper or a thesis chapter they’d like to develop or try to publish in a peer-reviewed journal, a dissertation or master’s proposal, or an idea for a review article or book review they’d like to develop and try to publish.

Ideally, through this seminar, you’ll have the opportunity to move forward with a project that’s important to you. There will be many peer-workshops, student-led talks/presentations/discussions, and a spirit of support and collaboration with each other.

This class is a seminar style class and is very hands-on for students. Students will be class leaders wherein they facilitate class. This is a face-to-face course and will not be recorded. Students are expected to come to class.

There may be several in-class workshops. There may be a few classes held over Zoom to accommodate guest speakers. This course will make use of many of the online tools on Brightspace.

SOCI 598 A01- Major Research Paper

Soci 599 a01 - thesis, soci 599 a02 - thesis, spring 2025 600-level courses.

SOCI 616 - Advanced Strategies in Qualitative Research

Instructor: Garry Gray

Schedule:  Tuesdays 1 - 3:50pm.

This is an applied course in qualitative research methods. Students will learn how to collect, code, and systematically analyze qualitative data both manually and with the assistance of computer-aided qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS).

Skills development

In addition to learning how to systematically analyze qualitative data, students will learn how to write an academic journal article. Students will also receive training in making an academic conference presentation (based on the qualitative research journal article they produce in this course).

Course pre/co-requisites

SOCI 515; or permission of department

* Given the applied nature of this course, students must have already taken a prior graduate course in qualitative research methods (equivalent to SOCI 515) that will have exposed them to the various ontological and epistemological underpinnings of qualitative methodology.

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DPhil in Area Studies (Latin America)

• Entry requirements
• Funding and costs

College preference

• How to apply

About the course

The DPhil in Area Studies offers the opportunity to undertake a doctoral project dedicated to the study of a specific country or region, or else to compare more than one region, using social science approaches whilst also generating theories and propositions that are of value across regions.

Looking beyond the big picture of globalisation and development, researchers at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) examine the interplay between the local, the national, the regional, and the global to offer a better understanding of the contemporary world. Oxford’s Area Studies department is consistently ranked amongst the top echelon and has been recently ranked by QS University Rankings as first in the world.

As a DPhil student, you will have access to outstanding research projects, seminar series, workshops and conferences and will have the chance to develop your work alongside academic staff who are experts in their fields. You will apply for admission to one of seven streams, which each have a distinct country or region of focus. This page describes the Latin America stream of the course.

As a student of the Latin America stream of this course, your research will usually be undertaken in collaboration with the school’s Latin American Centre (LAC). Research at the centre covers topics as diverse as Economics, Politics, Religion, Sociology, and International Relations.

Recent doctoral research projects undertaken by students undertaking the Latin America stream include:

• Political Leadership in Argentina
• Economic Technocracy in Colombia

During the first year of the course you will focus on developing your research questions, conceptual framework and methodological approaches for your thesis. You will also participate in the first-year DPhil seminar series and you will have the opportunity to attend other courses offered by the school as identified in your Training Needs Analysis. Your Training Needs Analysis will be discussed with your supervisor and reviewed on a regular basis.

In your second year you will continue to implement your research plan through theoretical engagement and/or fieldwork, data collection and analysis. If you intend to undertake fieldwork as part of your research, you will be expected to attend a fieldwork safety course available through the Social Sciences Division.

Your third year requires you to participate in at least one conference, in the UK or internationally, presenting your work to a non- specialist audience, and to submit materials for Confirmation of Status as a doctoral researcher, as well as working towards the completion of your thesis.

The course aims to empower you to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• develop research skills in ways that are relevant to the study of areas and regions;
• build an interdisciplinary and/or comparative understanding of different regions;
• undertake original research which makes a significant contribution to the literature;
• communicate research to non-academic audiences in ways that ensure real-world impact; and
• present a lucid and scholarly thesis for examination.

The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the  University's Residence requirements.  Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

Resources to support your study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.

The Bodleian Social Science Library (SSL) is the main library for Area Studies. The SSL is housed on the ground floor of the Manor Road Building, and is open seven days a week during term-time. The library offers a variety of study spaces including graduate study rooms, individual study carrels, and group discussion rooms. The Social Sciences Library is complemented by the resources of the Bodleian library.

There is a room at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies which is available to students for study purposes.

Supervision

For this course, the allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies. You will be assigned one or two supervisors, depending on your thesis subject.

These supervisors will advise and guide you as you progress through the different stages of your research. Most students have the opportunity to meet with their supervisor on average two to three times per term. Ongoing support will be provided by your supervisor(s) during your studies and feedback will be received from peers and faculty members at the first-year DPhil seminars. Written feedback will be provided as part of the Transfer and Confirmation of Status procedures and after the final viva voce.

Candidates for the DPhil are normally admitted with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. As a PRS, you will develop your research proposal and skills, and produce a draft section or sections of your thesis, in order to apply for the Transfer of Status that will end your probationary period as a research student and give you full DPhil status.

Applications for Transfer of Status must be submitted within a maximum of four terms from admissions as a PRS (8 terms for part-time students). Once you have been admitted to full DPhil status, you will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status, normally within nine terms of admission (18 terms for part-time students), to show that your work continues to be on track.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination. Students will be expected to submit their thesis three to four years after the date of admission (6-8 years for part-time students).

After submitting your finished thesis, you will be required to attend a viva voce (viva for short). The viva will be held by two examiners, one internal to the University and one external. The purpose of this is to enable the examiners to assure themselves that the thesis is your own work, to provide you with an opportunity to defend your thesis and to offer any necessary clarifications. A final copy of the thesis, incorporating any corrections, will be submitted after the viva.

Graduate destinations

This course is completing its fifth year and seeing its first graduates now, therefore data on alumni destinations is yet to be captured. However, area studies graduates have found employment in many and diverse fields including business, finance, law, civil service, journalism, government and industry.

Many Oxford School of Global and Area Studies graduates have also undertaken further research into subjects linked with area studies and have pursued successful careers in the academic world and education.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2025-26

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a master's degree with distinction in a subject relevant to your proposed research which includes appropriate research methods training;  and
• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any subject relevant to your proposed research.

Where a distinction has not been achieved for the master's degree, an overall grade of 67% or above in the course examinations and a distinction in the thesis element may be considered.

For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their commitment to a specific region for graduate work, and will have had training appropriate to the doctoral research they wish to pursue.
• Assessment of language ability at a level required for their doctoral research project will also form part of the admissions process. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they possess an existing level of ability in the language of the country being studied or the archives to be consulted that is appropriate for the proposed research project, or show that they possess the potential to reach the required level within their first year, by combining existing knowledge with further training offered in the school's master's courses.
• Publications are not expected, but if available, details should be provided in the application form.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.  

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Evidence of ability to study for employed part-time applicants 

If you are applying for part-time study and are currently employed, you may be asked to provide evidence that your employment will not affect your ability to study and that you can commit sufficient time to fulfil all elements outlined in the course description. You may be asked to provide details about your pattern of employment and obtain a statement from your employer confirming their commitment to make time available for you to study, to complete coursework, and attend course and University events and modules.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Oxford School of Global and Area Studies

Join the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) as a graduate student and become part of a community devoted to innovative research and graduate teaching using a range of academic disciplines which seek to understand the complexity and the interrelatedness of societies and regions.

The work in the school takes into account both insights provided by the separate social science disciplines of anthropology, economics, politics, international relations, history and sociology, and the contextualisation provided by in-depth knowledge of specific regions and countries.

If you are fascinated by a particular area and wish to explore it further and understand it and its people more, then the school is likely to have the graduate course for you. OGSA admits about 150 graduate students each year, across a range of area-based master's courses, the multidisciplinary and comparative MPhil in Global and Area Studies, and the doctoral programme in area studies.

You will find library materials, seminar series, workshops and lectures in abundance in Oxford. Studying a particular region here means mixing with a group of leading academics in their fields and becoming a part of the school's vibrant research community. Join the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies for an inspiring graduate experience.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

For entry in the 2025-26 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.

If you apply by the January deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, your application will automatically be assessed against the eligibility criteria, without needing to make a separate application. There are further Oxford scholarships available which have additional eligibility criteria and where you are required to submit a separate application. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

To ensure that you are considered for Oxford scholarships that require a separate application, for which you may be eligible,  use our fees, funding and scholarship search tool  to identify these opportunities and find out how to apply. Alongside Oxford scholarships, you should also consider other opportunities for which you may be eligible including  a range of external funding ,  loan schemes for postgraduate study  and any other scholarships which may also still be available after the January deadline as listed on  our fees, funding and scholarship search tool .

Details of college-specific funding opportunities can also be found on individual college websites:

Select from the list:

Please refer to the College preference section of this page to identify which of the colleges listed above accept students for this course.

For the majority of college scholarships, it doesn’t matter which college, if any, you state a preference for in your application. If another college is able to offer you a scholarship, your application can be moved to that college if you accept the scholarship. Some college scholarships may require you to state a preference for that college when you apply, so check the eligibility requirements carefully.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the school's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2025-26

Full-time study.

Part-time study

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Standard travel insurance can be provided by the University. However, students may be required to pay any additional insurance premiums associated with travel to areas with an increased level of risk and/or for travel of more than 12 months duration, and should factor this into their planning for fieldwork.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Standard travel insurance can be provided by the University. However, students may be required to pay any additional insurance premiums associated with travel to areas with an increased level of risk and/or for travel of more than 12 months duration, and should factor this into their planning for fieldwork.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

Living costs for full-time study

For the 2025-26 academic year, the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between £1,425 and £2,035 for each month spent in Oxford. We provide the cost per month so you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live in Oxford. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for the  costs of a student visa and immigration health surcharge and/or living costs for family members or other dependants that you plan to bring with you to Oxford (assuming that dependant visa eligibility criteria are met).

Living costs for part-time study

Your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you will still need to cover your cost of living on a full-time basis for the duration of your course, even if you will not be based in Oxford throughout your studies. While the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student living in Oxford is between £1,425 and £2,035 per month, living costs outside Oxford may be different.

Part-time students who are not based in Oxford will need to calculate travel and accommodation costs carefully. Depending on your circumstances and study plans, this may include the  cost of a visitor visa to attend for short blocks of time (assuming that visitor visa eligibility criteria are met).

Further information about living costs

The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. For study in Oxford beyond the 2025-26 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. For further information, please consult our more detailed information about living costs , which includes a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . 

If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide. 

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Exeter College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Oriel College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Hugh's College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

• Pembroke College

Before you apply

Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under the January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £20 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You should make contact with potential supervisors before you apply to discuss your research interests. Details of academic staff, including their research interests and contact details, can be found on the departmental website. Initial general and admissions enquiries can be made via the contact details provided on this page. 

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

Under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) whom you would like to supervise your research. 

Referees: Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

References should generally be academic, though one of your required three references may be professional or other non-academic provided that it covers work experience or skills relevant to the course.

Your references will support intellectual ability, academic achievement, academic writing ability and career motivation.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Personal statement and research proposal Statement of a maximum of 1,000 words and proposal of a maximum of 2,500 words

Your statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal should be submitted as a single, combined document with clear subheadings. Please ensure that the word counts for each section are clearly visible in the document.

Personal statement

Your personal statement should explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in.

Your personal statement should be written in English and should be a maximum of 1,000 words.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Research proposal

Your research proposal should make clear the research topic, detail the questions the research would seek to address, and indicate the methods and data sources that would likely be drawn upon to do this.

Your research proposal should be written in English and should be a maximum of 2,500 words. The word count should include any footnotes or appendices but may exclude your bibliography of cited works.

Your personal statement and research proposal will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• originality and relevance of the project to area studies
• commitment to an interdisciplinary and/or comparative way or working and indication of what would be the major and minor disciplinary focuses within the research
• evidence of competency in research methods needed to carry out the proposed research
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course
• capacity for sustained and intense work, reasoning ability and ability to absorb new ideas.

Written work: Two essays, a maximum of 2,000 words each

Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required. Extracts from longer pieces may be submitted but should be prefaced by a note putting them in context.

The work does not necessarily need to relate closely to the proposed area of study. The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

This will be assessed for comprehensive understanding of the subject area; understanding of problems in the area; ability to construct and defend an argument; powers of analysis; powers of expression; familiarity with the literature on the subject; and evidence of a keen interest and understanding of a specific region(s).

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice .

Apply - Full Time Apply - Part Time Continue application

After you've submitted your application

Your application (including the supporting documents outlined above) will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will  not  be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. You can  find out more about our shortlisting and selection process  in our detailed guide to what happens next.

Find out how to manage your application after submission , using our Applicant Self-Service tool.

ADMISSION STATUS

Open to applications for entry in 2025-26

12:00 midday UK time on:

Tuesday 28 January 2025

Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2025-26

*Combined figure for all DPhil Area Studies courses † Three-year average (applications for entry in 2022-23 to 2024-25) ^New course for entry in 2025-26

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA)

• Course page on the school's website
• Funding information from the school
• Academic and research staff
• Research in the school
• Social Sciences Division
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 284995

Application-process enquiries

Application guide

• Postgraduate study
• Postgraduate taught courses

Explore this course:

Applications for 2024 entry closed at 5pm on Friday 6 September. Applications for 2025 entry open on Monday 16 September.

Department of Sociological Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences

Course description

Immerse yourself in established and emergent ideas in sociology and delve into debates about the most pressing sociological challenges in the social world.

The MA in Sociology is driven by the research of academics on the course team, with a mix of core and optional modules designed exclusively for masters students. In your core modules, you'll pursue debates in current sociology, engage with advanced social and sociological theory, and explore advanced qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

You'll also study areas of sociological research that interest you through a range of optional modules. These are likely to include: the sociologies of digital worlds; intimacies and everyday life; genders and sexualities; and refugees and asylum seekers.

An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.

You may also be able to pre-book a department/school visit as part of a campus tour. Open days and campus tours

1 year full-time

Teaching is conducted through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, and small-group work. Emphasis is placed on the individual aspects of learning.

Assessment varies across modules and will include different forms of coursework, such as essays, projects, and blogs.

Students will also conduct a sociological research project on a topic of their interest and write a dissertation of 15,000 words on their project. You will be allocated a dedicated Dissertation Supervisor who will be there to support you along the way, providing you with advice and guidance throughout your dissertation.

Formal examination may be required for some optional modules.

Your career

92.3% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Completing this programme will set you apart from the rest as you embark on your career journey. Your employability is a priority for us. This is why you can add valuable skills to your CV throughout the course, by taking advantage of the faculty employability hub and access support and opportunities.

Alumni from the department have gone on to work in various organisations and sectors such as Deloitte, Sodexo, Government and Non Government Organisations.

Progressing to study for a PhD within the department, is also a popular route that many of our students choose to take following completion of their MA. 

Find out more about graduate careers on our  PGT Careers and employability page .

Department of Sociological Studies

Our world-leading research shapes our teaching, so you're always challenged and up to date. Our interdisciplinary approach brings sociologists, social policy analysts, digital media scholars and social workers together under one roof.

Your tutors are experts in their fields and work with organisations in the UK and worldwide, bringing fresh perspectives to your studies. They'll give you the advice and support you need to excel in your subject.

Department staff also play key roles in the Faculty of Social Science's Digital Society Network (DSN), an active group of researchers working on all aspects of digital-society relations. The DSN hosts events and activities to stimulate and support research in this area.

Our courses develop students who are socially aware, with strong analytical skills and a flair for approaching problems in new ways. You'll become skilled at research and bring your own insights to key issues that affect our lives.

Department of Sociological Studies students are based in the world-class Faculty of Social Sciences building, The Wave. It features state-of-the-art collaborative lecture theatres, study spaces and seminar rooms. Teaching may also be timetabled to take place within other departments or central teaching space. If you want to have a closer look, check out our 360 degree tour .

Student profiles

I love that I’ve been given opportunities to use knowledge from my studies to put my own mark on the business

Laura studied for her Masters in Sociology at The University of Sheffield. In Laura's testimonial below, she discusses how her degree helps her in her current role, working in HR.

My masters year was my favourite year of study and the most rewarding

Lucy joined the Department of Sociological Studies to study MA Sociology after completing an undergraduate degree in Philosophy with the University of Sheffield. During her masters study, Lucy took advantage of the volunteering opportunities provided by the University and has gone on to secure a job with the British Tinnitus Association, with which she volunteered, following completion of her studies.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.

Subject requirements

We accept degrees in the following subject areas: 

• Advertising
• Anthropology
• Development Studies
• English Language / Literature
• Interactive Media
• International Relations
• Social Policy
• Social Work

We may consider other Social Science subjects.

IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent

Financial information for postgraduate taught courses

Applications for 2024 entry closed at 5pm on Friday 6 September. Applications for 2025 open on Monday 16 September.

More information

[email protected] +44 114 222 6402

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Master of Sociology – One year Program 2024 (7th Intake)

ශාස්ත්‍රපති සමාජවිද්‍යාව පශ්චාද් උපාධි එක් අවුරුදු පාඨමාලාව.

ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයේ සමාජවිද්‍යා අධ්‍යයනාංශයේ මෙහෙයවීම හරහා

පශ්චාද් උපාධි අධ්‍යයන පීඨය විසින් පිරිනමනු ලැබේ

කාලය: අවුරුදු 01 යි

මාධ්‍යය: සිංහල

පාඨමාලා ගාස්තුව: රු. 160,000/-

***ලියාපදිංචි ගාස්තු, පුස්තකාල ගාස්තු, විභාග ගාස්තු සහ නැවත ගෙවන පුස්තකාල ගාස්තු ද ඇතුළත් වේ.

ලියාපදිංචි වීමේ සුදුසුකම්:

• පිළිගත් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයකින් ලබාගත් සමාජවිද්‍යාව විශේෂ / ගෞරව උපාධිය හෝ
• පිළිගත් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයකින් ලබාගත් සමාජවිද්‍යාව විෂය සහිතව සාමාන්‍ය උපාධිය හෝ
• පිළිගත් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයකින් ඕනෑ ම උපාධියක් ලබා තිබීම හා අවුරුදු 02 කට නොඅඩු අදාළ රැකියා ක්ෂේත‍්‍රයක පළපුරුද්ද හෝ පර්යේෂණ සුදුසුකම් වලින් සමන්විත වීම

අයදුම්පත්‍ර භාර ගැනීමේ අවසාන දිනය: 2024 ඔක්තෝබර් 13

අයදුම් කළ යුතු ආකාරය.

• පහතින් ඇති “Apply Now” බොත්තම ක්ලික් කිරීමෙන් හෝ “ Applications ” පිටුව වෙත යොමු වන්න.
• ඔබට අදාළ ශාස්ත්‍රපති සමාජවිද්‍යාව පශ්චාද් උපාධි එක් අවුරුදු පාඨමාලාව (Master of Sociology) තෝරාගැනීමෙන් අනතුරු ව ඔබේ විද්‍යුත් ලිපිනය සහ ජාතික හැඳුනුම්පත් අංකය/ විදේශ ගමන් බලපත්‍ර අංකය සඳහන් කර ඇතුළු වන්න.
• ඔබේ විස්තර ඇතුළත් කර Submit යන කොටස ක්ලික් කරන්න.

• ගිණුම් හිමියා              : ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය
• ගිණුම් අංකය                : 053010006830
• බැංකුව සහ ශාඛාව      : මහජන බැංකුව, ගංගොඩවිල ශාඛාව
• මෙම ගිණුම් අංකය වැරදියැයි බැංකු නිලධාරියා ඔබට දැනුම් දෙනු ලැබුවොත් කරුණාකර ගංගොඩවිල මහජන බැංකු ශාඛාව අමතන ලෙස එම නිලධාරියාගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටින්න.
• පුද්ගල බැංකු ගිණුමක සාමාන්‍යයෙන් ඉලක්කම් 15ක් ඇති නමුත් මෙම ගිණුමේ ඇත්තේ ඉලක්කම් 12ක් පමණි. එබැවින් ඔබට ගෙවීම් සිදු කිරීමේ දී ඉලෙක්ට්‍රොනික තැන්පතු යන්ත්‍ර හෝ ඩිජිටල් බැංකු යෙදවුම් භාවිත කළ නො හැකි බව සලකන්න.
• මහජන බැංකුවේ Peoples Wave Mobile App හරහා අයදුම්පත් ගාස්තු ගෙවන ආකාරය දැන ගැනීම සඳහා මෙහි ක්ලික් කරන්න. (සැ.යු: වෙනත් බැංකු වල Mobile App හරහා මෙම අයදුම්පත් ගාස්තුව ගෙවිය නොහැක.)
• 1 සහ 2 පියවරයන් භාවිත කරමින් නැවත වරක් ඇතුළු වන්න.
• “Next” බොත්තම ක්ලික් කරන්න. (අවශ්‍ය නම් ඔබේ විස්තර සංශෝධනය කිරීමට ද අවසර ඇත).
• වර්ණ ඡායාරූපයක් (3.0cm පළල x 4.0cm උස අහස් නිල් පැහැ පසුබිමක් සහිත) .jpg හෝ .png
• උප්පැන්න සහතිකයේ ස්කෑන් කරන ලද පිටපත – .pdf ගොනුවක් ලෙස
• බැංකු ගෙවීම් කුවිතාන්සිය හෝ මාර්ගගත ව ගෙවීම් සිදු කළ රිසිට්පත – .pdf ගොනුවක් ලෙස
• විශ්වවිද්‍යාල මට්ටමේ අධ්‍යාපනික සුදුසුකම්වලට අදාළ සහතිකවල ස්කෑන් කරන ලද පිටපත් (පළමු උපාධිය සහ ශාස්ත්‍රපති/ දර්ශනපති) – .pdf ගොනුවක් ලෙස
• වෘත්තීය සුදුසුකම්වලට අදාළ සහතිකවල ස්කෑන් කරන ලද පිටපත් – .pdf ගොනුවක් ලෙස
• වෙනත් සුදුසුකම්වලට අදාළ සහතිකවල ස්කෑන් කරන ලද පිටපත් – .pdf ගොනුවක් ලෙස
• නියුක්ත රැකියා ස්ථානයන්ගේ සේවා ලිපි (Service letter) – .pdf ගොනුවක් ලෙස

** ** කිසිදු පර්යේෂණ යෝජනාවලියක්/ සංකල්පීය පත්‍රයක්උඩුගත ( upload ) කිරීම අවශ්‍ය නො වේ. ( no need to upload any Research Proposal / Concept paper )

• මුද්‍රිත අයදුම්පත (ඉහත 4 වන පියවරේ සඳහන් කරන ලද) විදේශ ගමන් බලපත්‍ර ප්‍රමාණයේ වර්ණ ඡායාරූප 3 ක් සහ ඉහත 8 වැනි පියවරට ඇතුළත් සහතික කළ ලියකියවිලි සහකාර ලේඛකාධිකාරී, පශ්චාද් උපාධි අධ්‍යයන පීඨය, ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය, ගංගොඩවිල, නුගේගොඩ. යන ලිපිනයට ලියාපදිංචි තැපෑලෙන් එවන්න . ලියුම් කවරයේ ඉහළ වම් කෙළවරේ “ශාස්ත්‍රපති සමාජවිද්‍යාව පශ්චාද් උපාධි එක් අවුරුදු පාඨමාලාව – 2023 ඔක්තෝබර්” ලෙස ලියා දක්වන්න.
• එමෙන්ම, ඉහත අංක 8හි උඩුගත (upload) කළ ලේඛනවල මෘදු පිටපත් (soft copies) [email protected] යන විද්‍යුත් ලිපිනයට යොමු කරන්න. “Master of Sociology – 2024 October” ලෙස email subject හි සඳහන් කරන්න.

වැඩිදුර විස්තර සඳහා විමසන්න

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• 5 Examples of Contraction in Daily Life

Social Science PGCE

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2024 entry

If you require details of this year's programme, Social Science PGCE (2025), click here

The Social Science PGCE prepares students to teach the Social Sciences across the 14-19 age range in a flexible and exciting way. Tutors are committed to promoting interactive teaching and learning in their sessions; a collaborative ethos is encouraged so that PGCE students share materials, resources and ideas. The programme specialises in Sociology teaching, with some opportunities to teach other related curriculum subjects.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

Start teaching

IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, has been ranked 1st for Education in the QS World University Rankings by Subject since 2014.

• Entry requirements

First degree

A minimum of a lower second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard with at least 50% Sociology content.

Preferably an A level in Sociology, plus an additional social science or humanities subject.

English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4. We do not accept "applied" or "additional" GCSE subjects. Applicants who do not offer a GCSE in English Language or Mathematics may demonstrate an equivalent standard by completing a test via Equivalency Testing or A Star Equivalency and achieving at least a grade 4. For Mathematics, equivalency tests in Mathematics Foundation or Mathematics Higher with grade 4 are accepted. BTEC, Functional Skills or Access course qualifications are not accepted in place of GCSEs.

School experience

We recommend that you aim to gain some experience in a classroom prior to interview.

Skills tests

Trainees will be assured against a set of fundamental Mathematics and English skills by the end of their teacher training.

Relevant experience and background

Applicants whose degree qualifications are below a lower second-class standard may be admitted if they can demonstrate an appropriate academic background at Master's level and above and/or significant postgraduate experience in the relevant field.

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa - study must be full-time, starting September.

DBS and occupational health

If you are made an offer you will be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks. The Occupational Health Check is £90, and depending on your DBS requirements, there may be an additional fee of £15.00 if you can submit your DBS Enhanced Disclosure check via a UK Post Office. These checks are required to ensure you meet the Department for Education’s requirements for physical and mental health to teach, as well as assessing your suitability for access to children and vulnerable adults. More details can be found on the Entry requirements page.

About this course

We draw on current research at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, and elsewhere to inform Social Science teaching, encouraging student teachers to engage with recent debates, literature and policy in the field. Our underlying aim is to develop students as reflective and highly skilled teachers. We promote themes of social justice and anti-discrimination in the curriculum and look at ways that the Social Sciences can advocate for a more equitable and just society. 

The PGCE Social Sciences programme will feature four ‘Intensive Teaching & Practice’ (ITAP) sequences designed to establish and develop students’ Social Sciences teaching through the year. 

Who this course is for

The Secondary PGCE full-time programme is suited to those wishing to gain Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) for teaching in a UK maintained (state-funded) school and who have fulfilled the appropriate entry requirements.

What this course will give you

Tutors on the Social Science PGCE are skilled classroom practitioners with extensive experience in secondary schools and colleges, as well as in subject leadership, educational research and consultancy. Students participate in a range of lectures, workshops and seminars designed to enhance their development as a teacher. They will also be supported with sessions from experts working in partnership schools and PGCE Alumni.  

Our approach to ITAP is proudly subject-specific. Our ITAP sequences are embedded through the PGCE Social Sciences programme and will give students the opportunity to build their practice and confidence in pivotal areas of Sociology-specific pedagogy. Closely linking theory and practice, and enabling students to observe, deconstruct, plan, practice and progress in specific areas of teaching, these focus on:

• Behavioural expectations and establishing a positive learning environment
• Planning, developing, and sequencing sociological knowledge, concepts and skills
• Teaching for assessment for 14-19 (KS4 & KS5)
• Teaching for social justice and anti-discrimination in Social Sciences

During their teaching practice placements, students benefit from our partnership with over 300 secondary schools and colleges in Greater London and beyond, which enables each of our students to become a skilled and confident teacher in their chosen subject specialism.

The teacher you want to be

Graduates of the Secondary PGCE programme are highly employable and sought after by schools and colleges in London and further afield. Almost all student teachers secure their first teaching post by the time they complete the programme. Many graduates become a head of department or head of year within 2-5 years, frequently progressing to senior leadership in schools. Several are now headteachers. Others have developed their careers by becoming lead teachers in the classroom, engaging in further study and research or by writing, blogging and advising other teachers.

Overall, the Secondary PGCE Programme aims to provide a springboard into a rewarding career as a skilled subject-specialist teacher and future educational leader.

The tools of a great educator

• Understanding of theory and subject or phase pedagogy
• Creating a successful climate for learning, including behaviour management
• Planning and teaching classes that engage pupils
• Using assessment to inform planning
• Working with the wider school community, including parents

Employability

Graduates of this programme are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working as Sociology and Psychology teachers, while others have jobs as heads of department and heads of year. Graduates in this area can also be found working as senior leaders and subject leads.

Accreditation

Students who successfully complete this programme will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

The programme is taught through a mix of face-to-face and online sessions, (including keynote lectures and debates, presentations, discussions, and classroom group tasks), and a practical teaching element based in two schools. Students are required to read widely and to carry out written assignments in their own time. 

Students will also take part in specific activities that provide the opportunity to focus on specific, pivotal areas of our curriculum. These opportunities (totalling 20 days of ITAP) will strengthen the link between theory and practice and provide students with specific feedback to support their progress in these pivotal areas. 

We have identified four placement days for ITAP. The remaining 16 days for ITAP will take place during IOE timetabled time.  

Assessment is through practical teaching, written assignments and portfolio tasks.  

The Social Science PGCE course is a full-time programme. During university taught sessions, students are expected to be present all day. Students spend a minimum of 124 days on school placement and will be required to attend for full and entire school days, including pre- and post-teaching sessions as expected of a normal, full-time teacher at their placement school.

IOE pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped to bring out the best in me. I haven’t graduated as yet but I have already been offered two jobs in both of the schools that I undertook my placements in. Rhia Gibbs Social Science PGCE Q&A with Rhia Gibbs

You will undertake two modules at level 7 (Masters level) and one Professional Practice module at level 6. The level 7 credits can be carried forward onto some full Masters programmes at IOE (check individual programme requirements)

When you are not undertaking face-to-face teaching at IOE, you will be undertaking at least 124 days of school experience in two Partnership Schools.

Throughout the year, you will also participate in specific activities at IOE and in school that focus on important areas of our curriculum. These activities (totalling 20 days with at least 4 days in school) will help you to better understand links between theory and practice. They will also involve feedback from experts so that your progress is supported in these pivotal areas. These days form part of your 124 days on placement.

Compulsory modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Upon successful completion of 60 credits and the Professional Practice module, you will be awarded a PGCE in Social Science.

School placements

Students will spend at least 124 days in schools, working with Sociology or Psychology mentors who provide support through the two school placements. Social Science Student Teachers will teach their main social science subject (usually Sociology) at A level. At GCSE, most student teachers teach Sociology and some teach Psychology. In some placements there are opportunities to contribute to relevant vocational qualifications and Key Stage 3 Humanities.

The Professional Practice Module is assessed through these placements, associated tasks and an assessment and development portfolio.

During placement periods Students should be prepared to travel to and from each school placement. It should be noted that there is variation in how accessible schools are, and whether they have parking facilities. However, if you let us know of any particular accessibility needs you have, we will endeavour to accommodate them.

We ensure your placement will provide fulfilling and valuable experiences through:

• A dedicated team who will identify the best schools for your placements
• Support and guidance from your university tutor and your school-based mentor
• School experience that allows you to progress at an appropriate pace for you
• Reasonable travel times from your home to your school

Making the most of your placement

Teaching is a demanding profession and student teachers can feel nervous about school placements or anxious about the workload. Your tutor and school-based mentor will help you navigate your school experience, ensuring that you have the input you need. Empathetic feedback and discussion about your developing professional practice will support you to be successful.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team .

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: PGCE Secondary Teacher Training

Are you interested in a career in teaching? Join our virtual events to find out more about Teacher Training at UCL, including admissions and student funding information.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Students are responsible for funding their travel to and from placements.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

Bursaries and Scholarships may be available for some subjects, subject to eligibility. Visit the Department for Education website for information.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding website .

IOE-Clarke Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024 Value: Tuition fees, return flights and stipend (1 year) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024 Value: Tuition fees and accommodation (1 year) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Application and next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

Got questions? Get in touch

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

[email protected]

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