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Department of Sociology (GRAD)

The Department of Sociology offers the master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees in sociology. Students receive training that equips them for careers in both teaching and research. All sociology students take basic coursework in sociological theory, research methods and statistics, and substantive areas. The program emphasizes balanced training and the integration of theory, method, and substantive knowledge. Detailed information on graduate degree procedures is available online at the department's website . For further information, including information about financial aid for students, contact the graduate student services manager .

The department's main concentrations of faculty research interest and graduate training are in demography and population, stratification and social inequality, political sociology, research methods and social statistics, and labor force and complex organizations.

Graduate students making adequate progress receive financial assistance during the first five years of the program. Sources of aid include teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and nonservice fellowships.

Department faculty work closely with the Carolina Population Center , the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science , and other research centers and institutes on campus. The department also sponsors and edits Social Forces , one of the leading sociology journals in the world.

Following the faculty member's name is a section number that students should use when registering for independent studies, reading, research, and thesis and dissertation courses with that particular professor.

Howard E. Aldrich (38), Formal Organizations, Race and Ethnic Relations, Inequality, Evolutionary Theory, Social Networks Kenneth T. Andrews (64), Social Movements, Political Sociology, Organizations, Race and Ethnic Relations, Environment Kenneth A. Bollen (43), Comparative Political Structures, Statistics, International Development Barbara Entwisle (46), Social Demography, Methods, Community, Environment Elizabeth Frankenberg (65), Demography, Health, Illness, Medical Sociology Guang Guo (48), Biosocial Interactions, Social Statistics, Demography Karen Guzzo, Fertility, Family Demography; Measurement Kathleen M. Harris (6), Social Demography, Family and Child Well-Being, Poverty, Public Policy Robert Hummer (5), Demography, Population Health, Aging and the Life Course Arne L. Kalleberg (47), Work, Organizations, Occupations, Social Stratification, Economic Sociology Charles Kurzman (49), Political Sociology, Social Movements, International Development, Comparative and Historical, Social Theory, Islamic Studies Ted Mouw (51), Social Stratification, Demography, Economic Sociology Lisa D. Pearce (62), Family, Demography, Religion Yang Yang (73), Population, Sociology of Health and Medicine, Methods and Models, Stratification

Associate Professors

Yong Cai (72), Social Demography, Fertility, Sociology of Health, Chinese Society, Comparative Historical Sociology, Research Methodology Neal Caren (68), Social Movements/Collective Action Kate Weisshaar (58), Gender, Family, Inequality, Quantitative Methods

Assistant Professors

Scott Duxbury , Crime, Law and Deviance, Computational Social Science, Social Networks, Racism Shannon Malone Gonzalez , Crime, Law and Deviance, Race and Ethnicity, Gender, Family Taylor Hargrove , Sociology of Health, Racial/Ethnic, Gender, and Skin Tone Stratification, Aging and the Life Course Tania Jenkins (60) , Medical Sociology, Health and Illness; Work, Occupations, Labor Markets; Stratification, Gender, Ethnography Alexandrea Ravenelle (42) , Work, Organizations and Occupations, Social Stratification, Economy and Society, Qualitative Research, Entrepreneurship Jessica Su (20) , Family, Children and Youth, Fertility, Stratification, Public Policy

Teaching Professors

Kathleen Fitzgerald , Race, Gender, Sexuality, Social Movements, Food Justice, and Pedagogy Matthew Lammers

Research Professor

Glen H. Elder Jr. , Life Course, Social Change, Family, Human Development

Joint Appointments/Adjunct Faculty

Tressie McMillan Cottom , School of Information and Library Sciences  Thurston Domina , School of Education Carmen Gutierrez , Public Policy Gail Henderson , Social Medicine James H. Johnson Jr. , Kenan–Flagler Business School John D. Kasarda , Kenan–Flagler Business School Douglas Lauen , Public Policy John D. Stephens , Political Science Francesca Tripodi , School of Information and Library Sciences Zeynep Tufekci , School of Information and Library Sciences

Professors Emeriti

Judith R. Blau M. Richard Cramer Jacqueline Hagan Sherryl Kleinman S. Philip Morgan Anthony R. Oberschall John Shelton Reed Ronald R. Rindfuss Peter R. Uhlenberg

Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate-level Courses

Varieties of organizational forms, their structures and processes; creation, persistence, transformation, and demise; role of organizations in contemporary society.

Examines the origins, dynamics, and consequences of protest and social movements including historical and contemporary movements from the United States and around the globe. Students may not receive credit for both SOCI 413 and 411 .

Analysis of social structure and stratification in terms of class, status, prestige, and rank. Attention to social roles of elites, professionals, the middle class, and the working class and to comparative topics.

The city as a social, spatial, and political-economic phenomenon in the modern world. Analysis of urban demographic trends, spatial characteristics and economic functions. Substantive topics include segregation, social turmoil, unemployment, fiscal problems, suburbanization, and urban public policy. Students may not receive credit for both SOCI 414 and SOCI 417.

Examination of the structure and operation of institutions where economy and society intersect and interact, such as education, industrial organizations, on-the-job training, labor markets, and professional associations. Emphasis on the contemporary United States, with selected comparisons with Western Europe and Japan.

Designed to help students read complex pictures of contemporary China and to understand how China's rise affected people's lives, both inside and outside of China, from a sociological perspective. The course does not assume any background in Chinese studies.

Investigates issues such as tradition and social change, religious authority and contestation, and state building and opposition in Muslim societies in the Middle East and around the world.

Analysis of the reciprocal influences of state and social organizations upon each other; the social bases of political authority and stability, of revolution and counterrevolution.

This course focuses on the interaction between humans and their natural environments. Students will investigate the causes and consequences of environmental problems and their connections to dominant economic and political structures, cultural values, population dynamics, resource consumption, technologies, and systems of inequality.

Examines the uniqueness of the sociological perspective in understanding mental health and illness. Draws upon various theoretical perspectives to best understand patterns, trends, and definitions of mental health and illness in social context. Focuses on how social factors influence definitions, perceptions, patterns, and trends of mental health and illness.

An overview of theory and research on education and schooling, with an emphasis on inequalities in educational opportunities, education as a social institution, and the changing context of schools and schooling. Substantial field work for experiential education. Students may not receive credit for both SOCI 423 and SOCI 426 .

A sociological analysis of comparative legal systems, the role of law in social change and in shaping social behavior. Topics may include the legal profession, property distribution, and the role of law in achieving racial and sexual justice.

A special version of SOCI 130 for juniors, seniors, and beginning graduate students. Students may not receive credit for both SOCI 425 and SOCI 130 .

An overview of theory and research on education and schooling, with an emphasis on inequalities in educational opportunities, education as a social institution, and the changing context of schools and schooling. Students may not receive credit for both SOCI 423 and SOCI 426 .

Supply and characteristics of labor and of jobs, including industrial and occupation changes, education and mobility of labor, and changing demography of the workforce.

Sociological analysis of group beliefs and practices, both traditionally religious and secular, through which fundamental life experiences are given coherence and meaning. This course is a special version of SOCI 129 for juniors and seniors that explores the meanings and experiences of religion, as well as religion's role in communities, institutions, and societies through hands-on intensive research experience. Students may not receive credit for both SOCI 129 and SOCI/ RELI 429 .

We explore key sociological concepts through the lens of food: labor, power, social status, political economy, social inequalities, social movements, globalization, and social justice. Additionally, we examine the emergence of food related social movements, food policy, and food related social problems (famine, obesity, food deserts, food insecurity, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations), industrial agriculture, environmental degradation, and poor health).

The process of aging from birth to death, with a concentration on the later years of life, examined from a broad perspective. Topics include individual change over the life-course, the social context of aging, and the aging of American society.

This course introduces students to reasons why people migrate, how citizens respond to that migration, how the federal government regulates migration, and how local communities manage the settlement of newcomers. By the end of the course students should have a solid understanding of major debates in the study of immigration.

Conceptualizations of gender, race, and class and how, separately and in combination, they are interpreted by the wider society. Emphasis on how black and working-class women make sense of their experiences at work and within the family.

The course examines how emotions are organized within social groupings and institutions. Differences in socialization by gender, ethnicity, social class, and age will be explored.

Analysis of current problems in general social theory; action and structure, justice and equity, social change and reproduction. Contrast and evaluation of leading approaches to solutions.

This course examines issues of poverty and social policy, single-mother families, the welfare debate, and homelessness.

The primary objective of the course is to explain how and why particular social arrangements affect the types and distribution of diseases, as well as the types of health promotion and disease prevention practices that societies promote.

Permission of the department. SOCI 691H is required of senior honors candidates. Individual student research (under supervision of an advisor). Weekly seminar to discuss work on honors thesis, as well as special topics in sociology.

Permission of the department. Individual student research under supervision of an advisor. Weekly seminar to discuss work on honors thesis as well as special topics in sociology.

Permission of the instructor. Graduate study in sociology for undergraduate students. Undergraduate students taking a 700- or 800-level course in sociology register via this course and complete all requirements for the associated graduate course.

Graduate-level Courses

Graduate standing in sociology or permission of the instructor. Historic social ideas of Western culture are considered against a background of general cultural analysis in terms of systematic theory. Required of all graduate degree candidates in sociology.

Provides an introduction to measurement theory and a review of various methods of data-gathering. Gaining experience with a variety of techniques of measurement and preparing a pretested research proposal are required for all students.

Provides an introduction to probability theory, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and the algebra of expectations. Emphasis is on elements useful to research sociologists, including bivariate regression and correlation.

The course presents regression analysis and related techniques. The major topics are the assumptions of the regression model, dummy variables and interaction terms, outlier diagnostics, multicollinearity, specification error, heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation. The final section introduces path analysis, recursive models, and nonrecursive systems.

Permission of the instructor. Introduction to techniques and programs for analyzing categorical variables and nonlinear models. Special attention is given to decomposition of complex contingency tables, discriminant function analysis, Markov chains, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling.

Permission of the instructor. Theoretical and substantive issues in social network analysis. Focus is on models of social structure.

This course examines models sometimes referred to as LISREL models. Topics include path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, measurement error, model identification, nonrecursive models, and multiple indicators.

This course provides an introduction to event history analysis or survival analysis, random effects and fixed effects models for longitudinal data, multilevel models for linear and discrete multilevel data, and growth curve models.

Students will learn the methods of participant observation and in-depth interviewing. Each student will collect data (provide detailed fieldnotes and transcriptions of interviews) in one group or setting for the duration of the course. Such topics as gaining access, ethics of research, and analysis of data will be covered.

Permission of the instructor. Statistical aspects of experimental designs, with emphasis on applied problems involved in executing a statistically sound design.

Permission of the instructor. The different sampling techniques are discussed. Major emphasis on planning of large-scale sample surveys rather than on statistical theory.

Reviews alternative data collection techniques used in surveys, concentrating on the impact these techniques have on the quality of survey data. Topics covered include errors associated with nonresponse, interviewing, and data processing.

Examines the stages of questionnaire design including developmental interviewing, question writing, question evaluation, pretesting, questionnaire ordering, and formatting. Reviews the literature on questionnaire construction. Provides hands-on experience in developing questionnaires.

A number of external speakers from government and industry will describe various problems they encounter in surveys. Students will be challenged to develop proposals for addressing the problems, citing the literature as appropriate.

Introduces basic statistical concepts and practices emphasizing the analysis of real data. Provides training in the use of the SAS statistical analysis system and the practical problems of stratification, clustering, and weighting in survey analysis.

An examination of selected recent work of general significance in sociology. Themes vary.

Introduction to the new evolutionary theory and associated research.

Introduction to basic theoretical approaches in social psychology, including social learning, social exchange, symbolic interaction, cognitive consistency, and affect control.

Examination of how human populations adapt to their environments. Emphasis on linkages among population, organization, environment, and technology. Research applications of this approach to urban communities and organizations.

Brief exposition and evaluation of Marx's theory of human nature, societal change and evolution, class, the state, family, and other institutions. Summary of dependency theory and critical theory.

This course in metatheory analyzes methods of theorizing. It examines the criteria for constructing and evaluating scientific theories developed by philosophers of science and applies them to social theorizing. The hypothetico-deductive model of theorizing is contrasted with other theoretical approaches.

Examination of selected writing, concepts, and issues of a major sociological theory or theoretical approach.

The objective of the course is to illustrate three aspects of macrosociological theory: 1) the conception of macrosociology, 2) the structural approach in sociology and 3) hypothetico-deductive theorizing. A hypothetico-deductive macrostructural theory developed by the instructor is analyzed, and extensive empirical tests of the theory are presented.

The structure and dynamics of social movements and their societal environment, with special reference to sociopolitical movements of minority and low status groups in industrialized and third world societies.

The relationships between social structure and political decisions. Regimes and social structure; bureaucracies, political associations, and professions; science and politics; closed and open politics; political movements and change.

Under the conditions of globalization, civil society takes on new and different meanings. Course examines what the term means and how it is applied.

This course examines the development, achievements, present crisis, and future of welfare states in advanced industrial democracies.

Exploration and use of techniques for the comparative study of social processes and historical events. Special attention is devoted to methodologies that facilitate the collection, analysis, and interpretation of historical and/or comparative phenomena.

The course covers the major traditions of democratic theory from ancient Greece to the present, ethnographies on political organization, and 19th- and 20th-century observations on democracy.

This course reviews the historical and contemporary sociological literature on race and ethnicity. Students will gain an advanced state-of-the-art understanding of how racial and ethnic groups emerge and evolve, how these constructs shape societies, how they influence intergroup relations, and their role in identity formation.

Introduces students to a wide range of studies in the sociology of family, to develop familiarity with the empirical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of family research in sociology. Examines demographic trends; marriage and family relationships; race/ethnicity; poverty and social class; work/family issues; childbearing and rearing; and mate selection.

Provides an intense introduction to the life course as a theoretical orientation and methodology (logic of inquiry).

Overview and critical assessment of sociological theory applied to aging, including explicit theories of aging. The course examines the historical development of the field and considers the nature of theory development.

Student will learn key theories and methodological approaches for how social processes, socio-spatial organization, and social inequality are associated with health patterns, changes, and disparities; theories/approaches for studying human health from a biological perspective; and strategies using integrated social and biological research perspectives and address advantages and challenges.

This seminar surveys the major theoretical paradigms, methodological tools and empirical studies of aging and cohort analysis that are of enduring importance to the understanding of social change, epidemiologic trends, and related population and life course processes and dynamics. It aims to provide a sweeping review of the theoretical models in recent life course and aging research and introduce useful guidelines on how to conduct empirical analysis.

Graduate seminar that integrates theory and research on health and developmental trajectories across the early life course using the design and data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Within the social and epidemiology life course frameworks, this course facilitates student research using Add Health.

A basic introduction to the discipline of demography. Materials covered include population history, data sources, mortality and fertility trends, and differentials and techniques of analysis.

A continuation of SOCI 830 . Materials covered include population growth and stable population theory, migration and distribution, population policy, and population estimates and projections.

Treats migration trends, patterns, and differentials and their effects on population distribution in continental and regional areas. Attention is given to theoretical and methodological problems in the study of population movement.

Study of fertility differentials by social and economic factors, changes over time, the manner in which these factors affect fertility, and the implications thereof for fertility-control programs.

This advanced seminar covers mortality date and measurement, the inequality of death, trends in morbidity and mortality, and explanations of mortality decline. Social demographic perspectives receive primary emphasis.

Permission of the instructor. The study of the aged in our society.

Basic theories and methods in attitude research, with special attention to attitude dynamics and social relations.

The generic processes by which individuals become members of a society, with emphasis on the influence of social structure on socialization and the patterning of personality.

Permission of the instructor. Analysis of theoretical issues and empirical research relevant to socialization. Special emphasis upon group process effects on the evolution of the social self, the "fit" between personality and role, and other issues.

Permission of the instructor. The relation of social norms to conforming and deviant behavior. Types of social and personal controls. Theoretical and research problems are reviewed.

Analysis of major theories of and approaches to the study of social inequality, with attention to how the various theories and approaches are operationalized. Focus on recent research in labor markets and worldwide inequality.

Reviews theory on variation in men's and women's gender roles, with emphasis on industrialized societies and women's roles.

Emerging new theory and research paradigms in the sociology of education are reviewed. The course covers the following: racial and ethnic variation, parenting, contextual variation, peer influence, and school variation.

Requires permission of the instructor. Examination of selected issues regarding societal, economic, and political inequality and questions of justice in the United States and Western Europe.

Theory and research in the study of the location and growth of urban areas, the effect urban areas have upon behavior, and the study of social behavior in different urban subareas. Each member of the seminar completes a project interrelating theory and research.

This graduate seminar will study trends, causes, and consequences of poverty in America, covering the topics of single-mother families, child poverty, low-wage work, immigrant families, and welfare reform and social policy.

Permission of the instructor. Structural features of organizations. Behavior in organizations. Organizational career patterns. Comparative analysis of structure, behavior, and careers in different types of organizations. Interorganization and organization-environment relations.

The changing occupational system. Structural types of labor markets. Occupational organization, role sets, power relations, careers, and satisfaction in different types of labor markets and occupations.

Considers various treatment settings, socialization and job performance of health workers, patienthood, the relation between organizational structure and effectiveness, and professional self-regulation.

This seminar provides a broad introduction to the sociology of health and illness. Classic and contemporary perspectives, as well as empirical evidence, are covered. Questions such as, "how (and why) are health and illness socially constructed and socially distributed?" and "what can be done to address these phenomena?" are examined.

Focuses on substantive and theoretical issues in this field and their intellectual origins. Topics include organizations, art, religion, science, class, and politics. Quantitative and qualitative approaches are examined.

An introductory, graduate-level survey of the sociology of religion as a field of study, reviewing literature on important theoretical approaches and key problems and issues in the field.

This course examines the production of scientific knowledge. The focus is on the processes by which scientific knowledge and technological artifacts are constructed through cultural practices and the organizational of scientific work.

Permission of the instructor.

Applied workshop in sample survey design and implementation. The student works in a data collection center under the guidance of the instructor. Course focuses on real world problems in data collection and their practical, cost-effective solutions.

Permission of the instructor. The course description for a particular semester is available in the departmental office.

Continuing seminars in selected topics.

Library research or field research on a selected topic under guidance of the instructor.

Permission of the instructor. Special work on selected problems of research methodology.

Permission of the instructor. This seminar exposes students to a variety of issues related to journal publication in sociology, such as types of journals and collaboration, the experience of writing an article for submission to a journal, reviewing articles for journals, and responding to editorial decisions.

Doctoral candidacy in sociology or permission of the instructor. Examines the teacher's role and the teaching process, planning a course and constructing syllabi, testing for teaching or grading, evaluating teacher performance and the needs of different student populations.

Individual research in a selected field under the direction of a member of the department.

Department of Sociology

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Lisa Pearce

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Kelsie Taylor

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• Why Study Here?

Doctorate Research in Sociology

Program overview.

• Tuition Fee
• Admissions & Eligibility

3-7 Years (Self-Paced) Program

Total Courses

Total credit hours.

The Sociology program is dedicated to the study of human society, social behavior, and social structures. Students explore sociological theory, research methods, and the analysis of social issues. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in sociology, social research, advocacy, and public policy. They contribute to our understanding of social dynamics, inequality, and social change, working to address societal challenges and promote positive social outcomes.

Course 1 (Name)

The "Introduction to Human Resource Management" course provides a foundational understanding of the principles and practices that govern the management of an organization's most valuable asset—its people. Students will explore key concepts in human resource management, such as recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and employee relations, setting the stage for a comprehensive understanding of this critical business function.

Course 2 (Name)

Course 3 (name), where affordability, meets opportunity.

At the University of North Carolina, we champion the synergy of affordability and opportunity. Our unwavering dedication to accessible education ensures that exceptional learning doesn't come with an exorbitant price. We unlock the gates to knowledge, extending students the opportunity to flourish without the heavy weight of overwhelming tuition costs, empowering them for a brighter, more promising future.

Our Eligibility Criteria

Explore UONC’s Eligibility Criteria for Students Worldwide

Eligibility Criteria

Min. Master's Degree

Credit Hours

Course duration, courses offered, social science foundations and analytical skills:.

The program typically begins with a solid foundation in core business disciplines, such as accounting, marketing, finance, management, and organizational behavior. This equips students with a well-rounded understanding of how businesses operate.

FIELDWORK AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

Beyond the theoretical framework, the College of Social Sciences places a significant emphasis on fieldwork and community engagement. Students have opportunities to participate in research projects, engage with local communities, and apply social science concepts to real-world situations. These experiences not only enhance their analytical and research skills but also provide valuable insights into the social sciences field.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES ACROSS THE GLOBE:

The College of Social Sciences at University of North Carolina is committed to nurturing cultural diversity and addressing social issues from around the world. Our curriculum integrates social sciences from various cultures and encourages students to explore different societal traditions. Additionally, we offer study abroad programs, international research opportunities, and collaborations with social scientists from diverse backgrounds, enabling students to gain a global perspective on social sciences.

Course Details

Copyright © University Of North Carolina. All Rights Reserved.

UNC Sociology is Hiring!

The Department of Sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill is hiring for two Assistant/Associate Professor (tenure-track) positions, to begin July 1st, 2025. We seek scholars who exhibit a record of strong, innovative research and excellence in teaching, and who specialize in one … Read more

Arne Kalleberg elected to the National Academy of Sciences

  Kenan Distinguished Professor of Sociology Arne Kalleberg has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit organization of the country’s leading researchers. The academy recognizes and promotes outstanding science through … Read more

Athena Owirodu Awarded NSF GRFP, Alexandra Ro Receives Honorable Mention

  Athena Owirodu (pictured), a second-year Sociology PhD student, has earned a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP). This highly competitive fellowship is awarded to approximately 2,000 full-time STEM graduate students who demonstrate outstanding potential for research achievement. … Read more

Barbara Entwisle named incoming Chair of the US Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC)

  Kenan Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Carolina Population Center (CPC) Fellow Barbara Entwisle has been named incoming Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC) for the US Census Bureau. The CSAC provides advice on the design, operation, and implementation … Read more

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Instructions for Graduate Applicants

Welcome graduate applicants! We are pleased that you are applying for admission to the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School. Admission to Graduate School academic programs is competitive and students are selected on the basis of their academic preparation, ability, and program fit. For some programs, an on-site pre-admissions interview may be required. Early contact with your program of interest can be helpful in preparing your application.

Please see the listing of program contact information and application deadlines.

International applicants have an additional application material requirement.

The Graduate School relies mainly on email to communicate with all applicants. Therefore, please include a current email address on your application and be sure to promptly respond to all correspondence.

Required Application Materials

Required materials for all applicants typically include:

• Graduate School online application »
• Application fee (non-refundable $95.00)
• One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. All unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application in order for your application to be reviewed. Please do not mail transcripts as part of your admission application; we only accept unofficial uploads for application evaluation. If you are offered admission, one official transcript for each university attended will be required prior to registration.
• The email addresses of three recommenders are required within the application for electronic submission.

Please see specific program listings for test score requirement information.

• Statement of purpose

Community Standards Questions

• Supplemental program information (any additional information or materials required by the program; must be uploaded within the application unless specified otherwise by your academic program.)

The starting point for writing statements of purpose and other application requirements should be applicant-generated. While the use of generative AI tools may be useful for structuring and editing writing, it should primarily be the voice of the applicant. Any use of AI must be cited clearly.

For International Applicants only:

• TOEFL or IELTS score (no more than 2 years old as of the date of application submission)

Minimum Graduate Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements are:

• a bachelor's degree (based on a four-year curriculum) completed before graduate study begins or its international equivalent with an accredited institution
• an average grade of B (cumulative GPA 3.0) or better

Along with these minimal requirements, admission decisions are based on a number of factors, including academic degrees and record, written statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work and research experience. All admission recommendations are made by each individual program or department.

Application Process

Applications for admission to the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School are submitted via the online admission application . All required materials listed above should be submitted according to the instructions provided. Your application will not be reviewed until you have submitted your application and we have received your application fee. You must submit your application and payment by your program's specific deadline in order for your application to be reviewed. By submitting an application to UNC-Chapel Hill, you grant consent to university staff to obtain any additional or missing information as needed, including campus safety information.

Application Deadlines

Please be aware that each program has a specific application deadline . Most programs admit students for the fall semester only, however a few programs allow spring or summer session admissions. Please see the listing of graduate programs and their application deadlines for accepted terms of entry.

Each offer of admission is specific for the term stated in the admission letter. If you do not register for classes you must apply again in a subsequent semester; application materials that are submitted to this institution are kept on file for one year after the term for which you are applying. Contact your intended program for questions about deferrals of admission offers.

Completed applications and application fees (non-refundable) must be submitted before the program's application deadline. The application and payment portal close at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the posted deadline date.

Applications will not be accepted for review or consideration after the posted graduate program deadline has passed. International applicants should apply early to allow sufficient time for financial and visa document preparation. The Graduate School recommends that international applicants submit a complete application no later than November 26 .

Fellowship and Financial Aid Deadlines

Most of the financial support available to graduate students is based within individual programs. In addition, a limited amount of financial support is available from The Graduate School and is based upon nominations from individual programs. In order to allow sufficient time for your program to nominate you for Graduate School fellowships, we recommend that your application be submitted by December 10, 2024 .

If your program continues to accept applications after December 10, 2024 , you are still eligible for their program-based support. Contact your intended program for complete information about available graduate student financial support and relevant deadlines.

The University awards loans and Tuition Enhancement Grants to graduate students who qualify, based on information provided in the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form due March 1. For more information, please visit the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid .

Application Fees

A non-refundable $95.00 application fee is required for each program to which you apply.

Applicants can pay their application fee one of three ways:

• Credit/Debit card (Visa/MasterCard/Discover). For security purposes, the credit card address manually inserted during the final payment process must exactly match the credit card billing address for a successful transaction. If you initially receive a payment error when attempting to pay the application fee by credit card, we first suggest that you switch internet browsers and attempt the payment action again. Common error codes are -1724 (billing address incorrect) and -1777 (international applicants will encounter this general card failure and often require pre-authorization from card issuer). If you encounter subsequent payment errors when attempting to pay the application fee by credit card, please email [email protected] and include the error code you received with your payment attempt.
• Check or money order . Mail-in payments are restricted to a check (in U.S. funds) that contains the pre-printed electronic routing numbers or an international money order. All check or money order payments should be made payable to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If choosing to pay by check or money order, you will receive an email with further payment instructions, including the payment mailing address. Please ensure that any check or money order payment mailed to The Graduate School includes your full name as it appears on your application, your application ID number, and current contact information. Your application fee must be postmarked no later than your application deadline date or it will be returned. Applications that arrive without the required application fee will remain on file, unprocessed, pending receipt of the application fee. If someone is paying the application fee for you, please ensure they include your name, application ID number, and current contact information, as well.

Submit fee waiver requests and required documentation within your online admissions application. Please do not mail fee waiver documentation. We will review fee waiver requests only after you have submitted your application. We will send additional information, including status updates, via email. After you have submitted a fee waiver request, please allow several days for your request to be reviewed. If you submit an application with a request for a fee waiver near the application submission deadline for your program, your fee waiver request will not be reviewed until after the deadline. Please check with the academic program to which you are applying for more information on their timeline.

Transcripts

An unofficial transcript from any post-secondary education experience (including community colleges, summer sessions and extension programs) is required to be uploaded in the application. Each unofficial transcript must be complete (not select courses), include grades, be issued in the original language and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. You may upload unofficial transcripts before mid-year grades are posted. Applicants will be able to upload optional, updated unofficial transcripts from their current institution, if applicable, after submitting their application.

You should obtain a copy of your unofficial transcript (obtained from a student account) as “official” transcripts do not scan well. You should follow the instructions in the application for uploading unofficial transcripts, including:

• Scan multiple page transcripts into one file.
• Preview your uploaded transcript(s) to ensure legibility so that the processing of your application is not delayed. If you cannot read the file clearly, please try another scanner or different settings and upload again.

Study Abroad experiences that appear on your undergraduate institution transcript do not need to be listed separately on the application.

Transfer credit posted on the transcript from other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from the original institution attended.

The Graduate School does not accept and will not retain paper or electronic transcripts sent as part of your admissions application. Please do not request that electronic or paper transcripts be sent as part of your application; we only accept unofficial uploads for application evaluation.

If you are offered admission, one official transcript for each university attended is required prior to registration. Instructions for how to submit official transcripts will be included in the admission offer letter.

Transcripts will not be kept on file in The Graduate School for admitted students who did not accept their admission offer from a previous admissions cycle or who did not enroll at UNC-Chapel Hill.

A note on foreign degrees:

As part of the transcript submission process, degree credentials are also reviewed. Assessment of a foreign degree, including those conferred from institutions participating in the Bologna Accord, is based upon the characteristics of a national system of education, the type of institution attended, its accreditation and the level of studies completed. The following guidelines indicate the level of study expected of international applicants prior to graduate enrollment:

• British patterned education bachelor's degree with honours
• French patterned education degree of diplome requiring four years of post baccalauréat study
• Germany university Diplom preferred. Applicants with very strong academic records may be considered if they have completed the Staatsexamen, a bachelor's degree after a 13-year Abitur, or at least one year of full-time study beyond the Vorprfung, Zwischenprfung, Vordiplom, or any other bachelor's degree
• Other European countries: university degree requiring a minimum of four years of study
• Canada three-year bachelor's degree from Québec; four-year bachelor's degree from all other provinces
• Latin America university degree requiring a minimum of four years of study
• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal bachelor's degree in engineering or medicine; master's degree in all other fields
• Philippines five-year bachelor's degree or four-year bachelor's degree plus one year of graduate work
• Other Asian countries: university degree requiring a minimum of four years of study

If you do not clearly meet the specific criteria above, you may be asked to provide a certified credit evaluation showing that you have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree. If you only have a three-year degree or otherwise do not meet the educational requirements for graduate admission, you are welcome to consider other admission options available at UNC admissions .

Letters of Recommendation

Three current letters of recommendation from people qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications are required. You should solicit recommendations from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievement and who can address your potential for success in this particular academic setting. If you have been out of school for a number of years and are unable to contact former professors, letters from other individuals who can address your achievement and potential will be accepted. We advise against using generic letters of recommendation such as those provided by campus career planning and placement offices. Please see the information and instructions specific to your intended program for more information.

The online application will prompt you to submit the names and email addresses for your three required recommenders.

Email invitations will be sent to recommenders once you select 'Save' in the online application. You can also update recommender information and send reminder emails to your recommenders within the online application.

Standardized Test Scores

UNC Graduate School Institution Code: #5816 (no department code)

We recommend that you plan to take any required exams no later than October to allow time for scores to arrive in time for consideration for fall admission.

Standardized test scores must be official and reported directly by the Educational Testing Service ( ETS ). They must be current and no more than five years old.

In order for a test score to be considered complete, applicants must provide a numeric score in all sections of the GRE.

Standardized test scores that are submitted to this institution are kept on file for one year after the term for which you are applying.

When you register for any tests, you should indicate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School (institution # 5816 ) as a score recipient. If you did not specify the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School as a score recipient at the time of taking the test, you must promptly ask ETS to send your scores to us (institution # 5816 ). No departmental code is required.

GMAT scores should be sent to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Kenan-Flagler Business School – Other Graduate Programs (code D40-HL-34), or Kenan-Flagler Business School – PhD Program (code D40-HL-50)

While self-reported scores are useful for informal evaluation, we cannot complete the final review or offer admission (when official test scores are required) until we have received the official report of your scores.

Please note: If you submitted your official test scores to UNC-CH with your application, expect a minimum of seven business days for your test scores to be matched to your application.

If you have taken, or plan to take, an official test more than one time and wish for additional scores to be available as part of your application review, you must request that each set of official scores be sent to the University. All valid, official test scores that have been sent to the University will be available as part of the application review process.

If you already hold, or are in the process of earning, a research or professional doctorate degree, you may be exempted from the standardized test score requirement. This waiver request must come to The Graduate School directly from the academic program to which you are applying. An unofficial transcript showing degree awarded, or degree in progress, will be required for final approval of this exemption by The Graduate School. Please contact your intended academic program to determine if they will support this exemption.

Average scores of applicants offered admission

International applicants must also submit official TOEFL or IELTS standardized test scores. We do not accept other English language proficiency tests.

Statement of Purpose

All graduate programs require a written statement to be uploaded within your application. The form and content requirements may vary by program. Please read the information and instructions specific to your intended program before applying. Your written statement is a critical component of your application for admission and can sometimes be the determining factor in approval of admittance or financial support. Therefore, your statement should reflect your professional goals, as well as familiarity with the program and faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The starting point for writing statements of purpose should be applicant-generated. While the use of generative AI tools may be useful for structuring and editing writing, it should primarily be the voice of the applicant. Any use of AI must be cited clearly.

All graduate programs require a resume or CV to be uploaded within your application. Your resume/CV should provide information about your work and volunteer experiences, research, awards, recognitions and activities pertinent to your proposed program of study.

Applicants for admission will be asked several questions regarding criminal pleas, charges and convictions, academic and conduct-related suspensions from post-secondary educational institutions, and military discharges (i.e., the University’s “Community Standards Questions”). You must describe violations of law in your home country and in any other country in which you have resided and visited. The term “law” includes codes, legal rules and regulations, and other criminal-type statutes or violations of municipal, local, provincial, state, federal, national, commonwealth, and other governmental jurisdiction.

If additional information is needed, you may be asked to submit information for a criminal background check, including a nominal fee, and asked to provide additional information to the graduate program and Graduate School. Depending on the circumstances, affirmative disclosures by an applicant may also be concurrently reviewed by the Office of Dean of Students or the University’s Emergency Evaluation Action Committee , for a determination as to whether the applicant’s previous behavior could impact University community, property, or processes.

An affirmative response to a community standards question does not automatically preclude an applicant from being offered admission to, or enrollment in, a graduate program within The Graduate School. Rather, each response is reviewed holistically in conjunction with an assessment of the applicant’s overall candidacy and application for admission, including an assessment of their academic record, personal qualities and experiences, and integrity and character.

Failure to provide complete, accurate, and truthful information will be grounds to deny or withdraw your admission, or to dismiss you after enrollment. The same actions will occur if you fail to notify The Graduate School promptly in writing of such charges that occur at any time after you submit the application.

Application Status

Once we have received all required application materials and fees, the review and evaluation of your application will begin. You may monitor the status of your application checklist through the application website .

It is your responsibility to monitor your application for completeness by logging into your application and checking your application status. If your required, official test scores do not appear as received within two weeks of submitting your application, please email [email protected] .

You will be able to upload optional, updated unofficial transcripts from your current institution, if applicable, after submitting your application. Additionally, you may be asked to upload specific additional materials through your application status page after submission. The Graduate School cannot alter any application materials once your application is submitted. If you would like to send new information or updated documents to the academic program to which you applied, please contact the program directly .

For International Applicants only

Together with the instructions above, international applicants are also required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores as part of their application. The Graduate School understands it is difficult and sometimes confusing to apply to universities in another country, and we will assist you in clarifying requirements whenever possible.

TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home Edition, and iBT Paper Edition accepted) or IELTS Score

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Graduate Admissions Code ( FOR TOEFL ONLY ): #5816 (no department code)

We do not accept TOEFL MyBest, Duolingo, IELTS One-Skill Retake, or any other English proficiency test scores.

All international applicants must submit acceptable, official TOEFL scores (reported directly to school code #5816 from ETS.org ) or IELTS scores (reported directly from IELTS.org , either by mail or electronically to The Graduate School). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores, Duolingo, IELTS One-Skill Retake, or other English language proficiency tests.

Standardized test scores must be official and are reportable for a period of two years from the date of the exam. Exam results more than two years old cannot be considered.

When you register for any tests, you should indicate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School as a score recipient. If you did not specify the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School as a score recipient at the time of taking the test, you must promptly ask to send your scores to us. While self-reported scores are useful for informal evaluation, the official report of your scores must arrive before final review and admission can be offered.

If you have taken, or plan to take, an official test more than one time and wish for additional scores to be available as part of your application review, you must request that each set of official scores be sent to the University. All valid, official test scores that have been sent to the University will be available as part of the application review process.

The required minimum total score on the exams are:

• The internet-based TOEFL exam = 90
• The IELTS exam = 7

Some programs may have their own minimal score requirements which are higher than those stated above, in which case these higher standards will be required.

Exceptions to the English Standardized exams are available for the three categories listed below:

• No additional documentation is needed to qualify for this category.
• To qualify for a waiver in this category, you must upload an unofficial transcript showing degree awarded or in progress, or a letter from your Registrar or Dean verifying your degree candidate status from that institution within the online admissions application. If you are offered admission, the official transcript must be received, or the English exam scores will be required to enroll.
• To qualify for a waiver in this category, you must submit an official verification from that university that English is the SOLE language of instruction along with your anticipated date of graduation. If the degree or an official verification is not received, the English exam scores will again be required.

Applicants in category 1 will automatically receive the exception. If you believe you qualify for a waiver of the English standardized exam under categories 2 or 3, you must indicate this request and upload the appropriate documentation within the online admissions application.

All newly admitted international students will be reviewed for their level of English proficiency prior to enrolling for classes. You will receive communications from the University regarding English language, writing, and speaking support services to support your transition to our campus.

Financial Certification

International applicants who are offered admission to a graduate program are required by United States federal regulations to certify that you have sufficient funds to pay for your expenses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the entire length of your studies. Every international applicant offered admission, including applicants who may receive teaching or research assistantships or other awards, must complete and upload the International Student Data Form and Financial Certification Instructions/Worksheet to their ConnectCarolina Student Center after being offered admission. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will send you information and instructions for completing and uploading these forms in order to document that you meet necessary financial requirements. ISSS will then send you the appropriate documents to use in obtaining or updating your visa once it has been determined that you have met the necessary financial requirements.

International applicants in need of financial aid may write to the Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, or review the IIE website .

The University's Office of Scholarships and Student Aid can only fund students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents with I-151 or I-551 Alien Registration Receipt Cards, permanent residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Trust Territory or the Pacific Islands, and other non-citizens who have Arrival-Departure Records (I-94) showing "refugee" or "adjustment applicant" or official grant of asylum in the United States. Students who meet these requirements should apply for financial assistance before March 1.

For any additional questions, please contact our Admissions Office .