Requirements for the Master's and Ph.D. Degrees

Master's Degree Requirements

Students in our graduate program complete a Master of Science degree on the way to the Ph.D.

The requirements include a minimum of 24 credits in Sociology or Community and Environmental Sociology, including courses in statistics, research methods, and theory. Some students need to take background courses in statistics (Soc 360) to be prepared for the graduate required courses in those areas. Soc 360 does not count toward the 24 required courses.

Required courses are the following:*

  • Sociology 361: Statistics for Sociologists II
  • An approved graduate level methods course
    • 735. Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis
    • 750. Research Methods in Sociology
    • 751. Survey Methods for Social Research
    • 753. Comparative and Historical Methods in Sociology
    • 754. Qualitative Research Methods in Sociology
    • 756. Advanced Demographic Methods
    • Note: while any of these may be used to fulfill the MS methods requirement, Soc 750 is still a requirement for the PhD degree
  • Sociology 773: Intermediate Social Theory
    • Note: Courses 361 and 773 also are part of the Ph.D. requirements (see below)
  • At least two 3-credit courses limited to graduate students only (700 level and above, excluding trainee or research seminars)
  • The required 24 credits can include up to 6 credits of any combination of 990 Thesis, 999 Reading and Research, or Training/Research seminars.

A master's thesis is required. Students work with their major professor as they conduct research and write the thesis. An oral exam/defense is conducted by a three-member committee headed by the major professor. The committee decides whether or not the student should proceed with Ph.D. work.

*Note: Students affiliated with the Center for Demography and Ecology take certain specific courses in addition to those listed above.

Ph.D. Requirements

Required Courses:

  • Sociology 361: Statistics for Sociologists II
  • Sociology 362: Statistics for Sociologists III (a pre-requisite for Sociology 750)
  • Sociology 750: Research Methods in Sociology
  • Sociology 773: Intermediate Sociological Theory
  • Four graduate seminars in sociology (Soc 903-989 -- excluding training or research seminars).

Ph.D. students must complete two written preliminary examinations, in two different areas, before becoming A.B.D.

Minor: Option A: 9 credits in a single department; Option B: 9 credits in two or more departments. The Minor Agreement must be approved.

After becoming A.B.D. (i.e., becoming a dissertator), the next step for the student is to prepare a Dissertation Proposal, form a three-member Dissertation Advisory Committee, and have a Dissertation Proposal Hearing. Once the proposal is approved, the student proceeds with the approved dissertation research.

If your question is not answered here, e-mail Charlotte Frascona.