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PhD in Sociology

Through coursework, directed reading, and directed research during the period of residence, candidates are expected to prepare themselves in sociological theories, in methods of sociological research, and in two broad substantive areas.

Prerequisites and Admissions Tests

Candidates must have obtained the BA or MA degree in Sociology or show evidence of equivalent preparation in social science subjects. Candidates admitted to the post-bachelor’s PhD program must complete 16 courses (64 credits), and candidates admitted to the post-master’s PhD program must complete 8 courses (32 credits). Deficiencies are made up without credit. All applicants are required to submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.

Course Requirements

All students are required to complete GRS SO 701 Classical Theory, SO 708 Contemporary Theory, SO 702 Proseminar in Methods (research design), an approved course in qualitative methods in the social sciences and GRS MA 614 Statistical Methods II, and MA 684 Multivariate Analysis or equivalent approved course in multivariate analysis in the social sciences). GRS SO 701, 702, and 708 should be taken in the first year of graduate work; so too should GRS MA 614 and MA 684 (or an equivalent course). The student’s remaining coursework should include a concentration in two subfields of the discipline. After coursework is complete, students are expected to enroll at least once in the Dissertation Workshop.

Critical Essays and Oral Examination

After all courses are complete, students will complete a Critical Essay that demonstrates intellectual mastery of the ideas and existing research in two subfields within the discipline. Subfields and an Examining Committee will be identified in consultation with the student’s advisor and with the approval of the Graduate Programs Committee. After the Examining Committee has approved the Essay, a date is set for the Comprehensive Oral Exam. The Oral Examination will primarily cover the fields in the Critical Essay, but it may also cover other substantive, methodological, or theoretical material from the student’s coursework.

Residency Requirement

See General Requirements for the PhD.

Dissertation

Departmental approval of the dissertation proposal is obtained through a prospectus consultation examination. Two or more members of the faculty supervise the candidate during preparation of the dissertation. This written document is to be a scholarly contribution to knowledge presented clearly, precisely, and in good literary style. Candidates are encouraged to publish selected parts of their dissertation in professional journals or the entire dissertation as a book.

Final Oral Examination

Candidates, upon completion of the dissertation, present themselves for a final oral examination before a committee of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. The examination is based primarily on the dissertation and related issues in its field of concentration.

Courses

Sociology Courses

Course listings are subject to change. Contact the Department of Sociology for the active listing for a given academic year.

  • CAS SO 505 Asian Development: The Case of Women
  • CAS SO 510 Black Community and Social Change
  • GRS SO 521 Seminar: Epidemiology
  • CAS SO 534 Seminar: Modernity and Social Change
  • CAS SO 536 Public Policy and Moral Judgment
  • GRS SO 541/543 Seminar on Modernity I
  • CAS SO 559 Seminar: Deviance and Social Control
  • GRS SO 699 Teaching College Sociology I
  • GRS SO 701 Advanced Sociological Theory (Classical)
  • GRS SO 702 Proseminar: Sociological Methods
  • GRS SO 703 Intermediate Methodology
  • GRS SO 708 Contemporary Sociological Theory
  • GRS SO 709 Seminar: Theory and Practice of Field Research
  • GRS SO 712 Qualitative Methodology
  • GRS SO 713 Methods in Comparative-Historical Sociology
  • GRS SO 720 Seminar: Developed and Underdeveloped Countries
  • GRS SO 737 Stratification and Social Change in Modern Societies—Analyses and Field Research
  • GRS SO 760 Political Sociology and Political Economy
  • GRS SO 765 Religion and Society
  • GRS SO 800 Graduate Study in Visual Sociology
  • GRS SO 803 Seminar: Gender Stratification
  • GRS SO 804 Seminar: Sociology of the Family
  • GRS SO 808 Seminar: Minority Groups
  • GRS SO 810 Formal Organization
  • GRS SO 811 Seminar: Sociology of the Non-Profit Sector
  • GRS SO 812/STH TR 964 Seminar: Religion and Social Identity
  • GRS SO 813 Graduate Study in Conversation and Interaction Analysis
  • GRS SO 814 The Sociology of Knowledge
  • GRS SO 815 Seminar: Sociology of Law
  • GRS SO 817 Seminar: Community Sociology
  • GRS SO 818 Medical Sociology
  • GRS SO 820 Seminar: Women and Social Change in the Developing World
  • GRS SO 822 Seminar: Religion and Social Change
  • CAS SO 829 Seminar: Selected Topics in Japanese Society
  • GRS SO 834 Seminar: Mental Illness
  • GRS SO 837 Seminar: The Sociology of Culture
  • GRS SO 838 Seminar: International Migration
  • GRS SO 840 Seminar: Political Sociology
  • GRS SO 844    Seminar: Sociology of Education
  • GRS SO 848 Seminar: Culture, Markets, and Inequality
  • GRS SO 857 Seminar: Sociology of Mind
  • GRS SO 862    Seminar: Great Theorists
  • GRS SO 951 Dissertation Workshop
  • GRS SO 952 Dissertation Workshop

Directed Research

Hours arranged. Variable cr.

  • GRS SO 901, 902    Sociological Theories
  • GRS SO 903, 904    Sociological Studies
  • GRS SO 905, 906    Communities
  • GRS SO 907, 908    Families
  • GRS SO 909, 910    Ethnic, Race, and Minority Relations
  • GRS SO 911, 912      Stratification
  • GRS SO 913, 914     Deviance and Social Problems
  • GRS SO 915, 916     Individual and Society
  • GRS SO 917, 918     Medical Sociology
  • GRS SO 919, 920    Political Sociology
  • GRS SO 921, 922    Cross-National and Developmental Sociology
  • GRS SO 925, 926    Sociology of Religion
  • GRS SO 927, 928    Sociology of Knowledge
  • GRS SO 929, 930    Ethnomethodology
  • GRS SO 939, 940    Methodology and Statistics
  • GRS SO 941, 942     Formal Organizations
  • GRS SO 945, 946    Social Interaction
  • GRS SO 947, 948    Directed Study in Field of Concentration

Social Work Courses

Contact the registrar in the School of Social Work for the active listing for a given academic year.

  • SSW SR 900 Quantitative Data Analysis
  • SSW SR 904 Quantitative Clinical Research Methods in Social Work Practice
  • SSW SR 906 Qualitative Analysis of Clinical Data
  • SSW SR 907 Multivariate Analysis
  • SSW WP 900 Social Program Analysis and Evaluation
  • SSW WP 901 Sociology of the Social Work Profession
  • SSW WP 902 Implementing Social Policy
  • SSW WP 903 Perspectives on Social Welfare Policy

Related Bulletin Pages

Beyond the Bulletin