Sociology (SOCY)

Abstract

The Graduate Program in Sociology is designed for students seeking a Ph.D. degree. However, the M.A. option is available to students who either wish to obtain a masters degree while continuing in the Ph.D. program, or who leave the program before finishing the PhD. Areas of emphasis in the Department include: demography; gender, work, and family; military sociology; political economy (comparative sociology, development, and stratification); social psychology; and theory.

Typically, about half the students finishing Ph.D. degrees in the Sociology Department work as faculty members at colleges and universities, and about half are working in research, administration, and consulting in federal, state, or private organizations. Our location in the Washington, D.C., area offers an unusual number of full-time research opportunities for our graduates.

Admissions Information

Admission to the graduate program is based upon the student's academic record, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and other information relevant to the applicant's chances of being successful in the program. Although a previous major in sociology is not required, students entering the graduate program should have had the following in undergraduate courses: mathematics through college algebra, elementary statistics, sociological theory, and sociological research methods. Students who have completed prior graduate coursework in Sociology may petition to waive one or more courses in Social Theory, Statistics, or Research Methods. New graduate students are assigned temporary advisors upon arrival, and are then expected to select a permanent advisor who will direct their dissertation research. For consideration for departmental fellowships or assistantships, applications should be received by the preferred deadlines.

Application Deadlines

Fall

Spring

Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines

March 15 (January 5 preferred) .

October 31 (October 1 preferred) .

International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

GRE (Verbal and Quantitative)
TOEFL required for all international students
TSE recommended for international students seeking financial support
Statement of Goals, experiences and research interests
Three Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	March 15 (January 5 preferred) .	October 31 (October 1 preferred) .

International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.)
The graduate program in the Department of Sociology is designed for Ph.D. students. We do not offer a terminal Masters program and we will not accept or enroll students for the single purpose of acquiring a Masters degree. However, doctoral students may obtain a Master of Arts degree during their course of doctoral study by completing 30 credit hours, including 1) two courses in statistics (6 cr.); 2) one in methodology (3 cr.); 3) one in theory (3 cr.); 4) one computer skills course (1 cr.); 5) an original research paper completed in the fourth semester (3 cr.).

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. requirements include: 1) two courses in social theory (6 cr.); 2) 3 courses in statistics (9 cr.); 3) 2 courses in research methods (6 cr.); 4) one computer skills course (1 cr.); 5) a set of three courses in each of two specialty areas (independent reading courses do not count and the same course cannot be counted twice) (18 cr.); 6) a second-year research paper which meets the approval of a minimum of two faculty members (3 cr.); 7) SOCY 701, Integration of theory and methods (3 cr.); 8) 12 credit hours of dissertation research (12 cr.); and 9) a total of 58 credit hours of coursework and research.

After completion of the coursework, doctoral students must pass two examinations qualifying them to write their dissertations in the specialties of their choice. Upon the recommendation of the appropriate faculty members, the Department Graduate Committee approves the coursework qualifying students to take the two examinations.

Facilities and Special Resources

The Sociology Department's facilities include data processing and computer capabilities and a Department library. The department is also closely involved with the Maryland Population Research Center and the Center for Research on Military Organizations. The campus has excellent computer facilities and computer resources are available to faculty and graduate students.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance for graduate students is available through teaching and research assistantships, and for advanced students through part-time instructorships. We also have several special fellowships for outstanding applicants, the C.W. Mills Fellowships, that provide additional support tailored to the applicants needs. All carry a stipend plus tuition remission, and most include health benefits.

Contact Information

Applications materials may be found at: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/admission.htm

All application materials should be submitted either electronically or by mail to this address: University of Maryland College Park Enrollment Services Operations (ESO) Applications for Graduate Admission Room 0130 Mitchell Building College Park, MD 20742

Director of Graduate Studies
2103 Art-Sociology Building
College Park, MD 20742-1315
Telephone: (301) 405-6390
Fax: (301) 314-6892
gradsoc@socy.umd.edu

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/

Graduate Coordinator
2103 Art-Sociology Building
College Park, MD 20742-1315
Telephone: (301) 405-6390
Fax: (301) 314-6892
gradsoc@socy.umd.edu

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy

Courses:

Related Programs and Campus Units

Graduate Certificate: Population Studies
Family Science