sociology phd sop

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 2024-25 Sociology Ph.D. applications are now closed.

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 select 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 leadership programming, 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 11, 2023. 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  2024-25 Graduate Admissions Application  will open on September 15, 2023.

Sample Statement of Purpose (SOP): Sociology

This sample SOP is for applying to a master’s program in Sociology in the UK.

If you need help writing your SOP, check out our  SOP Writing Service

Statement of Purpose – Sociology

In the modern world, in which cultures and countries are increasingly interconnected, it is essential to have a firm understanding of various world cultures. With this in mind, I am eager to undertake advanced studies of sociology overseas, learning more about this subject while also experiencing daily life in a new environment. I have always been driven to explore the world and learn more about how societies function on a macro-scale, and I was thus very excited when I found the MA in Sociology program at XXX University. I am encouraged by the curriculum, professors, and resources available in your institution, and I am inspired to devote myself to advanced studies of Sociology. Having done some research into the content of this program, I strongly believe that it will allow me to strengthen my analytical skills, whilst inspiring me and giving me the opportunity to develop my ideas.

As an undergraduate in Goodwell University, majoring in Foreign Languages and Literature, I learned a great deal, both academically and in daily life. In this major, I acquired much useful professional knowledge and confirmed my strong interests in different societies and cultures by taking the required courses, including courses focusing on American literature, European literature, and the literature of different Asian countries. In addition to the required courses, I also took elective courses related to sociology, gender issues, communication and negotiation, and various language courses. Our instructors often shared with us their own practical foreign experiences which influenced me considerably and reinforced my determination to pursue studies abroad. I am drawn to the UK by its rich culture, beautiful landscapes and unique historical legacy. Although my university studies are not directly to my proposed major, I am confident that my passion and diligence will enable me to take full advantage of the education you offer and successfully complete my studies.

With regard to my future plans, I hope to take advantage of my time studying in your MA in Sociology program to strengthen my background in the field, and I especially hope to focus on the area of Women’s Studies. After completion of the MA in Sociology program, I hope to enter the Ph.D. program to conduct further research. As for my long-term goals, after completing my postgraduate education I hope to return to my native country and apply my skills and expertise to make beneficial contributions to the field of sociology and the culture in general. I hope to combine my personal interest with the education and practical knowledge gained from your program to help advance the field of sociology in my country. The MA in Sociology offered by your school is integral to my goals, and I therefore sincerely hope that you will give me a chance to develop my skills and further reinforce my capabilities in your esteemed department.

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Graduate Admissions Procedures

Admission to the Sociology Graduate Field is restricted to students who plan to complete a PhD in Sociology. Students can, in consultation with their Special Committees, take a Master’s degree on the way to a PhD. A terminal Master’s is also available, but is reserved for students who decide they are no longer interested in doctoral studies, or who, in the view of the Special Committee and other Field members, are not making good progress toward doctoral-level research.

Admissions to the program is extremely competitive, with relatively few offers made each year. You do not need to have an undergraduate or Master’s degree in Sociology in order to apply or to be competitive in the admissions process.

How are Applicants Chosen?

The Graduate Admissions Committee decides who to admit from the pool of applicants to the doctoral program in Sociology at Cornell. The committee is appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). Each year, the committee consists of three to five Sociology Field faculty members, including the DGS, and a current graduate student. The committee’s decisions are collective, and offers of admission are not allocated on the basis of a match between a specific faculty member’s need or desire for a student and a specific applicant.

The Graduate Admissions Committee conducts careful, holistic review of applications with attention to a wide range of factors including applicants’ educational background, research experience, research aims, demonstrated abilities in writing and analytic approaches, intellectual alignment with the program, and potential for contributing to our diverse and inclusive community. Finalists are chosen based the committee’s assessment of their potential for engaging in systematic and rigorous sociological research in one or more of the areas represented in the Field. The committee also takes into account the extent to which the Field Faculty will be able to support the student’s scholarship and professional development. Occasionally, the committee will interview applicants via Zoom or telephone prior to extending an offer of admission.

Applying to the Program

Students interested in the Cornell Sociology PhD Program should apply through the CollegeNet ApplyWeb online application system maintained by the Graduate School . There are several components to the application, which are listed and then described in further detail below. If your file is missing one or more of these components, you will be at a disadvantage in the selection process.

Components of the application include:

• Application Form
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Writing Sample
• College Transcript(s)
• Resume or CV
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• GRE Scores 
• TOEFL test scores (if applicable, see below)
• Nonrefundable application fee of $105 (see below regarding fee waivers)

Academic Statement of Purpose. The statement of purpose should focus on your academic preparation, your research interests, and your intellectual goals. We ask that you respond to the following prompt:

Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe (within 1000 words) the substantive research questions you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies, and explain how our program would help you achieve your intellectual goals. Additionally, detail your academic background, intellectual interests, and any training or research experience you have received that you believe has prepared you for our program. Within your statement, please also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own interests.

Further guidance on preparing your academic statement of purpose is available through the Graduate School

Personal Statement. The personal statement will be used for both the admissions process, and to inform the nomination and selection process for Diversity Fellowships. For this statement, we ask that you respond to the following prompt:

Please describe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, provide insight on your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and innovate productively and positively together.

Domestic students who indicate an interest in being considered for a Diversity Fellowship will also be provided with an opportunity to submit an Optional Addendum to the Personal Statement. The Optional Addendum is intended to provide applicants with the opportunity to provide additional personal information would not be accessible for admissions purposes (e.g., highly sensitive information or information that is traumatic in nature), but would be accessible to the DGS and the Fellowships.

Writing Sample. The writing sample should be a short paper, published or unpublished, that will help the admissions committee understand your analytic abilities, communication skills, and potential as a sociologist. Co-authored papers are discouraged, unless your contribution to the joint effort is clear. The paper need not be in sociology.

GRE Scores.  Students should do so by October, so that scores arrive by the December 15 deadline and can be considered by the admissions committee. Your scores should be submitted directly to Cornell using Institution Code 2098; more information is provided here . You do not need to take the advanced test in Sociology.

We will conduct our first-round review of applications with the GRE scores completely masked and will use GRE scores in conjunction with other aspects of the application. We do not employ GRE “cutoffs” to automatically eliminate applicants. Instead, we use a holistic review of each application to assess quantitative, writing, and analytical skills. 

TOEFL. International applicants must demonstrate proficiency with the English Language by submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores. There are few exceptions to this requirement for international applicants .

Our field requires an overall band score of 8.0 or higher on the IELTS or the following minimum scores for the TOEFL iBT:

• Speaking: 28
• Reading: 24
• Listening: 22

The TOEFL score must be dated within two years of your program’s application deadline. Photocopies of TOEFL score reports will not be accepted. Students must take the TOEFL early enough to have the results submitted before the application deadline, and use Institutional Code 2098, with Department Code 96.

Please note that we cannot confirm receipt of test scores until an applicant has submitted an online application. If you receive your test results and any sub-score does not meet the requirement, you should make arrangements to retake the test.

Application Fee. The Graduate School charges a nonrefundable application fee of $105. However, this fee may be waived in cases of financial hardship or for qualified participants of certain special programs.

We accept students into the graduate program just once a year, in early spring for a fall matriculation.

You need to submit your application, including all supporting documentation, in time for us to receive it by December 15 . Application decisions are typically made in early February, and all of the  intramural fellowships  are filled by mid-February. However, we also keep a short waitlist and occasionally make offers later in the spring if granted permission by the Graduate School. 

You will be notified by a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies of the status of your application once all of the admissions decisions have been made. Because letters of admission contain legally binding information about the funding package, they need to be cleared by the Graduate School before we can send them out. Please be patient with us (and them)!

If you are admitted, we ask that you make your decision no later than April 15.

Additional information about the admissions process can be found on the Graduate School’s  web site . If after reading this site you still have about the admissions process, please contact the  Graduate Field Assistant .

If you have more general questions about the Graduate Program, feel free to contact the  Director of Graduate Studies , individual  faculty members  or individual  graduate students whose research is of interest to you.

Your letter of admission will indicate the date of Visit Day. We try to chose a Visit Day when the most faculty will be available, and when it does not overlap with the visit days at peer programs.  We encourage you to visit on this day, if you can, but we understand this isn’t always possible. If you wish to visit Cornell, whether on Visit Day or some other date, please contact the  Graduate Field Assistant.  She will help you arrange your visit, and schedule appointments with faculty members and students while you are here.

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PhD applicants: Writing your statement of purpose (social science and humanities)

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In this blog post, Chris Blattman gives advice on how to write a compelling statement of purpose for PhD applicants in the social science and humanities. Excerpt: I’ve read a lot of personal statements for PhD applications. I sat on admissions at UChicago, Columbia, and Yale, mostly in economics, political science, and public policy. Here’s the advice I’ve given my own students and research assistants to craft their statements. I give it because, sadly, I don’t find most statements helpful. This means they are not helping you, the applicant. Read the full article here.

Introduction

The graduate program of the Department of Sociology trains scholars to conduct original research contributing to the advance of sociological knowledge and to teach sociology at the university level. For this reason, the Department will accept only students who are seeking the Ph.D. degree (a Master of Arts degree may be earned as part of the process of completing the requirements for the Ph.D.). The Ph.D. in sociology usually leads to a career in research and/or teaching. Although most sociologists are employed by universities, there are increasing career opportunities in government and other non-university research centers.

The application deadline is December 1 . All applicants must complete the  UCLA Application for Graduate Admission   and  meet the  University minimum requirements for admission (also check the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information).

Although undergraduate or masters-level study in sociology or related disciplines is desirable, it is not mandatory for admission to the Department. Applicants need not be uniformly high on all indicators of potential. The Admissions Committee, which typically consists of five faculty members and three advisory graduate students, looks at a number of indicators of abilities and skills. For example, in assessing the level of verbal skills, the Committee considers several items, including samples of written work and grades in courses that ordinarily require extensive verbal skills.

In addition to relatively formal criteria (such as analytic and verbal proficiency), the Department pays particular attention to applicants who seem likely to contribute intellectual, social, or cultural diversity to its student body. Women and those from underrepresented backgrounds, in particular, are encouraged to apply.

If you have additional questions, please check the Admissions FAQs.   You can also contact Irina Tauber ( [email protected] ) or Dreama Rhodes ( [email protected] ) but please allow 2-3 days during admission time. For those only interested in MA, please visit Master of Social Science program.

Required Degree and GPA

A degree in Sociology is not required for admission. Applicants to the program must meet the  University minimum requirement  of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California. An applicant whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average scholarship from a university or university-level institution. Please carefully review this website for Required Academic Records .

An overall scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required, or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used, and in any post-baccalaureate study.

GRE Test Scores

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required .

GRE scores must be valid (taken within 5 years of application date) and required for all applicants, including those with advanced degree(s).  You will need to upload your GRE score report on the application website and note the scores in the GRE section.  If admitted, you will also need to request ETS to send the official score report to us: Institution code for UCLA is 4837 and Sociology Department code is 2102 .

Please note: it may take 2-3 weeks for official test scores to link to your account after your UCLA application is submitted, but this will not affect your application review process and you do not need to verify receipt with us. We only need the official test report for admitted students. If your scores are not updated by the time the admissions committee is prepared to make a decision, we will contact you directly. 

English Language Requirement

The  University’s English Language Requirement  applies to all applicants. Citizenship, U.S. residence and/or work experience are not substitutes for meeting the requirement. Exemptions to submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores can only be made for applicants who meet the exemption criteria as listed on the  English Requirements  page on the UCLA Division of Graduate Education’s website.

Applicants who do not meet the exemption criteria must submit valid TOEFL or IELTS scores. Please note that TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for only two years and must be valid at the time of application submission.

TOEFL The minimum score to be considered for admission is  87 on the TOEFL, but our admitted students have 100 or above. UCLA does not currently accept MyBest TOEFL scores. You will need to note your scores in the TOELF section in your online application.  If admitted, you will also need to send your official TOEFL score report to us. The institution code for UCLA is 4837  and the Sociology department code is 2101 . The linking of TOEFL scores between ETS and the UCLA application only begins after your application has been submitted online. It may take 2-3 weeks after the UCLA application is submitted for an application to automatically update. We only need the official test report for admitted students.

The minimum overall band score to be considered for admission is  7.0 on the IELTS. Please note your score in the IELTS section in the online application. If admitted, applicants submitting IELTS scores must arrange their scores to be sent to the UCLA Department of Sociology:

ATTN: Graduate Advisor 375 Portola Plaza 264 Haines Hall Los Angeles, CA 90095

Receipt of IELTS scores on an application is a manual process that may take weeks. We only need to verify official scores for applicants admitted to our Program.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required, preferably from professors of sociology or related social science fields who are familiar with the applicant’s written work and research experiences.

Letters must be submitted online to the UCLA Application. In the Recommendation section of the application, applicants enter the names and email addresses of their recommenders. Applicants can check the status of recommendations and resend the email invitation through the UCLA Application. Applicants are responsible for reminding their recommenders to submit letters by December 1.

If a recommender wants to submit their letter through Interfolio, enter the email address(es) provided by Interfolio for recommenders in the application. Instruct Interfolio to answer all questions on the recommendation forms with the option Dossier Service Completion.

If they have trouble submitting their letter, please have them contact [email protected] with a detailed description of the issue and screenshots.

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should include reasons for pursuing graduate work, interests within sociology, and any pertinent intellectual and career experiences and interests. The Admissions Committee considers a strong applicant to have well-conceived research interests, past research accomplishment, and intellectual biography.

Prompts to help develop the statement of purpose may be  reviewed here .

Note: Sociology program has a limit of  500 words (1 page)  for the statement of purpose.

Personal Statement

While the Statement of Purpose is about your work, your Personal Statement is about you – and how you will contribute to the diversity of ideas at UCLA. The Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA. For additional guidance, please see  University of California’s guidance on Personal Statements . It will also be used to consider candidates for the Cota-Robles & GOFP fellowships. To be considered for Cota-Robles fellowship – be sure to describe your contributions to diversity (you can view UC Diversity Statement).

Instructions are provided in the application and include a 500 words limit (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font).

Writing Sample

The writing sample should be a report of original research where the applicant was the sole author. If a report of original research has not been completed, a term paper, preferably one written for a sociology class, may be submitted. If you send a thesis, it’s advisable to send all chapters rather than select one or two chapters. Average length is about 15-30 pages.

Transcripts

Applicants must upload one copy of  current , unofficial transcript to the  UCLA Application for Graduate Admissions . Any transcript uploaded to the application, even if an official transcript, is considered unofficial. An unofficial transcript will be issued by the university or college registrar’s office or may be accessed through a student portal. An unofficial transcript may also be a physical, official copy that has been opened and scanned. Applicants should only upload transcripts from institutions where they received degree(s). Do not provide screenshots, degree progress reports, grade audits, or similar printouts as it will not count as an unofficial transcript.  Please rotate the document page(s) prior to uploading to be upright for review.

TRANSCRIPTS AND ACADEMIC RECORDS FROM INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE THE U.S.

Please carefully review this website for Required Academic Records . Official academic records are not needed for the application. Scans of academic records are acceptable for the application. Unless academic records and diplomas are routinely  issued in English by the institution, the records in their original language must be submitted with an authorized, complete, and exact English translation.

All academic records must show the dates of enrollment; the subjects or courses taken, together with the units of credit or time allotted to each subject and, if rank is determined, rank in the total class or group. The records must also include a complete description of the institution’s grading scale or other standard of evaluation. Maximum and minimum marks and the steps between them must be indicated.

You will also need to upload a copy of the degree certificate/diploma along with the transcript.

Third-party evaluated transcripts, such as evaluations provided by WES, will not count as a transcript.

Applicants who are admitted  and  choose to attend the program will be asked to submit their official final transcript(s) showing degree conferral. Applicants who completed post-secondary education outside of the U.S.  and  who are admitted  and  choose to attend the program must also provide one certified copy of their certificate/diploma showing degree conferred in English  and  one certified copy of their certificate/diploma showing degree conferred in their original language.

Fee Waiver or Deferral Requests

Application fee waivers or deferrals are available to applicants who meet the  University’s fee waiver requirements . All requested documentation outlined in the policy must be uploaded to the appropriate fee waiver/deferral section of the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission for a request to be considered. See also the “Fee Waivers” section in the  Admissions FAQs . If an applicant qualifies for both types of requests, need-based and program participation,  only one type should be selected  to prevent any technical issues with the fee waiver review.

If requesting a fee waiver or deferral, applicants must carefully review the  eligibility and documentation requirements  to make sure they meet the eligibility requirements and upload the necessary documents before submitting their application.

Departments are not able to change fee waiver requirements or make exceptions. If you have additional questions, please contact Dreama Rhodes: [email protected].

GRADUATE STUDENT FUNDING

Anticipated Expenses for graduate studies can be found at the  Financial Aid Office website.   Actual living expenses will depend on personal circumstances. A breakdown of fee and tuition costs can be found on the  Registrar Office website .

Departmental Support Our Faculty Admissions Committee will consider all admitted applicants, including international students, for departmental support (stipend, registration fees, non-resident tuition, teaching apprenticeships) at the time of admission. Decisions are made based on merit, i.e., the applicant’s strength of record and promise in relation to the other students, and not on financial need.

All admitted students receive an offer for financial support from the department. Our funding offers generally provide six years of support, which typically includes two years of fellowship and four years of teaching apprenticeship (TA) position at 50% time (approximately 20 hours/week).

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Please check Funding for Entering Students .  UCLA has various funding opportunities and almost all admitted PhD sociology students obtain competitive funding packages depending on their merit and progress in the program. The main funding opportunities are graduate division fellowships, departmental fellowships, and extramural funding. For incoming students, the largest source of support comes from the Department’s multi-year offer of funding.

DGE Fellowships & Support from UCLA Centers There are a number of campus-wide fellowships, such as the  Eugene Cota Robles Fellowship  for which the department can nominate admitted students if you apply and meet eligibility criteria. To apply for campus-wide awards, complete the fellowship section of your online graduate admissions application. For  Eugene Cota-Robles Award , your Personal Statement must address your contributions to diversity.

Please note that for most of these awards, recommendation by the Department is critical, and the Department reserves the right to consider these awards that originate from other places on campus as part of the total award package that we are offering, fully subject to our rules and conditions.

Conference Funding

UCLA Doctoral Travel Grants (DTG) program offers students $1,000 to be used before the end of seventh year in the Program. The purpose of the DTG is to encourage doctoral students to present their work and network at conferences in their field, to support travel associated with off-campus research and to enable students to take advantage of off-campus professional development opportunities. Sociology Department also provides conference funding to students who are presenting at a conference and have used up their full DTG amount.

Summer Funding

Students in Years 1-3 of the Program are encouraged to apply for the Graduate Summer Research Mentorship (GSRM) Program (currently $6,000).  The objective of the program is to promote opportunities for students to work closely with a faculty mentor in developing a paper for presentation at an academic conference and/or for publication. Admitted students who apply for the GSRM and are not awarded will be eligible for Department summer funding award.

For Admitted Students

VISIT DAY: Please check Graduate Recruitment Events page to take a virtual tour of UCLA campus and Graduate Housing. Sociology Department will also have a Visit Day for admitted students, which is usually scheduled the first week of March.

RESIDENCE : Sociology Department generally covers Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) during Year 1 of the Program. Domestic students are expected to take the necessary steps to become CA resident before the start of Year 2 and not be assessed (NRST) in subsequent years. Please review the Residence Requirements page from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.  NRST will be waived for international students for 3 years once they pass oral defense and advance to doctoral candidacy (ATC), which generally happens during Year 4 of the Program.

SUMMER: All admitted students will also receive summer funding during Summer after Year 1 and after Year 2, either through GSRM or the Department.  Students are required to apply Graduate Summer Research Mentorship (GSRM), which is currently $6,000, and will receive Department summer award ($3000) if not awarded GSRM or another summer fellowship.

HOUSING : Please visit Graduate Student Housing website for details about the application process, locations, and virtual tour. Departments have limited priority spots for Graduate Housing that will be assigned to students who wish to apply.

FAQ: APPLICATION

Do you accept applications for spring admission?

No. We only review applications once a year for Fall admission.

I missed the deadline, can I still apply?

We receive close to 300 applications. Late applications submitted after December 1 will not be accepted.

What makes an applicant competitive in the selection process?

We are looking for bright, imaginative, and highly motivated students who have a deep and abiding interest in doing sociology. The ideal applicant ranks uniformly high on all indicators (grade point average, recommendations from faculty, stature of undergraduate institution, the quality of written work, and the persuasiveness of the Statement of Purpose) of particular skills and shows exceptional promise of success in our program and as a future sociologist. Decisions are based on merit, promise, and fit with the program.

Can I submit more than three letters?

Yes, but note that quantity does not substitute for quality.

What kind of writing sample would be best?

The committee uses the writing sample to assess your writing skills, analytical ability, and creativity. You should pick a piece of writing that best reflects your ability. An academic research paper is better than a more journalistic paper or a term paper.

Can I send a co-authored paper?

Yes, but we prefer a single-authored paper. If you send a paper co-authored with a professor, please ask the professor to explain your involvement in and contribution to the paper. If the paper is co-authored with other students, provide the same kind of explanation.

What is the average GPA?

3.66 for all applicants; 3.8 for admitted students.

Which GPA should I report on the application?

Report your cumulative GPA from the institution where you received your bachelor’s degree.

Can I apply to more than one department at the same time?

No, you can only apply to one department during that application period.

How many applicants are admitted? How many enter the program?

We receive close to 300 applications and we aim for an incoming class of 12-15 students.

When are decisions made?

Usually by the end of February. Official notifications will be sent by the UCLA Division of Graduate Education via email notification.

FAQ: INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

What is the required minimum TOEFL score?

Total minimum on the internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT) is 87: Writing, 25; Speaking, 24; Reading, 21; Listening, 17. For the IELTS overall band score of at least 7.0 is the minimum required.

These minimum requirements are set by UCLA, not the individual departments:  https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/english-requirements/ . Note that most students who are admitted have scores that far surpass these minimums (100 on TOEFL or above and 7.5 on IELTS).

Are TOEFL scores out of date?

TOEFL scores must have been taken within 2 years of the date of your application.

Can I be exempted from the TOEFL requirement?

The TOEFL score is required for international applicants, unless you hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university in the United States or in another country in which English is both the spoken language and the medium of instruction, or you have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution. If you qualify for an exemption and several years have passed since you actively used English a recent TOEFL score may be helpful for our Admissions Committee to better evaluate your current level of proficiency in comparison to other international applicants. If you meet the criteria for an exception, it will ultimately be up to you to decide whether or not a new TOEFL score would strengthen your application.

How many international students do you admit and fund?

We generally admit 2-3 international students per year.

Does an international applicant have to show financial resources in order to attend?

You will be required to submit a financial statement if you want to obtain a student visa upon accepting an offer of admission. Along with documented evidence of sufficient funds it tells the Graduate Admissions Office that you qualify for a visa and allows UCLA to mail you an I-20 form that you need to take to a US consulate or embassy in your country. It is advisable to have some personal funding in case the departmental award does not cover the minimum amount. For more information, go to  https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/visa-procedures/ .

FAQ: FUNDING

Are all students funded?

The department’s goal is to provide funding to all entering students, domestic and international.

How much financial support is usually given to incoming students?

Award offers have typically been for five years, which includes two years of fellowship and three or four years of teaching apprenticeship (TA) position.

Can international students receive TA positions?

Yes. However, international students whose native language is not English must take a campus-administered Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP)  and pass it at 7.1 or above before they can be appointed as a TA.

Do you offer nonresident tuition support to international students?

Yes. Our award offers to international students include non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) for four years. International students are expected to advance to doctoral candidacy (ATC) by the end of fourth year in the Program, after which point NRST will be waived for three years.

Are there opportunities for research assistantships?

Yes. Some professors have funding that allows them to employ research assistants. Our graduate students can also explore opportunities with faculty in other departments or research units on campus. There is no central job bulletin board for open research assistant positions. Students interested in research assistantships should inquire with individual faculty and campus research centers directly.

Are registration fees and/or tuition waived for TAs or GSRs?

Employment as TA, GSR, or Readers for 10 hours a week or more (at least 25% time) entitles students to receive Fee Remission benefits. Fee remission benefits include payment of the educational and registration fees as well as the mandatory health insurance premiums. Please note TA fee remissions do not cover NRST. GSRs employed at 45-50% time are also eligible for non-resident tuition (NRST) remission benefits.

Can I work full-time while pursuing graduate studies?

No. Graduate students are not allowed to work more than 50% time on campus (20 hours per week). Appointments in academic apprentice personnel titles (TA, GSR, Reader) cannot exceed 18 quarters of which no more than 12 quarters can be as a TA without exception. We do not recommend that our students work full-time off campus. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to work full-time and attend classes and complete course work.

FAQ: PROGRAM

Can I apply for the doctoral degree without pursuing the M.A. degree from UCLA?

No. Our students must complete the M.A. requirements first. If you have an M.A. degree in sociology from another institution read the next question and answer.

Will I have to get another M.A. degree or repeat M.A. requirements if I already have an M.A. degree?

If you have a master’s degree in sociology you have the option of submitting your previous MA work (a research paper of no more than double-spaced 50 pages which can be based on the M.A. thesis written at another university and the transcripts from the M.A. institution) for review and approval within the first three quarters in the program. In this review, the Department will determine whether or not you may proceed directly to preparation for the field examinations, whether additional courses need to be taken for breadth purposes, whether the submitted paper needs additional work, or whether an additional paper needs to be done, and whether theory and methodology sequence requirements have been adequately satisfied. If your prior M.A. degree is accepted, you do not need to complete our M.A. requirements and can focus on the Ph.D. requirements. If you do not submit your materials to our review within the first three quarters, we assume that you opted to complete our M.A. requirements. If your degree is in another discipline, you will have to complete our M.A. requirements though there is a possibility that some relevant courses from your prior M.A. could be counted by petition.

Is there a preference for students with masters over those with bachelor degrees?

No. Admission is approved on the basis of your B.A. or B.S. degree, even if you already have a Master’s degree.

Can you give me an idea about my chances of being admitted into your program and/or offered funding given my particular background?

No. Decisions are made on a comparative basis by a committee whose members and assessments may vary from year to year. Without seeing the complete application in the context of the other applications, it is difficult to make an assessment.

What kind of jobs do your Ph.D. graduates obtain?

Most of our graduates obtain positions as faculty members at other universities and colleges. Many of them accept postdoctoral positions first before they start these positions. Recent graduates have accepted positions at other University of California campuses (UCB, UCI, UCSD, UCD), Stanford University, the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Yale, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Washington, University of Kansas, SUNYs, and various California State Universities as well as four-year colleges such as Pitzer, Loyola Marymount, Mt. Holyoke, Grinnell, Beloit. Non-academic positions have included research oriented positions at Rand Corporation, the Census Bureau, CDC, LA County Urban Research Division. Our placements since 2002 are listed here .

How can I contact current graduate students and/or faculty to get their perspectives for my upcoming decisions?

You can email students and faculty in your research area directly from our main Sociology website: “People” section. Students who have been admitted to our program are strongly encouraged to attend our “visiting day” (usually first week of March). During visiting day, admitted students will be able to talk to faculty and graduate students and make an informed decision whether this is the right program for you.

Do I need to contact a faculty member to sponsor or support my application?

Can I pursue interest X in your program?

The section about field exams contained in the program description on our web site will give you an idea as to which subspecialties are well represented in our department. Please also read through the list of faculty and students and their research interests to get a sense of the work being done in the department: https://soc.ucla.edu/content/people .

What is the time to completion for the PhD and is it reduced because of my prior MA?

Our normative time to degree is six years and no more than two of these years can be devoted to completing the MA requirements. The actual time to degree varies depending on individual circumstances. If your prior MA is approved within the first year in the program, it can shorten the time to degree.

I’m interested in pursuing a concurrent program for a Ph.D. in sociology and in another field.

This is called an individually designed articulated degree. For information about how to pursue two degrees simultaneously, review page 24 of the Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study . You must be admitted into one of the two programs first and after entering the program, receive approval from the other program, your home department, and the Graduate Division for your individually designed articulated degree.

Where do your graduate students live?

Many of our entering students live in the Weyburn Terrace Housing Complex for the first two years. The department has a limited number of guaranteed spaces each year and can nominate entering students for them. After the first two years, most move to off-campus rentals within 5-7 miles from campus. UCLA also has other off-campus apartment complexes for single and students with families for which graduate students can apply on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information on UCLA apartments go to www.housing.ucla.edu . You can also check listings of private off-campus housing, including rental vacancies and roommate notices, and general information about neighborhoods at the  UCLA’s Community Housing Office .

What is the student/faculty ratio in the sociology graduate department?

We currently have 36 faculty members, 29 Emeriti, and 11 joint appointments (faculty who also have appointments in other departments). We currently have 116 graduate students. The actual faculty/student ratio varies depending on area of interest.

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PhD Admissions

The application portal for fall 2024 is open with an application deadline of january 15, 2024. if you have questions about our graduate program, please contact the director of graduate studies, dr. joshua bloom ( [email protected] ). we are happy to talk with you., application information .

Applicants to the graduate program in sociology at the University of Pittsburgh apply online. Your complete application for Fall term 2024 must be received by January 15.

In an effort to reduce financial barriers to attending graduate school, the Kenneth P. Dietrich Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers application fee waivers. Please note that fee waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis and not all fee waiver requests will be granted.  All requests received will be reviewed and responded to within 48 hours during normal business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. EST.  To be considered for a fee waiver, Please complete the following fee waiver survey for review:  https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cD38CmmjcOT3Tvw .

Application Requirements

The complete application materials include the following:

• An application form
• A non-refundable application fee of $75.
• Describe your relevant research and real-world experience.
• What kind of career do you have in mind, and how will being a disciplined sociologist help you meet your goals?
• Describe a research project you imagine developing in graduate school.
• Describe any relevant previous training and proficiencies in the discipline.
• What led you to apply to the PhD program in Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh?
• A sample of written work (e.g., a senior thesis, term paper, or publication) that provides evidence of creative and critical thinking, quality of writing, and potential for engaging in independent research.
• Three letters of recommendation intended to provide independent evaluation of each applicant's potential. Letters should come from former professors or others who can evaluate your intellectual and academic qualifications for graduate study. Reference writers will submit these forms and letters independently from the application using a link embedded in an e-mail they receive from the online application process.
• Unofficial copy of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended. If non-US citizens, please submit transcripts in the native language accompanied by notarized English translations. The University requires at least a 3.0. GPA. Note: official transcripts will need to be sent if admitted into the program. 

If you are having issues with any part of your on-line application for the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences please reach out to the GradCas Applicant Help center:  https://help.liaisonedu.com/GradCAS_Applicant_Help_Center .  If you cannot find the answer to your question you can also contact them by phone 857-304-2086 or via email:  [email protected] .  For the quickest response it is best to contact them via chat on the Applicant Help center page.

English Proficiency Requirements

All non-U.S. citizens applying to the graduate program, except for those who have received degrees from a U.S. institution or from other English-speaking countries , must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) , International English Language Testing System (IELTS) , or Duolingo English Test as part of their application to demonstrate a sufficient command of English to meet the requirements of their field. The minimum scores are 90 for TOEFL (with at least a score of 22 in all of the four sections of speaking, listening, reading, and writing), 7.0 for IELTS (with at least 6.5 in each of its four sections), and 120 for Duolingo.

The TOEFL is offered several times each year at sites in the United States and abroad. If not available locally, the annual schedules and other information about the TOEFL can be obtained online or by mail from: Educational Testing Service (ETS) TOEFL, Box 6151 Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA (609) 771-7100 NOTE: TOEFL application booklets generally are available at U.S. colleges and universities and at U.S. consulates and U.S. Information Service offices abroad. Foreign students should check with these sources before writing to Princeton.

TOEFL Institution Code: 2927

IELTS official scores should be mailed to: Graduate Administrator University of Pittsburgh 2400 Wesley W. Posvar Hall 230 South Bouquet Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Questions about the application process may be addressed to our Graduate Administrator Paris Yamamoto at  [email protected] .

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Statements of Excellence in Sociology

Sample 1st Paragraph, PHD Degree in Sociology, Kuwait

I help as many people as I have the opportunity to help in the area of Sociology because of my sheer love or this field of study. Raised by parents who put little value on education, I began college late, at the age of 22. My first semester, I was clueless but registered for classes that sounded interesting, which included a Sociology class. That semester, my world lit up like a pinball machine, especially because I learned to think sociologically. I would go on to study mostly Religious Studies and Philosophy, but Sociology would always be with me in the way that I learned to think so long ago; and continue to think until today.

Help with your Personal Statement of Purpose for Graduate School in Sociology.

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, global sociology becomes ever more important, understanding the nature of our international interactions on a scientific level. On a domestic level, sociology is helpful on a host of fronts as well. It helps us to understand why, for example, our country, the United States, is such a deeply divided nation, culture wars, conflict and tension between social classes, age groups, people of diverse sexual orientations, races, languages, etc. Sociology provides the  lens through which we can look at and understand ourselves.

Sociologists must possess a variety of skills to successfully understand that which they study. Graduate students in sociology sociological theory, social psychology, research skills and methods, statistics, and politics. But because there are many specialized areas of sociology, graduate students may also engage in coursework as varied as women's studies, gerontology, and classes dealing with legal issues

 Graduate students usually also focus on one specific area of study. This can include not only certain "geographically-bounded communities,” but also crime patterns, maintenance of ethnic and racial diversity, provision of quality social services, homelessness, domestic violence, and demographic trends in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, to name a few.

 Job opportunities include work in sociological research, teaching at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, and community-based positions, not only schools, but also hospitals and psychological clinics, as well as politics. Other options include sales and marketing, communications, and community development; in fact, the choices are limited only by your imagination and your willingness to explore all your options.

 It is very important that you carefully review the style and presentation of your application material for graduate school before submitting it, especially your Personal Statement of Purpose. Seeking the assistance of a professional writer is often a very good idea, especially if English is your second or third language. I would be happy to draft the first paragraph free of charge so that I have the opportunity to demonstrate to you how I can help in this regard. You will only need to pay for my services if you are very impressed with the first paragraph and decide to commission me to draft the entire statement.

I want to help you get accepted to Graduate School in Sociology.

I would be happy to provide you with a highly eloquent Statement that portrays you as someone with enormous potential to contribute to the advance of the field of sociology over the long term. After you fill out my  Online Interview Form , I will ask you some specific questions by email if I need any further information. Please also send your resume/CV and or rough draft if you have one.

Issues and Challenges in the Provision of Aid

The greatest challenges for those involved in humanitarian aid and development assistance are to and achieve efficiency, effectiveness, and manage the extremely complex political, economic, and social side effects associated with them. It has become increasingly clear that aid is not a panacea, and, although externally driven, humanitarian aid and development assistance programs inevitably take on roles within the conflict and in the societies in which they operate.

As a sociologist, you get to analyze and take part in improving humanitarian action and the relationships by the various actors involved. How will you make your mark? If further study is necessary at this stage in the journey, or you would like help applying for the job of your dreams, let us know if we can help! Good luck.

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Sociology and Women's Studies Major Applying to MSW Program, Sample 1st 2 Paragraphs

Completing my undergraduate studies in Sociology and Women’s Studies enabled me to make the most of my study abroad experience in Tel Aviv, Israel, (January-July 2014), serving as an Intern at the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center. Among other duties, I was assigned the task of reviewing, evaluating, and revising sexual assault prevention programs. This year, May-August 2015, I enjoyed the enormous privilege of serving as a Behavioral Health Specialist with The XXXX Foundation in Scottsdale, AZ, helping youth with substance abuse and mental health issues. These experiences, combined with my leadership role in the Jewish community, have convinced me that I have the heart and soul to do this work.

The Humanitarian Side of Sociology

As protracted internal conflicts have become more common and more deadly, the impact on civilians has increased. Post-Cold War conflicts have caused over five million casualties. Ninety-five percent of them were civilians. In 2001, it was estimated that 35 million people were affected in different ways by conflict internationally.

According to former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, it is increasingly true that "the main aim ... [of conflicts] ... is the destruction not of armies but of civilians and entire ethnic groups."

These disturbing developments have involved extensive humanitarian relief efforts and development assistance to rebuild war-torn countries after the conflict has ended. Development assistance is also a long-term strategy for the prevention of  violence . Although they are presented separately here, humanitarian aid and development assistance often overlap and have a lot in common.

What Is Humanitarian Aid?

Conflicts adversely affect civilians both directly, and indirectly, through resulting "complex emergencies" created by protracted conflicts. In the immediate area of conflict, the primary aim is preventing human casualties and ensuring access to the basics for survival: water, sanitation, food, shelter, and medical care. Away from the main fighting, the priority is to help people who have been  displaced , prevent the spread of conflict, support relief work, and prepare for rehabilitation.

What Is Development Assistance?

External development assistance, to reconstruct a country's infrastructure, institutions, and economy, is often a key part of the work done in the aftermath of war. This assistance ensures that the country can develop, instead of sliding back into conflict and war. Some of the key requirements include:

• Reconstruction  of property and infrastructure to facilitate return of the displaced security, governance, transport of food and supplies, and rebuild the economy.
• Transitioning to normal security conditions: demilitarization, demobilization, reintegration of ex-combatants and an adequate police force.
• A functioning judiciary system to enforce the rule of law.
• Governance and government service provision.
• Democratization , often in the form of a representative government to moderate conflict.
• Economic development  and a stable macroeconomic environment, promoting political stability and facilitating a solid financial base for government.
• Local capacity building: once the donors leave, the country needs to function independently of aid and function adequately.

The link between underdevelopment and propensity to conflict makes development assistance important in  violence prevention . The structural factors  contributing to conflict include political, economic, and social  inequalities ; extreme poverty; economic stagnation; poor government services; high unemployment and individual (economic) incentives to go to war and fight. Development assistance must attempt to reduce inequalities between groups and reduce economic incentives to fight by controlling illicit trade.

It is probable that the most important principle of development assistance is the use of  aid conditionality  to promote economic and political practices that strengthen peacebuilding. Donor assistance is often conditional on acceptance of a peace settlement by all sides. Continued commitment to implementing and consolidating peace is also often required.

Coordination  and effective  leadership  of the humanitarian relief effort is extremely important if the duplication and conflicting activities are to be minimized and the exchange and flow of intelligence in an extremely difficult and stressful working environment are to be maximized. Coordination is usually provided by the UN.

Funding for humanitarian aid and development assistance comes mostly from foreign governments: approximately 50 percent of funding is channeled through U.N. agencies, and much of this is then allocated to partner agencies that implement the programs.

Tips for Applying

Every year the sociology graduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison receives hundreds of applications, but we are only able to admit a small fraction (fewer than 10 percent) of those applicants, making the selection process extremely rigorous.

The graduate admission committee considers a wide range of factors when selecting applicants, including academic record, GPA, TOEFL scores (in the case of international students), transcripts, statement of purpose and applicant’s goals, letters of reference, writing sample, previous research experience, and fit with our program. No one of these factors outweighs the others; rather they are examined in combination.

Although many of these factors are already set by the time a student applies to the graduate program, careful preparation of one’s statement of purpose and writing sample can help to improve one’s chances of admission. With that in mind, below are some potentially useful tips for preparing your application.

To begin with, make sure your file is complete and the application materials are submitted on time. In addition:

• Make your statement of reasons for graduate study concise (no more than two pages) and readable (double-spaced, or at least skip lines between paragraphs, and 12- point font).
• Things to avoid in your statement: There is no need for a lengthy recounting of past coursework (it’s redundant: we have your transcript) or a detailed research proposal. We do want to see that you have some clear research interests, but a personal statement is not a research proposal. Also, avoid extraneous information. The admission committee doesn’t need to know, for instance, about your experience as captain of the Quidditch team. These things have no bearing on your admission. Finally, it’s best to avoid stories about how you have been destined to become a sociologist since birth or how you were always already a sociologist. Even if it’s true, it will sound like a cliché.
• Your statement should indicate that you know what graduate school is and what it is for: that it is essentially professional training and not simply a continuation of your undergraduate education. Thus, it’s helpful to say a few words about your future career plans. Why do you want a Ph.D? What will you do with the degree? Do you plan to pursue an academic career, like most applicants we admit, or some other kind of career? If some other kind of career, why do you need a Ph.D. for it? Why do you want a Ph.D. in sociology and not another discipline, especially if your background or previous degrees are in another field? If you are in another graduate program already, why do you want to transfer? This information will show that you’re serious about studying sociology at the graduate level and that you know why you’re doing it.
• What draws you to this particular graduate program? You may want to mention, for instance, specific faculty members you’d like to work with here and why. This will keep the statement from appearing generic (an impression you want to avoid) and demonstrate your familiarity with our graduate program. It will look more convincing if you’ve actually exchanged emails or spoken on the phone with those faculty (If you have, note it in your statement!). Remember that the admission process is like a courtship: we’re courting you (maybe), but you’re courting us as well, so tailor your statement to our program.
•  If you have any weak spots in your application, the statement of purpose is a good place to call attention to mitigating or extenuating circumstances the committee may not be aware of, explain how you are remedying this weakness, and/or make a case why the weak score is not the best or most accurate indicator of your abilities in this area.
• It’s helpful to highlight in your statement any previous research experience you have (senior thesis, master’s thesis, research assistantship, etc.). Research experience is by no means required for admission, but it may help to distinguish your application from others.
•  You may have acquired considerable knowledge in a particular subfield of sociology, especially if you have already completed some graduate study, but don’t assume that everyone on the admission committee will be a specialist in that field.
• “Whoever wants a sermon,” Max Weber once wrote, “should go to a conventicle”—not to graduate school. Having a passion for social justice is not a bad thing, and it often serves as a powerful motivation for good sociological work, but sociology should not be confused with muckraking. Simply exposing injustice and oppression is not the same thing as illuminating the workings of society. It’s not news to social scientists that some groups are dominated or exploited by others.
• Before you submit an extremely long writing sample, remember that the admission committee must review hundreds of applications. This usually compels us to skim through lengthy writing samples. Better to excerpt the best part of a long paper or thesis and preface it with a brief introduction that summarizes the paper as a whole and explains how the excerpt fits into it.
• What makes for a good solid writing sample? Clear and well-organized writing, careful reasoning, research experience, but above all a capacity for creative and imaginative thinking. We look for applicants who try to do more than describe what they have studied. We look for applicants who, as our former colleague Erik Wright liked to put it, strive to learn from a case and not simply about it.

We hope these suggestions will be helpful. Good luck with your application!

If you have questions, please email our Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Alice Justice, at [email protected] .

Writing the Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should convince the admissions committee that your achievements show promise for your success in graduate study. Think of the statement of purpose as a composition with four different parts.

Make sure to check on the appropriate departmental website to find out if your statement should include additional or specific information.

Part 1: Introduce yourself, your interests and motivations

Tell them what you’re interested in, and perhaps, what sparked your desire for graduate study. This should be short and to the point; don’t spend a great deal of time on autobiography.

Part 2: Summarize your undergraduate and previous graduate career

a) Research you conducted. Indicate with whom, the title of the project, what your responsibilities were, and the outcome. Write technically, or in the style of your discipline. Faculty are the people who read these statements.

b) Important paper or thesis project you completed, as well as anything scholarly beyond your curricular requirements.

c) Work experience, especially if you had any kind of responsibility for testing, designing, researching or interning in an area similar to what you wish to study in graduate school.

Part 3: Discuss the relevance of your recent and current activities

If you graduated and worked prior to returning to graduate school, indicate what you’ve been doing: company or non-profit, your work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned. You can also indicate here how this helped you focus your graduate studies.

Part 4: Elaborate on your academic interests

Here you indicate what you would like to study in graduate school in enough detail to convince the faculty that you understand the scope of research in their discipline, and are engaged with current research themes.

a) Indicate the area of your interests. Ideally, pose a question, define a problem, or indicate a theme that you would like to address, and questions that arise from contemporary research. This should be an ample paragraph!

b) Look on the web for information about departments you’re interested in, including professors and their research. Are there professors whose research interests parallel yours? If so, indicate this. Check the specific program; many may require you to name a professor or professors with whom you might work.

c) End your statement in a positive manner, indicating your excitement and readiness for the challenges ahead of you.

Essential Tips

1. What the admissions committee will read between the lines: self-motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student.

2. Emphasize everything from a positive perspective and write in an active, not a passive voice.

3. Demonstrate everything by example; don’t say directly that you’re a persistent person, show it.

4. If there is something important that happened to you that affected your grades, such as poverty, illness, or excessive work, state it. Write it affirmatively, showing your perseverance despite obstacles. You can elaborate more in your personal statement.

5. Make sure everything is linked with continuity and focus.

6. Unless the specific program says otherwise, be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.

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How to apply.

Our admissions decisions are made by a departmental committee; individual faculty do not accept individual students. We therefore do not necessarily encourage applicants to contact faculty individually, nor do faculty typically meet with prospective applicants. We do encourage you to carefully look at our department faculty pages to identify areas of overlap—methodologically, substantively, theoretically—with your own interests, among several faculty, as you develop your statement of purpose.

• Writing sample: Each applicant will be asked to provide one writing sample. (A second, supplementary writing sample of a similar length is optional.) Writing samples demonstrate the student’s academic interests and their capacity for thinking sociologically. We use writing samples to evaluate ability and intellectual fit with the strengths of our department. As a result, we strongly prefer a writing sample that is solo-authored by the applicant.    Typically, a writing sample should be 3,000-8,000 words and is usually a research paper written for a social science class, a senior thesis, or an MA thesis.

For further information, see the  Office of Graduate Admissions website .

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Note: GRE Scores are no longer considered in our admissions process.

Applicants must submit the following to be considered for admission to graduate study at the University of Michigan's Sociology Department:

• University of Michigan Graduate Application and Fee
• Subplan(s) - Subplans are not required, but if you do know which area you are interested in, please select it in your application (Program Selection cont'd) and statement of purpose.  Subplans are mapped onto the department's Area Exam topics. Students' intellectual interests often evolve and change after they begin graduate school; identifying a subplan does not restrict a student to that area once they arrive, but instead gives the admissions committee as sense of the intellectual breadth of the incoming cohort.
• Official transcripts (SCANNED COPY) - Upload a scanned copy of your official transcripts when you complete the online application. We only require official transcripts be sent from an institution's registrar's office once a student is admitted. Please check the Rackham Graduate School's website regarding Transcripts for the most up-to-date information on this process. 
• Academic Statement of Purpose - The Statement of Purpose is the single most important item in your application. The purpose of this essay is to give the faculty a clear idea of a) why you want to pursue a career in sociology; b) what questions or problems interest you; c) how you want to address these questions; d) your subplan interest(s), if applicable; and e) why you want to pursue your graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This statement should be 1-3 pages long.
• Personal Statement - Tell us about yourself. How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan? For example, if you grew up in a community where educational, cultural, or other opportunities were either especially plentiful or especially lacking, you might discuss the impact this had on your development and interests. This should be a discussion of the journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree.  This statement should be no more than 500 words long.   Please do not repeat your Academic Statement of Purpose .
• Sample of written work  - This sample (senior thesis, term paper, etc.) should provide evidence of creative and critical thinking, quality of writing, and potential independent research. The sample should be 10-20 pages double-spaced.
• Three letters of recommendation which evaluate the applicant’s past academic performance and potential for graduate study. Our application system does not accept letters of recommendation through Interfolio. Once you get to the letter of recommendation portion of the application, you will enter the email addresses for your recommendation letters and a confidential link with instructions will be sent to your recommenders for submission. Letters of recommendation are due on December 1st and must be submitted through the online application system.

*International students -  please see additional information listed here .

Please be sure to confirm your materials are correct and finalized before submitting your application, as we are unable to accept changes to application materials after they have been submitted.

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If you or your recommender need technical assistance regarding the application or recommendation systems please email ApplyWeb at [email protected] . Include the following information: user name, full name, email address, and phone number. Please allow 24 hours for a response.

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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 .

Ph.D. in Sociology

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 19
• Students: 41
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 95%
• Application terms: Fall
• Application deadline: December 20

Scott Lynch Director of Graduate Studies Department of Sociology Duke University Box 90088 Durham, NC 27708-0088

Phone: (919) 660-5614

Email: [email protected]

Website:  http://sociology.duke.edu/

Program Description

Areas of specialization are Culture, Affect, & Cognition; Health, Demography, & the Life Course; Organizational & Economic Sociology; Race, Ethnicity, & Inequality; Religion & Social Change; Social Networks & Computational Social Science. Our mentorship approach to graduate education allows students to have a close working relationship with faculty members. Research productivity is high, and most students publish by the time they graduate. Students also have the opportunity to receive teacher training and gain teaching experience.

Duke provides extensive computer support services, a first-rate research library, and a comprehensive collection of social science data bases. Graduate study is further enhanced by opportunities to participate in many interdisciplinary programs and centers at Duke, such as the Population Research Institute, the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, the Center for Child and Family Policy, the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research,  the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Gender in the Social Sciences, the Duke Network Analysis Center, the Kenan Institute for Ethics, and the Social Science Research Institute. 

• Sociology: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
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Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadline:  December 20

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General Required
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Department-Specific Application Requirements (submitted through online application)

Statement of Purpose Guidelines We train future researchers. As such, we want to know about your interest in and experience with research. Tell us about your senior thesis, research apprenticeships, and experience at a think tank or other research institute. Tell us, too, about what you want to study in the future. You don’t need to have a precise research question nailed down – in fact, we don’t want you to come in with your heart set on a single question – but we do want to hear about what kind of questions motivate you, what your interests are, and why. If you have any demonstrated strengths (awards, high grades, etc.), mention them too, though in a matter-of-fact way rather than in a boasting way.

We also want to know why you think Duke is a good fit. Of course, we want to know your intellectual reasons, but if you also have a tie to North Carolina or any other reason that makes you specifically excited about Duke, please tell us that too.

There are also things that some applicants include that you should probably avoid. Since we are training future researchers, we’re less interested in your experience with activism, teaching, and extracurricular activities. Of course, these are all potentially great things to do; they are just not relevant for admission to graduate school.

Writing Sample A 10-20 page writing sample should be uploaded to the Departmental Requirements section of the online application. This is generally a seminar paper written for a Sociology class. If you have been out of school and have written/co-written and/or published/co-published an article, you may submit that article, too. We look for two key criteria: evidence of understanding and executing social science research and writing ability.

Additional Components Applicants to the joint Ph.D. program in Public Policy and Allied Disciplines must submit an additional essay for admission to the program. Regardless of your selection of primary department, please respond to the following prompt:

In 500 words or less, please explain your interest in the joint Ph.D. program offered between Public Policy and an Allied Discipline. Highlight how your research interests and past experiences lie at the intersection between Public Policy and the Allied Discipline and how participation in the joint program will facilitate your professional goals after receiving your degree.

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying: Departmental Application Guidance

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• Sociology Forum

Sample Statement of Purpose

By s0ciology1992 October 20, 2015 in Sociology Forum

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• s0ciology1992

I just wanted to go ahead and start a specific thread on the statement of purpose. I've been able to find SoP examples for most graduate school fields/topics, except for sociology. A simple search will get you great results for the general organization of a SoP, but I was wondering if anyone had specific, successful examples? I keep trying to figure out what the start, also known as the "hook," should be; the tone of professionalism I should use; how much focus should be placed on "why sociology?"; should I highlight the specific debates in my areas of research/interest and offer my intervention; to what length should I be speaking about my undergraduate coursework and honors thesis (It's been two years since); graduate research plan and folks I'm interested in working with. 

A lot of questions, basically. 

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This is so helpful, Thanks so much SocPhDStudent. 

fuzzylogician

I did something similar to SocPhDStudent:

Paragraph 1: My research interests, and the broader question that the specific interests are a derivative of.

Paragraph 2: Past research experience #1.

Paragraph 3: Past research experience #2 and related teaching experience.

Paragraph 4: How these past research experiences are connected, and how they inform my current research interests and plans for what I will study in grad school.

Paragraph 5: Why University X is a good fit for my interests, focusing mainly on faculty and resources within the department.

Paragraph 6: If necessary, an additional paragraph for resources outside the department, such as researchers at other departments, special diplomas, access to lab resources, etc. If there wasn't much, this would get folded into P5. 

Conclusion: Plans beyond the PhD, short statement about how Uni X will get me there.

• historygeek and s0ciology1992

I keep trying to figure out what the start, also known as the "hook," should be; the tone of professionalism I should use; how much focus should be placed on "why sociology?"; should I highlight the specific debates in my areas of research/interest and offer my intervention; to what length should I be speaking about my undergraduate coursework and honors thesis (It's been two years since); graduate research plan and folks I'm interested in working with.  A lot of questions, basically. 

I would advise against trying to "force a hook". Otherwise, it might come across as too fake. Don't put too much pressure to write the perfect statement the first time your pen hits the paper (figuratively). Just crank out some thoughts on your intellectual chronology and adjust it later. My personal statement has been "finished" for 2 months, but I'm still nit-picking it and revising as necessary. 

That being said, when you get your thoughts on paper, omit any reference to how "you've always been interested in sociology". I also would advise against positioning your research statement by "highlighting debates in your research area and your intervention" for two reasons: you might potentially come across as having a messiah complex (these problems weren't properly evaluated/solved until s0ciology1992 intervened!) OR it's possible that someone on the adcom would disagree with you (maybe not your POI, but you don't know who might be reading/evaluating), especially if it is controversial. I'd say focus mostly on your graduate research plan and academic background. Think of particular articles/books/problems that have forced you to confront/have a change of heart....I think these things can be powerful content possibly worth mentioning somewhere.

I write with mostly the tone of a cover letter, but with a little bit of personality so it's not cold. Don't write informally. Don't write too much personal information into your statement (illness, family drama, etc.). 

Take this for what it's worth, but make sure you "speak" the language of the department you're applying to. For example, I'm (broadly) interested in human geography and political ecology. One department that I'm applying to doesn't really emphasize human geography (it's assumed that's the branch of geography you'll be doing), so I focus more on how I can contribute to discussions on political ecology (via territoriality, border constructions, etc.). Look at professors' interests in the department as a whole and make sure you reflect that verbiage. 

• s0ciology1992 and Shamon

Good advice already given.

I would just highlight, again, a "no" to the question of: "S hould I highlight the specific debates in my areas of research/interest and offer my intervention?"

It reminds me of the  recommendation letter Edward Shils wrote for Michael Burawoy in 1975:

"It is my impression that Mr. Burawoy is hampered intellectually by excessive and unrealistic preoccupation with what he regards as conflicts between himself and the prevailing trends of sociological analysis in the United States. He seems to think that he must struggle to prevent himself from being overpowered or seduced by "mainstream sociology." At the same time, I have not even detected any originality on Mr. Burawoy's part in analysis which he has made from the standpoint which he regards as disfavoured in American sociology . . . It might be that there is no spark of originality in him, or it might be that he is holding it in reserve. Since, however, I have known him for a long time and he has never hesitated to express his opinions to me on a wide variety of political and other subjects, I would incline toward the former hypothesis. . . when I first met him, I was very much struck by his initiative. He knew nothing about sociology, and he knew nothing about India, but he struck out on his own, and that seemed to me to be admirable and worthy of encouragement. In the Department of Sociology he has done well in his examinations. . . In seminars, I have been more struck by an obstinate conventionality and a fear of being led into paths which might disturb his rather simple view of society. It is a great pity because he obviously likes to do research and he is not inhibited when it comes to writing. He also has a very good I.Q. But somehow, either the security of sectarianism or a juvenile antinomianism seems to have got the better of him. I first noticed the latter in Cambridge. At that time he was an undergraduate and I thought it would pass. Thus far it has not."

  I write with mostly the tone of a cover letter, but with a little bit of personality so it's not cold. Don't write informally. Don't write too much personal information into your statement (illness, family drama, etc.).   

For me, illness was a huge reason why I became interested in sociology, and it has shaped my research interests as well.  I have a chronic illness that is common, as it affects 1 in 10 women!! However, it is stigmatized and invisible due to its nature as a women's illness (endometriosis).  I've lived the (largely gendered) inequality of illness and was forced to drop out of high school because of this illness.  This has fueled my interest in medical sociology, and what I've learned throughout my academic pursuits has strengthened that passion.  Since my experience with illness is the root of my interest in medical sociology, and since I can show how far I've come through telling that story (that a high school drop out is getting her master's degree and is applying for PhD programs), I'm going to have to talk about illness.  

The point of posting all that was that I hope I can find that balance between including enough about myself and too much .  The good news is that I know how much to talk about my illness without being unprofessional, but writing ... hmm ... I'll need some more practice.

Also, my SOP will be more well-written than this post haha!

• rollwithmarx
• 2 weeks later...

anthrostudentcyn

I guess I'd question the describing your research experience. My advisor for my department (anthro) told me to not talk AT ALL about what I've done, but just to talk about what I WILL do. So my SOP is coming out a lot more like a research proposal. This may be a bit extreme, but I'd question the necessity of talking about your research experience, when presenting your ideas would be an example of "showing, not telling" your intellectual capacity. 

Whenever I write a grant proposal, I do my best to cite and describe my relevant previous work. It makes for a better case that I can actually carry out the new research that I am proposing. What you are proposing makes no sense for a SOP or for a research proposal.  

Absolutely not true.

Your objective in the Statement is to show a trajectory - you should talk about what you've done before you talk about what you will do.

Definitely listen to the steps listed above. I did similar format and i got in. 

You don't need a hook. But you do need a solid intro. Also stay formal. You can bring in personal aspects, but write like you're applying to be a phd student, because you are.

Explicitly listing faculty and fit are important. Your research interests can and likely will change, but you gotta sell yourself. 

• 2 years later...

historygeek

On 10/20/2015 at 8:46 PM, fuzzylogician said: I did something similar to SocPhDStudent: Paragraph 1: My research interests, and the broader question that the specific interests are a derivative of. Paragraph 2: Past research experience #1. Paragraph 3: Past research experience #2 and related teaching experience. Paragraph 4: How these past research experiences are connected, and how they inform my current research interests and plans for what I will study in grad school. Paragraph 5: Why University X is a good fit for my interests, focusing mainly on faculty and resources within the department. Paragraph 6: If necessary, an additional paragraph for resources outside the department, such as researchers at other departments, special diplomas, access to lab resources, etc. If there wasn't much, this would get folded into P5.  Conclusion: Plans beyond the PhD, short statement about how Uni X will get me there.

This is great! Saving this for reference. 

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Department of Sociology

• PhD Requirements
• Application and Admissions
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• Joint Program with Applied Mathematics & Statistics

The department’s primary educational goal is to train first-class sociology PhDs. The sociology graduate experience at Johns Hopkins is best characterized as a research apprenticeship – a careful blend of formal instruction, faculty-directed individual study, and supervised yet self-initiated research. The department’s small size and specific concentrations yield a personalized course of study and close relationships with faculty members and fellow graduate students. The social climate is informal, and the mix of students and faculty, all drawn from a wide variety of geographic and social backgrounds, constitutes a rewarding intellectual community.

Students must complete the program requirements , which include a core curriculum, elective courses, a research apprenticeship, a teaching assistantship, a residency, and a dissertation.

While not required, students may choose a graduate concentration :

• The Program on Global Social Change concentration focuses on cross-national, comparative research, and log-term, world scale social change
• The Program on Social Inequality concentration focuses on the causes and consequences of social inequality, the social processes that sustain it, and how social policies can reduce it

For students looking to acquire advanced statistical knowledge and applied research skills, the department also offers a joint program with the Whiting School of Engineering’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Graduates of the program will earn a PhD in sociology and an MA or MSE in applied mathematics and statistics.

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Eligibility requirements.

Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements set by the Graduate School and OGA, namely:

• 3.0 GPA or higher on all upper-division and graduate coursework.
• GRE. This requirement is waived for Fall 2025. However, students may want to submit a score with their application. If submitting GRE scores: Take ONLY the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE. The GRE writing portion is NOT considered. The GRE subject test in Sociology is NOT required.
• International applicants - Take the TOEFL/IELTS. An overall score of 550 (paper test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) on the TOEFL OR an overall band of 6.5 on the IELTS is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to UT Austin and the Sociology program. There are no individual section minimums for Sociology.

These eligibility requirements cannot be waived. More information can be found at gradschool.utexas.edu/how-to-apply , which also gives information about exceptions, fee waivers, etc.

Application - Please read all of the following information carefully

The Department only accepts applications for the fall semester. We do NOT defer admission.

Applications are completely online through OGA at gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions and must be completed and submitted by DECEMBER 1. All paper applications and materials (including recommendation letters) sent to OGA or the Sociology Department will be unread and disposed of. Mailed, faxed, emailed, or hand-delivered applications and materials will not be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit and pay for their application early (at least 3 business days) so as to allow time to upload their supplementary materials, and to allow their recommenders time to submit their letters, all by DECEMBER 1 (see below about the supplementary materials and letters). Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Within 1–2 business day(s) after submitting and paying for an application, applicants will receive an email message from OGA acknowledging that the application has been received. The applicant's UT EID and temporary password will be included in this correspondence, as well as a link to the Online Admissions Status Check page. From that site applicants will be given the opportunity to upload a PDF copy of their OFFICIAL transcript, as well as Writing Sample, Statement of Purpose, and CV - see below for more information. (If applicants are offered admission, they will be asked to mail an official paper transcript for the institutions attended prior to enrolling.)

Application materials consist of:

• Application form.   gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions . On the form, applicants MUST choose 1 of the 10 areas of specialization listed. (Note this can change after they are in the program.)
• Application fee (nonrefundable). $65 for US applicants, $90 for international applicants. Waiver information can be found here .
• OFFICIAL transcripts for each senior college attended. To be submitted online on the Online Admissions Status Check page, after submitting and paying for the application. Note: each transcript can be uploaded ONLY ONCE, so please make sure the correct and full version of each transcript is being uploaded. Junior and community college transcripts are NOT necessary.
• Official GRE scores. Five years old or less (through Dec 1 and when OGA receives them from ETS). To be submitted by ETS directly to OGA. School code: 6882. No major code. This requirement is waived for Fall 2025. However, students may want to submit a score with their application.
• Official TOEFL/IELTS scores (international applicants only). Two years old or less (through Dec 1 and when OGA receives them from ETS). To be submitted by ETS directly to OGA. School code: 6882. No major code. For IELTS, refer to here .
• Three letters of recommendation. Recommenders will be automatically notified by email with instructions on how to upload their letters once applicants have submitted and paid for their application. Letters and materials sent through folio services (such as Interfolio) WILL NOT be accepted.

PROMPT 1: In no longer than three pages double-spaced (approximately 750 words), describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study and your academic and professional interests and goals. Your statement should clearly and succinctly address questions such as:  a) Why do you want to pursue a career in sociology? b) What sociological questions or problems interest you? c) How have you prepared yourself for graduate study in sociology? and d) Why do you want to pursue your graduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin?

PROMPT 2: In no longer than three pages double-spaced (approximately 750 words), please address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in the Sociology program and contribute to the University community and the field or profession.

• Writing sample. One 10-20 page double-spaced academic, sociological writing sample written in English. Please do not submit anything over the page limit, including entire theses. To be submitted online on the Online Admissions Status Check page, after submitting and paying for the application.
• Curriculum vitae or resume. To be submitted online on the Online Admissions Status Check page, after submitting and paying for the application.

Please follow the instructions above and on gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions very carefully. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure the appropriate materials are completed, properly uploaded, and submitted online through the OGA website. Failure to do so will significantly delay the review of the application and chances for admission to the Sociology graduate program. To check the status of an application, refer to the contacts and information on the Admissions homepage or go to utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/adm/mystatus .

For general questions about the application process, visit the Admissions website . For specific questions about the Sociology program, visit the FAQ or email the graduate program administrator .

Change-of-Major Applications

For change-of-major applicants (applicants already admitted to the UT Austin Graduate School) ONLY: Please follow the instructions here . The December 1 deadline and supporting document requirements still apply.

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Sociology Personal Statement Examples

What is a sociology personal statement?

Writing a personal statement for sociology is a chance to sell yourself to the admissions tutors and show them why you would make a great sociology candidate. It’s a place to describe your skills and strengths, as well as your career plans.

You are allowed up to 4000 characters to explain why you are applying for a sociology degree, so you need to make sure your statement is as polished as possible to stand out from the crowd.

How do I write a good sociology personal statement?

Good sociology personal statements always use evidence to support their claims. You need to convince admissions tutors that you’re a good match for the programme, so if you claim to be committed or inquisitive, then use examples from your life to back it up.

To write a great sociology personal statement you need to start early, brainstorm some ideas, and then begin your first draft.

This will then need to be carefully revised and edited before asking family and friends for feedback. Incorporate their comments and suggestions, and see how it is improved before asking them to look at it again.

Read through our sociology personal statement examples to give you an idea of what a good sociology statement entails.

Make sure you proofread your statement for grammar and spelling before sending it off, and if you feel you need a little extra help, take a look at our personal statement editing services .

What should I include in my sociology personal statement?

Many students choose to start their statement by picking a specific aspect of sociology and explaining why they enjoy it.

Admissions tutors want candidates that are as passionate about the subject as they are.

As well as your motivations for studying sociology, think about your hobbies and extracurricular activities too. What skills have you learned from these and how will these help you in your sociology degree?

Talk about any work experience placements you have completed, e.g. shadowing a social worker or someone in a related profession. What did you take away from this experience? Do you feel you have all the necessary personal traits and qualities that make a good sociology student?

Your wider reading is also important, so it's worth mentioning anything you've read recently that you found interesting and why. Generally, admissions tutors like students who express their views and opinions, and can back them up with evidence.

For more help and advice on what to write in your sociology personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

What can I do with a sociology degree?

There are many different career options open to those wishing to study sociology at university. These include:

• Advice worker
• Further or higher education teacher
• International aid worker
• Policy officer
• Social researcher
• Youth worker

However, there are jobs in other industries where your sociology degree might be useful, such as:

• Police or proation officer
• Family support worker
• Civil service administrator

For more information about careers with a sociology degree, please see Prospects and TargetJobs .

What are the best UK universities for sociology?

Currently, the best universities in the UK for studying sociology are:

For more information on UK university rankings for sociology, please see The Complete University Guide .

Related resources

How to become a social worker.

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