Program Statistics
Visit PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Sociology
Degree Types: PhD
The Doctoral Program in Sociology has particular strength in several substantive specialties – the sociology of culture; social organization, institutions, and social movements; sexualities; social inequality, labor markets, race, and gender; comparative and historical sociology; law and society; economic sociology – and we welcome research that falls outside of these areas as well.
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Thomas Winters
Graduate Program Coordinator
847-491-5415
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
Master's
The Department of Sociology does not offer a terminal MA degree. Sociology PhD students may apply for a master’s degree en route to their PhD. The Department of Sociology requires that all departmental required courses be completed, and second year paper be approved, as part of these 9 graded courses.
PhD
Total Units Required: 20 Units (plus 1 quarter of SOCIOL 480-0 Introduction to the Discipline)
For detailed information on The Sociology Department’s PhD Program requirements please see the Sociology Graduate Student Handbook (The Whole Hooey). The general requirements are for students to take the following:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Required Coursework (9 Units plus 1 quarter of SOCIOL 480)) | |
| Statistics Courses (2 Units) | |
SOCIOL 401-1 | Statistical Analysis of Social Data: Applied Regression Methods I (Required) |
SOCIOL 401-2 | Statistical Analysis of Social Data: Applied Regression Methods II (Required) |
| Theory Courses (2 Units) | |
SOCIOL 406-1 | Classical Theory in Sociological Analysis (Required) |
One additional theory course | |
| Methods Courses (2 Units) | |
SOCIOL 403-0 | Field Methods (Required) |
One additional methods course | |
| Teaching Seminar (1 Unit) | |
SOCIOL 570-0 | Seminar on College Teaching (Required) |
| Non-credit Proseminar | |
SOCIOL 480-0 | Introduction to the Discipline (Required in Fall Quarter of Year 1) |
| Second-Year Paper Seminar (1 Unit) | |
SOCIOL 490-0 | Research: Second Year Paper (Required in Year 2) |
| Seminar on Sociology of Race & Racism (1 Unit) | |
SOCIOL 410-0 | Race, Racism, and Resistance (Required) |
| Elective Coursework (11 units) | |
Sociology Department Electives (8 Units)* | |
Outside Department Electives (3 Units) | |
- *
Due to the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, students admitted between 2018-2020 may count up to two SOCIOL 499-0 Independent Study as department electives.
Other PhD Degree Requirements
- Research/Projects: Second-year paper suitable for publication that must be completed by the end of 2nd year (may be used as master's thesis; see Master's above).
- Examinations: Qualifying examination for admission to candidacy is the Special Fields Paper that must be completed at the end of 3rd year.
- PhD Dissertation: Based on original, independent research
- Final Evaluations: Defense of dissertation