Sociology, Applied (PhD)

PhD Sociology2

The Department of Sociology offers a master’s degree in sociology, a doctoral degree in applied sociology, and a joint master’s-doctoral degree in sociology which allows a student to be admitted to the master’s program and, upon completion, enter the PhD program without having to re-apply.

Admissions Requirements

We are committed to a holistic review of applications, considering course grades and GPA(s) alongside writing samples, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.  However, admission into our program requires:

For the MA or joint MA-PhD:

  • An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and a cumulative GPA of 3.2.
  • Previous undergraduate coursework (and minimum grades) in statistics (B+), research methods (B), and social theory (B).  (Students may be allowed to use equivalent courses for these prerequisites and should provide a course syllabus for the Department to review.)
  • If an international student whose native language is not English, proof of language proficiency, as required by the Graduate School.

For the PhD:

  • A graduate degree from an accredited institution and a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.5.
  • Previous graduate coursework in sociology and coursework in statistics, research methods, qualitative research methods, and survey research methods.  (Students may be allowed to use equivalent graduate courses for these prerequisites and should provide a course syllabus for the Department to review.)
  • A completed thesis (or original independent work of research) from another accredited graduate program from which the student has graduated.
  • If an international student whose native language is not English, proof of language proficiency, as required by the Graduate School.

In exceptional cases, students not qualified for regular admission may be admitted conditionally.  The Department will consider student applications for nondegree status on a case-by-case basis.

Application Requirements

All applicants must submit to the Graduate Admissions Office:

  • A graduate application. 
  • Official copies of transcripts from all accredited colleges/universities attended.  (Students with international transcripts must have those credentials evaluated, as required by the Graduate School.)
  • Two letters of recommendation if applying to the MA program and three letters if applying to the joint MA-PhD or PhD program, preferably from former instructors and in sociology, if possible.  (Those serving as references should complete the online recommendation form emailed to them once the student has started an application and include a discursive letter of recommendation to that same site.)
  • A curriculum vitae or résumé.
  • Proof of language proficiency, if an international student whose native language is not English.
  • A writing sample, such as a senior-level course paper (if applying to the MA or joint MA-PhD program) and either the student's written thesis or another completed original independent work of research (if applying to the PhD program).
  • A personal statement (500-750 words) addressing all of the points below and giving the Department's Graduate Committee a basis for evaluating the student's interest in and ability to complete the program:

For the MA or joint MA-PhD:

  • Please explain your reasons for applying to the master’s program in sociology at the University of Louisville.
  • Discuss your professional or occupational objectives and how you envision the department’s program fitting into those objectives.
  • Describe the areas of sociology you find especially interesting for study and/or research and identify the sociology faculty with whom you might be interested in working.  (NOTE that our department does not operate with research teams under the supervision of particular faculty, and faculty are not part of the admission process, so applicants do not need to seek permission to work with one or more faculty members but should identify those with whom they would like to work and explain why.)
  • Reflect on your experiences, skills, and/or knowledge related to your potential to engage in applied research in this graduate program.

For the PhD:

  • Please explain your reasons for applying to the doctoral program in sociology at the University of Louisville.
  • Discuss your professional or occupational objectives and how you envision the department’s program fitting into those objectives.
  • Describe the areas of sociology you find especially interesting for study and/or research and identify the sociology faculty with whom you might be interested in working.  (NOTE that our department does not operate with research teams under the supervision of particular faculty, and faculty are not part of the admission process, so applicants do not need to seek permission to work with one or more faculty members but should identify those with whom they would like to work and explain why.)
  • At the end of your personal statement, list all completed graduate-level methods and/or statistics courses exactly as they appear on your transcript(s), indicate the grade you received in each course, and include a short blurb for each course in which you describe the topics covered (to assist the department in its review of your application and determining if you need to take additional courses, such as general research methods, qualitative methods, survey methods, and statistics). 

Students may supplement their application file with GRE scores, but GRE scores are not required for admission. 

Application Deadlines

The application deadline for fall admission is December 15 for those wishing to be considered for department funding (e.g., graduate teaching or research assistantships) and June 1 for those not seeking funding.  For the PhD program, the application deadline for spring admission is October 1 whether seeking funding or not.  (There are no spring admissions into the MA or joint MA-PhD program and no summer admissions into any programs in sociology.)

Funding Opportunities

Only applicants to the PhD-only and joint MA-PhD programs in sociology are eligible to be considered for graduate assistantships and fellowships, which are awarded on a competitive basis and provide an annual stipend, full-time tuition reimbursement, and student health insurance. (Funding is not available to students who apply only to our MA program.) In exchange, students are expected to provide 20 hours of weekly service to the department in the form of teaching or research assistance (assignments which are determined by the Department).  (Note: The Graduate School prohibits funded students from holding additional employment, and assistantships/fellowships do not cover student fees.)

Students wanting to be considered for funding must submit their full application packet by the deadlines above, as well as include with their application materials a brief letter indicating their wish to be considered for funding and discussing their potential to serve in the role of graduate assistant. (Funding awards across the University are usually announced by March 15 for the subsequent fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester.) 

Program Requirements

Year 1
Fall9-10
SOC 704 Proseminar in Sociology-PhD (only if SOC 604 Proseminar not taken in SOC MA Program) 1 hr
SOC 735 Classical Theory OR SOC 738 Contemporary Theory (rotating each year) 3 hrs
SOC 691 Topical Seminar (topic will vary from year to year) OR an outside elective 3 hrs
SOC 665 Sociology of Gender, or SOC 675 Social Inequality & Stratification, or SOC 685 Race and Ethnicity (on rotating basis, offered every third year) 3 hrs
Spring9
SOC 710 Statistics II 3 hrs
SOC 740 Social Policy or SOC 691 Topical Seminar (these two courses will rotate each year; seminar topic will vary) 3 hrs
SOC 790 Independent Study OR an outside elective 3 hrs
Summer
SOC 706 Exam Prep (only taken by funded students) 3-9 hrs
Year 2
Fall9
SOC 715 Statistics III 3hrs
SOC 735 Classical Theory or SOC 738 Contemporary Theory (rotating each year) 3 hrs
SOC 665 Sociology of Gender, or SOC 675 Social Inequality & Stratification, or SOC 685 Race and Ethnicity (on rotating basis, offered every third year) 3 hrs
Spring9
SOC 740 Social Policy or SOC 691 Topical Seminar (these two courses will rotate each year; seminar topic will vary) 3 hrs
SOC 795 Dissertation Research 6 hrs
Summer
Doctoral Candidacy
Minimum Total Hours36-37