Sociology (MA)
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, either a TOEFL score of 213 (on computer-based test) or 79-80 (on the internet-based test), an IELTS score of at least 6.5, or Duolingo score of 105.
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, either a TOEFL score of 213 (on computer-based test) or 79-80 (on the internet-based test), an IELTS score of at least 6.5, or Duolingo score of 105.
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. (Directions for applying, submitting the following materials, and application fee information can be found here.)
- Official copies of transcripts from all accredited colleges/universities attended. (Students with international transcripts must abide by the Graduate School’s requirements found here.)
- 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 English language proficiency in the form of TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo, if an international student for whom English is not their native language. (A list of countries for which proficiency scores are waived, as well as other information for international students, can be found here and at the University’s International Center webpage).
- 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.
- 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: Applicants must identify in their personal statement one or more of our faculty with whom they would like to work; however, individual faculty are not involved in selecting applicants nor does our department operate with research teams under the supervision of a particular faculty member, so applicants do not need to seek permission from individual faculty prior to applying and should direct all inquiries to the Graduate Program Advisor.
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 January 5 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 15 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 joint MA-PhD program or the PhD-only program are eligible for funding. Students wishing to be considered for funding should submit a letter of interest addressing why they would be a good candidate for an assistantship as described here.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 604 | Proseminar in Sociology-MA | 1 |
| SOC 609 | Statistics I | 3 |
| SOC 615 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC 618 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC 622 | Survey Research and Design | 3 |
| SOC 655 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 691 | Topical Seminar in Sociology (topic will vary from year to year) | 3 |
| SOC 665 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| or SOC 675 | Social Inequality & Stratification | |
| or SOC 685 | Race and Ethnicity | |
| SOC 692 | Thesis Administration | 3 |
| SOC 693 | Thesis Analysis | 3 |
| SOC 695 | Thesis Research | 6 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 34 | |
