Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Requirements

The general requirements of the Ph.D. consists of 43 credits of coursework, 3 credits of Masters level research, a Second-Year Research Paper, the passing of two specialty exams, 12 credits of Dissertation research, and a Dissertation.  The coursework includes:

1. Two courses in social theory (SOCY 620 & an additional course from an approved list)

2. Two courses in Statistics (SOCY 601)
 

3. Two research methods courses (SOCY 699X and an additional course approved by the student's advisor)

4. An advanced statistics course approved by the student's advisor or an additional course in research methods. Students who take a research methods course instead of an advanced statistics course must first have permission of advisor
 

5. One computer skills course (SOCY 699C)

6. A set of three courses one of the department's eight specialities (independent reading courses do not count, and the same course may not be counted twice). This coursework will serve as the foundation for one speciality exam.

7. A set of courses to support the student's second specialty exam. This may be three courses from another of the department's eight specialties or a set of courses for an alternative specialty exam developed by the student with an exam committee.

8. A second-year research paper which meets the approval of two faculty members (completed while enrolled in 3 credits of SOCY 699)