Sociology, PhD
Create genuinely new knowledge and influence how society understands its most complex social challenges. Engage in ongoing research projects with individual faculty, research teams, and research institutes and centers throughout ASU.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Sociology, PhD degree description
In the Doctor of Philosophy program in sociology, you receive advanced training in theory, research methodology and substantive fields. You are prepared for teaching and research, with special emphasis on inequality and power; law and society; race and ethnicity; Latino sociology; health; and children, youth and families.
Why earn your sociology PhD at ASU?
Work closely with faculty researchers, contribute to externally funded projects, and tap into interdisciplinary research across ASU. Through the Sanford School's emphasis on turning research into practical impact, you gain experience producing scholarship that informs policy, organizations and communities as well as academic conversations.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours) Theory (3 credit hours) Methods (3 credit hours) Statistics (3 credit hours) Elective and Research (54 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information A minimum of 30 credit hours of the approved doctoral program, excluding dissertation and research hours, must be completed after admission to the program. A qualifying exam, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation are required.
SOC 603 Perspectives in Sociological Inquiry (3)
SOC 685 Applied Social Theory (3)
SOC 585 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC 591 Topic: Qualitative Research Methods (3)
Other Requirements (3 credit hours)
SOC 791 Topic: Integrative Research (3)
SOC 799 Dissertation (12)
When approved by the student's department and the Graduate College, 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree can be used for this degree.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Evaluate contemporary sociological perspectives in original written work.
- Apply sociological research methods to the analysis of data to create an original empirical research paper.
- Conduct research resulting in empirical papers that have an impact on relevant communities that are determined by the subjects of the research.
Evaluate contemporary sociological perspectives in original written work. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in sociology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable bachelor's or master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information A personal statement is required. It must be no longer than four to five pages, double-spaced, and it must address the applicant's professional goals and reasons for applying to the program; describe strengths that will help the student succeed in the program and reach their professional goals; describe their research experience (a description of the master's thesis should be included, if applicable) and relevant responsibilities held; indicate personal research interests as specifically as possible; and include any additional information that will help the committee evaluate the application. Three letters of recommendation are required, including at least two from instructors at the institution where the applicant completed undergraduate or graduate work. These letters should be from people who know the applicant as a student or in a professional capacity. Letters from family members or friends do not meet this criterion. Students should see the program website for application deadlines.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this sociology PhD degree prepares you for
Professionals with expertise in research methodologies and data analysis as well as an understanding of cultural and social change, and various social issues and phenomena, are sought-after in many areas, including human services, business, education and public policy, and the community service and nonprofit sectors.
Career examples include:
- demographer
- mediator
- research professional
- social or community service manager
- sociologist
- sociology instructor
- urban and regional planner
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics
|
WLSN 300L
graduatesanford@asu.edu
480-965-6875
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
