Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Sociology
College of Arts and Sciences
Departmental E-mail: socadm [at] indiana [dot] edu
Departmental URL: https://sociology.indiana.edu/
(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)
Curriculum
Degrees Offered
Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy
Special Departmental Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Master of Arts Degree
Admission Requirements
Fifteen credit hours in sociology with a 3.3 (B+) grade point average (may be waived for students with a strong undergraduate record in another field), a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation. For students submitting their application for Fall 2023, scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test are optional.
Course Requirements
A total of 30 credit hours, including 9 credit hours of the Sociological Research Practicum (S566 and either S567 or S569), S554, and either S510 or S530. An introductory undergraduate statistics course, such as S371, is a prerequisite for S554.
Grades
Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.3 (B+) in all course work. No grade below B in sociology courses will be counted toward this degree.
Essay
The essay requirement is fulfilled by enrollment and participation in S566 and either S567 or S569 and preparation of an acceptable research paper.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Admission Requirements
Completion of the M.A. degree (or equivalent training) in sociology at a recognized institution with a grade point average of 3.3 (B+) or higher (students with a master’s degree in a related field may be admitted, but may be required to remove deficiencies), a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation. For students submitting their application for Fall 2022, scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test are optional.
Course Requirements
A total of 90 credit hours, consisting of no fewer than 60 credit hours of course work (including the 30 credit hours counting toward the M.A.) and up to 30 credit hours of dissertation research (S869). The required courses are those specified for the M.A. (including both S510 and S530), Proseminar (S500, S501, S502), S540, S558, S650 (or STAT S503), S700, one advanced methodology course, two 600-level courses, and one elective course.
Grades
Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.3 (B+) in all course work. No grade below B in sociology courses will be counted toward this degree.
Outside Minor
Required (usually 9-15 credit hours); may be chosen from African American and African Diaspora Studies, African Studies, Anthropology, Business, Criminal Justice, Cultural Studies, East Asian Studies, Economics, Education, Gender Studies, Geography, History, History and Philosophy of Science, Human Sexuality, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Latino Studies, Law, Political Science, Public Affairs, Religious Studies, Russian and East European Studies, Social Science Approaches to Health and Healing Systems, Social Science Research Methods, Statistics or European Studies. A field not listed may be chosen with approval of the director of graduate studies.
Qualifying Examinations
All doctoral students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in sociological methods either by achieving a GPA of 3.3 (B+) or above in the required statistics and methods course sequence (S554, S558, S650, one advanced methods course), or by passing a doctoral examination in methodology. In addition, students must pass a written qualifying exam in a research specialty of their choosing. This qualifying exam is to be completed by the start of the student’s fourth year in the graduate program.
Dissertation Proposal
Students must pass an oral defense of their dissertation proposal.
Final Examination
Oral defense of the dissertation.
Ph.D. Minor in Sociology
Students from other departments or schools who wish to minor in sociology should consult with the director of graduate studies, who will ordinarily serve as the minor advisor. Students will be required to complete 12 credit hours of course work; these courses must be completed with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B). No more than one course should be taken below the 500 level. These requirements may be modified in particular cases by the director of graduate studies.