Sociology

Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy

Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy

Mailing Address:
Department of Sociology (MC 312)
1007 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7140

Campus Location: 4112 BSB
Program Codes: 20FS0344MA (MA); 20FS0344PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-3005
E-mail: gradsoc@uic.edu
Web Site: http://sociology.las.uic.edu/
Head of the Department: Barbara J. Risman
Director of Graduate Studies: Sharon M. Collins

Students in the Department of Sociology at UIC are prepared to successfully enter academia or research positions in the public sector. The department accepts only applicants to the program who intend to earn the PhD. Students who do not already have an MA in Sociology will earn one as they complete requirements for the doctorate. Applicants who have an MA degree from another institution will receive degree credit of up to 32 semester hours toward the doctoral degree if approved by the director of graduate studies and the Graduate College at the time of admission. All students must satisfy the course requirements of the MA program. Course work and research leading to a doctoral degree are concentrated in the area of inequality focusing on the sociology of race, ethnicity, and gender or the sociology of work, organizations, and the economy. Other specialty areas are currently in development. Interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Survey Research Methodology, and Women's Health may be available to students in this program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Arts

Baccalaureate Field No restrictions. Prior work in social science and sociology is recommended.
Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study, and at least 3.50 for any previous graduate work.
Transcripts Required from all institutions where the applicant earned the last 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of credit toward the baccalaureate degree and from all institutions where postbaccalaureate work has been done.
Tests Required The GRE is required.
Minimum English Competency Test Score

TOEFL The TOEFL score cannot be more than two years old. UIC’s Institutional Code is 1851. 550 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.

Letters of Recommendation Three required from former professors or others best able to judge the applicant’s aptitude and potential for sociological research.
Personal Statement Required.
Writing Sample Required.

Doctor of Philosophy

Prior Degrees A master’s degree in sociology or equivalent is required. Prior work in social science and sociology is recommended.
Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 (B average) for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study, including all of the work taken in the quarter or semester in which the student began the final 60 semester hours of undergraduate study. A 3.50/4.00 cumulative grade point average for work completed beyond the baccalaureate is required.
Transcripts Required from all institutions where the applicant earned the last 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of study toward the baccalaureate degree and from all institutions where postbaccalaureate work has been done.
Tests Required The GRE is required.
Minimum English Competency Test Score

TOEFL The TOEFL score cannot be more than two years old. UIC’s Institutional Code is 1851. 550 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.

Letters of Recommendation Three letters of recommendation are required. Letters from former and/or current teachers able to comment specifically on the applicant’s academic achievement and ability are strongly preferred. At least two should be from professors at the university where the master’s degree was obtained.
Personal Statement Required.
Writing Sample Required.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts

Minimum Semester Hours Required 38–46, depending on the student’s level of preparation.
Course Work Required Courses: SOC 401, 402, 500, 501, 509, 585, 587, and 595. Two of the following courses: SOC 524, 525, 541, or 547. At least one 500-level seminar selected from SOC 520, 540, or a 500-level course approved by the director of graduate studies.
Students may petition the director of graduate studies to apply up to 8 hours of comparable course work taken prior to admission toward the departmental requirements.
Comprehensive Examination None.
Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Project only. No other options are available.
Project: Students must earn at least 5 hours over two consecutive semesters in SOC 597.

Doctor of Philosophy

Minimum Semester Hours Required 37–45 hours of course work beyond the MA; 19–27 dissertation research hours. The minimum number of hours beyond the baccalaureate is 96.
Course Work Required Courses: MA in Sociology course requirements (38–46 hours depending on the student’s level of preparation). Students with an MA from another institution must satisfy UIC Sociology MA requirements. The graduate director will evaluate student’s prior preparation and performance in satisfying these requirements.
SOC 509—Seminar: Sociological Research Methods. A minimum of 4 credit hours, in addition to the 4 credits of SOC 509 taken as part of the MA, are required. Students are strongly encouraged to take more than this minimum requirement and may repeat SOC 509 for a maximum of 12 credit hours.
The following courses are required: SOC 524, 525, 541, 547, and 593. Students may not repeat any courses from this group (SOC 524, 525, 541, or 547) which they took as part of the UIC MA program.
Students must complete a minimum of 4 credit hours in a specialty seminar in their area of specialization (currently SOC 520, 540, or a course approved by the director of graduate studies). The course content of 520 and 540 varies from term to term. Students will not receive credit for this requirement for courses taken as part of the UIC MA program. Students should consult the department Web site http://sociology.las.uic.edu/ for current requirements in each specialty. Remaining hours shall be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Preliminary Examination Required. The examination is comprised of two parts: written examination in a major specialty area and the oral defense of the dissertation proposal.
Dissertation Required.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies. See Latin American and Latino Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Survey Research Methodology

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Survey Research Methodology. See Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Survey Research Methodology in the Graduate College section for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Women's Health
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Women's Health in the College of Nursing section for more information.