Sociology (PhD)

Program Prerequisites

Master's degree in a related field from an accredited institution recognized by UCF.

Degree Requirements

Core

• Complete the following:
  • SYA7019 - Advanced Sociological Theory (3)
  • SYA7309 - Advanced Sociological Research Methods (3)
  • SYA7407 - Advanced Data Analysis (3)

Theory

• Complete at least 1 of the following:
  • SYA6933 - Topics in Sociological Theory (3)
  • SYA6128 - Theoretical Criminology (3)

Research Methods

• Complete at least 1 of the following:
  • SYA6315 - Qualitative Research Methods (3)
  • SYA6425 - Design and Conduct of Social Surveys (3)
  • SYA7457 - Topics in Data Analysis (3)
  • SYA6356 - Geographic Information Systems in Society (3)
  • SYA6452 - GIS Applications (3)

Major Area of Concentration Electives

• Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: Students will select a minimum of 12 credit hours of unrestricted electives in one of the department's four areas of concentration: Crime and Deviance Domestic Violence Health, Families and Communities Social Inequalities

Unrestricted Electives

• Earn at least 18 credits from the following types of courses: The unrestricted electives provide students with an opportunity to expand their doctoral training beyond the program's core courses and the electives in the student's major area of concentration. Unrestricted electives may include formal course work, graduate-level courses in programs outside the Sociology Department, independent study courses with a highly focused student/faculty research component, directed research, and doctoral research. At least 9 hours from concentration electives and unrestricted electives must consist of formal course work, exclusive of independent study. Unrestricted electives may be taken at any point in the student's program of study. Courses from other departments must be approved by the student's advisor and the Graduate Director.

Dissertation

• Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: SYA 7980 - Dissertation Research

Examinations

• Details:

Section 1: Theoretical Foundations of Sociology

• All students will answer two of three questions. All students who take the exam in the same area of concentration in a given semester will receive the same three questions. One of the questions will require students to trace the connections between classical and contemporary sociological theories and a second question will require students to discuss the three central theoretical paradigms in sociology.

Section 2: Methods and Statistics

• All students will answer two of three questions. All students who take the exam in the same area of concentration in a given semester will receive the same three questions. One of the questions will require students to interpret statistical results in tabular form.

Section 3: Major Area of Concentration

• All students will answer three of four questions covering general information within the area of concentration. All students who take the exam in the same area of concentration in a given semester will receive the same four questions.

Committee

• The Qualifying Exams will be graded by a committee of three faculty members who teach or do research in the area of concentration. Prior to the final faculty meeting of each spring semester, four separate qualifying exam committees will be formed by faculty choosing to become a member of one or more areas of concentration. Each qualifying exam committee will create the exam to be used for the next academic year and select the three members who will be the Grading Committee.

Administration

• The Qualifying Exam will be offered to students twice during the academic year (once during the fall semester and once during the spring semester). Students must notify the Graduate Director and Graduate Admissions Coordinator by June 1 to take the exam in the fall semester or by October 1 to take the exam in the spring semester. They will select a major area of concentration. The exam will be distributed by the Graduate Admissions Coordinator via Webcourses. The exams typically are held the week prior to the beginning of the fall semester and the week prior to the start of the spring semester. Students will have 7 days to complete all sections of the exam and submit the exam via Webcourse. The Graduate Director will then distribute the exam to the appropriate grading committee. Students are expected to work on the Qualifying Exam alone, and all exams will be submitted to turnitin.com. Questions from students that come up during the exam should be directed to the Graduate Director who will solicit advice from the chair of the grading committee in the student's area. Each grading committee will have three weeks to notify the Graduate Director of the student's grade on the exam (High Pass, Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail). A grade of conditional pass on an exam will require the student to revise and resubmit one or more questions identified as insufficient by the Grading Committee. The student will have one week to complete each question that must be rewritten.If a student fails the exam, he/she must retake the exam the next semester it is offered. If the exam is failed a second time, the student will be dismissed from the Ph.D. Program in Sociology. Accommodations for students with a documented disability will be made with advanced notice in consultation with the student and the appropriate campus office.

Candidacy Examination

• The dissertation proposal defense constitutes the program's candidacy examination, and students who successfully pass their proposal defense along with other requirements shall be admitted to candidacy. The proposal will encompass an overview of the dissertation topic that includes an in-depth review of relevant literature, a precise statement of the research question, and specific research design (planned methodology and analysis). The student's Dissertation Advisory Committee will supervise the preparation of the dissertation proposal and the defense hearing.

Admission to Candidacy

• The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours: Completion of all required course work, except for dissertation hours. Successful completion of the candidacy examination. Successful defense of the dissertation proposal. The dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars. Submittal of an approved program of study.

Dissertation

• A dissertation is required for completion of the PhD, along with an oral defense of the dissertation proposal and completed dissertation through a minimum of 15 credit hours, which students use to accomplish original research on a topic approved by their advisor and three additional committee members. One committee member must be from a relevant field outside the Department of Sociology. The dissertation must conform to standard disciplinary, institutional, and departmental practices. Students may not enroll for dissertation credit until they have completed all examinations in their program of study.

Equipment Fee

• Full-time students in the Sociology PhD program pay a $39 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $19.50 per semester.

Grand Total Credits: 60

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Master's degree in a related field from an accredited institution (Note: Official, preliminary transcript reflecting Master's degree in-progress may be submitted prior to first semester of enrollment. Final, official transcripts are required post admission to document completion of master's degree.).
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Three letters of recommendation, (where possible) at least two from academic sources regarding the applicant's potential for success in the program.
• A 250-500 word personal statement identifying the area of research interest as it relates to the thematic areas of UCF Sociology, faculty with whom they would like to work with and a description of the applicant's academic and professional experiences and goals.
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae.
• A writing sample, at least 2,500 words demonstrating the ability to complete advanced graduate work.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Applicant records will be reviewed on an individual basis to assess their potential for success in the program. Supplemental course work may be recommended. Consult the graduate program director whenever questions arise.

Meeting minimum UCF admissions criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is also based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program to the applicant's career/academic goals, and applicant's potential for completing the degree.

Application Deadlines

*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.