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2011-2012 Graduate Catalog 
    
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Sociology (Post - M.A. Program) Ph.D.

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This Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology program is designed for students holding a MA degree in sociology or a closely related discipline who have a strong record of academic success, are likely to be highly successful in graduate school, and who have a professional interest in, and commitment to, earning a doctorate in sociology. This program trains students in advanced sociological concepts and applications, as well as advanced theoretical and methodological frameworks for conducting original research. This Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology program is designed for students holding a MA degree in sociology or a closely related discipline who have a strong record of academic success, are likely to be highly successful in graduate school, and who have a professional interest in, and commitment to, earning a doctorate in sociology. This program trains students in advanced sociological concepts and applications, as well as advanced theoretical and methodological frameworks for conducting original research. In addition, students develop at least two areas of specialization from among the department’s ten core areas: Family, Aging & the Life Course; Culture; Deviance & Criminology; Environment & Health; Race & Ethnic Studies; Gender & Sexuality; Politics & Social Movements; Social Psychology & Theory; Community & Urban Studies; and Demography & Population Studies. Sociology doctoral students also have the opportunity to participate in our pedagogy and postsecondary teacher training program. Graduates of this program are well prepared for academic research and teaching positions, as well as careers in sociology. Educational outcomes for our doctoral program include: development of expertise in both classical and contemporary sociological theories, mastery of both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis, development of specialized expert knowledge in at least two substantive areas, professional socialization, participation in professional organizations, oral presentation skills, familiarity with the process of academic publication of original research, and cultivation of analytical research and writing skills which culminate in the ability to author an original doctoral dissertation of substantial depth and quality. Graduate-level course work in sociology is restricted to students with graduate standing or graduate provisional status in the department, or to those students who have obtained prior written consent from instructors of specific courses in which enrollment is sought and from the graduate coordinator. Please refer to the Sociology Graduate Student Handbook for additional updated information, policies and procedures.

Admission Requirements

The annual deadline for applications is December 1. We only admit new students in Fall semesters. Prospective students must apply for admission via the AY electronic system. See the UNLV Graduate College website for forms and additional information about how apply.

  1. A master’s degree in sociology from an accredited institution in which applicant wrote and successfully defended a master’s thesis.
  2. Satisfactory scores that are less than five years old on the general Graduate Record Examination.
  3. At least three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members who know the applicant’s work, evaluating his/her ability to perform at the Ph.D.-level of study. These should include comments on the student’s academic performance, motivation, character, and promise for success in the Ph.D. program.
  4. A statement of purpose written by the applicant. Applicants are expected to explain their educational objectives, interests, and professional goals.
  5. M.A.-level thesis or at least two original papers of substantial length and quality in an area of sociological inquiry solely written by the applicant.
  6. International students must take both the TOEFL and the Test of Written English and receive satisfactory scores on both.
  7. Applicants interested in applying for a Graduate Assistantship should indicate this in their written statement and submit the appropriate Graduate Assistantship Application form to the Graduate College (this form is available from the Graduate College).

 

Degree Requirements

1. Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 40 credit hours in courses designated for graduate study in sociology and a minimum of 12 Dissertation credits. Dissertation credits may only be taken after students successfully defend their dissertation prospectus and submit the required paperwork to the Graduate College. Students may not take more than six Dissertation credits per semester.

 

a. Ph.D. students must complete the three-semester sequence of core, required courses:
          
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

b. Students must complete one additional advanced 700-level Sociology course in theory and one additional advanced 700-level Sociology course in statistics or research methods, or equivalents approved by student’s Doctoral Examination Committee Chair and the Graduate Coordinator.

c. Of the 40 required course credit hours, a maximum of six hours may be used as Flex Credits toward any combination of the following: Independent Study; Directed Reading; an approved 600-level Sociology course that is unavailable at the 700 level; and/or approved 700-level course in another department.

d. A maximum of six credits of Independent Study or Directed Readings are allowed at the Ph.D. level.

e. A maximum of six credit hours may be taken in an approved 700 level graduate course in a related discipline.

f. Doctoral students must identify two areas of specialization (Family, Aging & the Life Course; Culture; Deviance & Criminology; Environment & Health; Race & Ethnic Studies; Gender & Sexuality; Politics & Social Movements; Social Psychology & Theory; Community & Urban Studies; and Demography & Population Studies) and complete a minimum of six credits of advanced study in each area.

g. A minimum of 34 course credits must be completed in 700-level Sociology courses.

h. Ph.D. candidates are strongly encouraged to enroll in SOC 709, Learning to Teach Sociology. Doctoral students who have successfully completed SOC 709 may be eligible for autonomous teaching.

i. Doctoral students teaching their own autonomous courses must be simultaneously enrolled in:

 ; after one semester of taking SOC 710 for credit, graduate student instructors may audit the class.

j. Any grade below a B will not be accepted for graduate credit. A grade below a B will result in probation. Students receiving two grades below a B, in the same or different courses, will be separated from the program.

k. Students may only be on academic probation twice during their graduate career in Sociology; a third probation will result in separation from the program.

l. No student shall be allowed more than two simultaneous grades of Incomplete, except in the case of documented and approved emergency or medical leave.

m. Please see the Sociology Graduate Program Handbook for additional up-to-date information about program rules, regulations, guidelines, processes and procedures.

2. In addition to a minimum of 40 hours of course work and 12 hours of Dissertation credits, Doctoral students must successfully pass two comprehensive examinations in their chosen areas of specialization. Students should refer to the detailed guidelines governing the comprehensive exam process available in the Sociology Department (See Appendix 1).

 

a.  The comprehensive exams will each be offered once a semester. Students are strongly encouraged to take both exams in their third year.

b. Students intending to take these exams must notify the graduate coordinator and senior management assistant by the second week of the semester in which they intend to take them.

c.  Students may not take either exam until they have completed all required course work in these areas.

d.  Students are expected to prepare for their comprehensive exams by reviewing class materials, meeting with their Doctoral Examination Committee, meeting with faculty who specialize in the exams areas, and doing systematic independent preparation, including coverage of the required reading lists.

e.  Each of the two specialty area comprehensive exams are in one of the student’s areas of specialization. These specialty area comprehensive exams reflect logical and substantive depth and breadth of knowledge of these areas.

f.  There are five possible grades for the comprehensive exams: Pass with Honors; Pass; Conditional Pass with Rewrites, (to be completed within two weeks of notification); Major Revisions (to be completed within two weeks of notification), or Fail.

g.  A student must retake a failed comprehensive exam within one year and successfully pass on the second attempt in order to remain in the program. A second failure in the same area will result in separation from the program. During the period of time between the initial Fail on a comprehensive exam and the retake, the student may not take any other comprehensive exam.

h.  The two comprehensive exams must be completed prior to the student’s Dissertation Prospectus defense and advancement to candidacy.

3. Doctoral students are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits of Dissertation hours: (SOC 799  ), write an original dissertation of substantial quality and length on a sociological topic, and successfully defend this work in front of their Doctoral Examination Committee.

 

a. Students must establish a Doctoral Examination Committee consisting of at least three Graduate Faculty members in Sociology and one Graduate College representative with Full Graduate Faculty status from another discipline.

b. An approved degree program form must be filed with the Sociology Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate College by the end of the student’s third semester in the program; this form must be filled out in consultation with the student’s Doctoral Examination Committee.

c. Students must work with their Doctoral Examination Committee to ensure quality research, analysis and writing of the comprehensive exams and dissertation.

d. Satisfactory performance on an oral defense of the dissertation prospectus to be held after the successful completion of all course work and the two comprehensive examination is required. The oral defense will cover the student’s dissertation proposal and any deficiencies on the comprehensive exams or in the student’s program of study.

e. Upon successful completion of the oral defense of the dissertation prospectus, the student may advance to candidacy and begin enrolling in dissertation credit.

f. Upon completion of the dissertation, a final oral defense will be held in front of the student’s Doctoral Examination Committee. Committee members must unanimously pass the student on her or his oral defense for the Ph.D. to be conferred.

 

 

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