Nov 25, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
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Sociology (Post - M.A. Program) Ph.D.
 
The Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology program is designed for students who have already earned a Master’s degree in Sociology or a closely related discipline, and who can demonstrate evidence of substantial expertise in Sociology.This program trains students in advanced sociological concepts and applications, as well as advanced theoretical and methodological expertise for conducting original research. In addition, students develop at least 2 areas of specialization from among the department’s 10 core areas: (1) Culture; (2) Deviance & Criminology; (3) Environment & Health; (4) Family, Aging & the Life Course; (5) Gender & Sexuality; (6) Politics & Social Movements; (7) Race & Ethnic Studies; (8) Social Psychology & Theory; (9) Urban & Community Studies; and (10) Demography and Population Studies. Sociology doctoral students also have the opportunity to participate in our pedagogy and post-secondary teacher training program. Graduates of this program are well prepared for academic research and teaching positions, as well as careers in applied and community 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, development of 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 they seek enrollment, and from the graduate coordinator.

The deadline for application is December 1. The application process takes place via the Apply Yourself system, and all required documents must be uploaded on that system.

Admission Requirements

 

1. A master’s degree in sociology, or an equivalent master’s degree, from an accredited institution in which you 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 your work, evaluating your 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 your educational objectives and interests, as well as your 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. If you are interested in applying for a Graduate Assistantship, please be sure to indicate this in your 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 the student has successfully defended his/her dissertation prospectus and submitted the required paperwork to the Graduate College. Students may not take more than 6 Dissertation credits per semester.

2. Ph.D. students must complete the three-semester sequence of core, required courses (SOC 701, 702, 704, 705, 707, 708, 723, 724), unless these courses were completed by the student at the M.A. level at UNLV.

3. Students must complete 1 additional advanced 700-level Sociology course in social theory and 1 additional advanced 700-level Sociology course in statistics or research methods, or equivalents approved by the student’s Doctoral Examination Committee Chair and the Graduate Coordinator.

4. Of the 40 required course credit hours, a maximum of 6 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 a 700 level course in another department related to the student’s area of study.

5. Doctoral students must identify 2 areas of specialization (1) Culture; (2) Deviance & Criminology; (3) Environment & Health; (4) Family, Aging & the Life Course; (5) Gender & Sexuality; (6) Politics & Social Movements; (7) Race & Ethnic Studies; (8) Social Psychology & Theory; (9) Urban & Community Studies; and (10) Demography & Population Studies, and complete a minimum of 6 credits of advanced study in each area.

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

7. A maximum of 6 credits of Independent Study or Directed Readings are allowed at the Ph.D. level.

8. Students declaring Urban & Community Studies or Demography & Population Studies as their Areas of Specialization must complete SOC 756 and 757 or 717. These must be successfully completed before or during the semester when students are taking the specialty area comprehensive exams.

9. A maximum of 6 credit hours may be taken in an approved 700 level graduate course in a related discipline.

10. Ph.D. candidates are strongly encouraged to enroll in SOC 709, Learning to Teach Sociology. Doctoral students who have completed their Comprehensive Exams and SOC 709 may be eligible for autonomous teaching.

11. Doctoral students teaching their own autonomous courses must be simultaneously enrolled in SOC 710, Teaching Practicum. After one semester of taking SOC 710 for credit, graduate student instructors may audit the class.

12. Any grade lower than a B will not be accepted for graduate credit. A grade lower than a B will result in probation. If a student receives two grades lower than a B in the same or different courses, s/he will be separated from the program.

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

14. No student shall be allowed more than 2 simultaneous grades of Incomplete, except in the case of documented and approved emergency or medical leave.

15. In addition to a minimum of 40 hours of course work and 12 hours of Dissertation credits, a Doctoral student must successfully pass 2 comprehensive examinations. Students should refer to the detailed guidelines governing the comprehensive exam process available in the Graduate Programs Handbook. (See Appendix 1).

  1. The Area of Specialization comprehensive exams will be offered once a semester; students may only take 1 of these exams per semester. Intention to take a comprehensive exam must be given to the graduate coordinator and senior management assistant by the second week of the semester in which students intend to take the exam.
  2. Students may not take a comprehensive exam until they have completed all required course work in these areas.
  3. These specialty area comprehensive exams should reflect logical and substantive depth and breadth of knowledge of these areas. Students are expected to prepare for the comprehensive exams by reviewing class materials, meeting with their Doctoral Examination Committee, meeting with faculty sitting on the Areas of Specialization committees, looking at copies of old exams, and doing systematic independent preparation.
  4. There are 4 possible grades for the comprehensive exams: Pass with Distinction; Pass; Conditional Pass with Rewrites (to be completed within two weeks of notification); or Fail.
  5. A student must retake a failed comprehensive exam within 1 semester 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 re-take, the student may not take any other comprehensive exams.
  6. Both comprehensive exams must be completed prior to the student’s Dissertation Prospectus defense and advancement to candidacy.