Thank you for your interest in the Sociology Ph.D. program at UCSC.

These FAQs should provide answers to questions commonly asked by Sociology PhD applicants. For the answers to questions that apply to all graduate admissions, and not specifically to Sociology admissions, please see Graduate Admissions FAQs.

If you have additional questions, you may contact the department by emailing ‘socyga@ucsc.edu’. If you leave a voicemail message on the department phone 831-459-4306, please state your name clearly and leave an email address - not a phone number - as your primary contact. It is helpful if you briefly state your question(s) in the voicemail message.

Q. What courses are required for the Sociology Ph.D.?

Students are required to take twelve courses as follows:

A three-course core group:

• 201 The Making of Classical Theory
• 202 Contemporary Sociological Theory
• 203 Sociological Methods
• 
  Two methods courses:
• 204 Methods of Quantitative Analysis
• and one of the following seven courses:
• 205 Field Research Methods
• 206 Comparative Historical Methods
• 209 Analysis of Cultural Form
• 241 Cross-National and Cross-Cultural Research
• 242 Feminist Research Seminar
• Psychology 248 Survey Methods, or
• 282 Social Policy Research
• 
  Three area foundation courses:
• 220 Global Transformation: Macrosociological Perspective
• 240 Inequality and Identity
• 260 Culture, Knowledge, Power
• 
  At least one writing course (208 or 250)

A minimum of three (3) elective graduate seminars, at least one from Sociology (excluding Sociology 250 and Sociology 293).

Students with no background in statistics are strongly advised to take an undergraduate course in statistical methods before enrolling in Socy 204 - Methods of Quantitative Analysis, but can be admitted with permission of the instructor.

Students may be exempted from one or more of these courses if they have completed materially equivalent graduate-level course work at other universities.

For more information about the Sociology Department, see the Office of the Registrar's online catalog.

Q. How long does it take to complete the Ph.D.?

The ‘normative time’ to complete the PhD is seven years.

Years 1-2: coursework and masters paper
Years 3-4: write field statements and take oral qualifying exam. The result is that you advance to candidacy.A few students advance by end of the third year, but students must advance no later than the end of the fourth year. Many students continue to take courses even after completing the coursework required during the first two years.
Years 5-7: dissertation prospectus, dissertation research and writing, PhD completion

For students entering with previous graduate coursework or a master's paper, a slighty shorter time might be possible if any of the coursework or paper is considered essentially ‘equivalent’ to a specific program requirement, and therefore, eligible for a waiver. This might allow the student to complete the master’s requirements more quickly, and to move on to preparation for the Qualifying Exam.

Q. Is there a M.A. degree program?

No. Students are admitted into the program to pursue a PhD. Many students do file for the MA after completing the required coursework and paper, but this is a non-terminal master’s degree.

Q. Will previous graduate coursework or Master’s degree transfer?

Some students do enter the program with a Master’s degree or previous graduate coursework. Some coursework might be transferable. After an applicant is accepted, courses can be evaluated to determine whether they satisfy any of the Sociology PhD coursework requirements. A previous master's paper/thesis might also be considered to meet the master's paper requirement.

There are no automatic waivers/substitutions. These are decided by the Graduate Director on a course-by-course basis. Waiver determinations are made only after an applicant has accepted and is preparing to enroll.

For a course to be waived, it is necessary to submit a course syllabus to the Graduate Director. A decision is made by the Graduate Director and/or another faculty member as to whether the course taken matches any of the courses that are required for this program. Typically electives are not waived. A waiver reduces the total number of required courses, i.e. if one course is waived, eleven more are required rather than twelve.

A previous paper must follow the normal review process, namely, that it is reviewed by two readers who decide if it meets the department's requirements/standards for a master's paper.

A previously completed MA does not count in and of itself as a step towards the PhD.

A student must complete Sociology’s required courses and a master's paper, except those that have been specifically waived by the Graduate Director.

There are no direct transfers from another MA or PhD program. Everyone must apply and be admitted through the regular applications process.

Q. I work full time and would like to keep my current position while I get my Ph.D. Is it possible to attend part-time?

This program assumes students are pursuing the PhD full-time. During the first two years, there is substantial required coursework and a master’s paper to be completed. Graduate seminars are three hours and the majority are scheduled during the day.

Additionally, sociology graduate students are expected to serve as teaching assistants for the department’s classes. A teaching assistant works up to 20 hours per week (maximum of 220 hours per quarter), on duties that include attending 2-3 lectures and leading two discussion sections per week, holding office hours, meeting with the instructor as needed, providing input for grades, and course preparation.

Part-time enrollment is more commonly an option for students after they have completed the master’s requirements and the Qualifying Exam and have advanced to candidacy. Some students do manage to work at other jobs at this point, however, many are no longer taking courses nor TAing.

Q. Do I need a Sociology degree to apply?

No. Most students have a degree or background in social sciences, or a related field, and they have a fairly well-defined research focus. For applicants with other backgrounds, it is important that they understand and make the case how their research interests prepare them for graduate studies in sociology.

Q. Do I need a Master's degree to apply to the Ph.D. program?

No. While a number of students with Master’s degrees or some previous graduate coursework do apply, the basic requirement is completion of a Bachelor’s degree. No preference is automatically given to those with a Master’s degree.

Q. Are there opportunities to work with faculty in other departments?

The program does offer interdisciplinary opportunities. Some students choose to take seminars in other departments and to count one or two of these towards meeting the department’s three-elective requirement.

Additionally, there are designated emphases (DE) (previously called 'parenthetical notations') offered by some departments – American Studies, Environmental Studies, Feminist Studies, Latino and Latin American Studies (LALS), Education, and Politics, among others. Specific designated emphasis requirements vary by department, but may require that a student: take a certain number of courses in the other department (in addition to Sociology’s coursework requirements); TA one quarter for the other department; write a paper; and have a faculty member from the other department agree to serve as the outside member of the student’s Qualifying Exam and/or Dissertation Reading Committee.

Designated emphases are an option for current PhD students only; applicants do not apply for a designated emphasis at the time of admission. The student would receive the PhD in Sociology with a Designated Emphasis in another field.

For specific details and requirements, see: 
American Studies DE
Environmental Studies DE
Feminist Studies DE 
Latino and Latin American Studies (LALS) DE
Politics DE

Q. What are the minimum/average GPA and GRE scores?

The department does not track these averages, nor has it established a minimum acceptable GPAs or GRE scores. Admission is competitive, however, and each year many highly qualified applicants must be denied admission. Each application is carefully considered and reviewed as a whole, and applicants with lower scores might be considered favorably when there is other evidence in the file of academic promise.

The complete application file consists of: online application, personal history statement, statement of purpose, writing sample, three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, TOEFL score (if applicable), and GPA. While a resume is not required, nor even requested by the department, there is space to attach a resume or CV.

Q. How many applications does the department receive?

The department receives about 100 applications each year. Cohorts usually range from six to nine students, but the number can vary between years depending upon a number of factors. Due to the limited number of openings, the department can only offer admission to those applicants who are determined to be the most highly qualified and who have the best ‘fit’ with the department – i.e. those who intend to pursue research in areas that overlap the current faculty’s expertise.

Q. Does the selection committee have a waitlist of applicants in case someone turns down an offer.

The department realizes that some applicants will turn down the offer of admission. A declined offer does not necessarily open an additional space. Occasionally, however, the department will maintain a short waitlist.

Q. Can my recommender send a hard copy letter rather than submit the letter online?

No. Letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Hard copy letters are not accepted; nor are letters accepted by fax or email. Unsolicited materials may be discarded.

Because the online recommendation feature does not allow the recommender to save and edit the letter text, it is advised that the recommender complete their letter in a word processing program and either paste the text or upload the document into the online recommender submission form.

NOTE: Once you’ve completed your portion of the application, you should submit it. There is no need to wait until all recommenders submit their letters. The only requirement is that you have listed the recommenders in the appropriate place in the application.

Q. Can I submit a co-authored paper for the required writing sample?

A co-authored paper is not the preferred choice. If you do submit a co-authored paper, it should be accompanied by a statement as to each author’s level of contribution. The department will not review writing samples in advance of the application, so it is up to the applicant to decide whether to submit the co-authored paper or a different writing sample.

Q. Can materials be submitted after the December 15 deadline?

The application itself must be submitted by the Thursday December 15 deadline (11:59 PST). No late applications will be considered. Additionally, all letters, official test scores, and transcripts should be received by the deadline to guarantee full consideration of your file. There is no guarantee that materials received after the deadline will be reviewed since files are usually distributed for review within a few days of the deadline.

IMPORTANT HINTS

• Application materials sent directly to Graduate Admissions cannot be merged until AFTER you actually submit your online application. Many applicants wait until the last day to submit their online application, but they should be aware that the merge of the other supplemental documents (e.g. transcripts, test scores) is not immediate, and requires a number of business days. This is an extremely busy time since many hundreds of applications are being processed, the fall quarter has just come to a close, and the campus is preparing for the holiday closure (Friday December 23 through Monday January 2, inclusive).
• It is a good idea to submit the online application in advance of the deadline so that the supplemental documents can be merged in a timely manner and by the time your application is forwarded for review. Applications are typically forwarded for review within a few business days following the deadline. Reviewers can see updates as additional documents are merged. However, they will be reviewing numerous files and may not necessarily return immediately, nor often, to individual files to check for updates.
• Consider the normal time for test scores to be sent from the testing centers (see GRE and TOEFL sites for this information) and schedule your exams early enough so that the scores arrive by the deadline. There is space on the application to self-report your scores if you know them. These can serve until the official scores arrive. Without official scores, however, your application is incomplete.
• Let Graduate Admissions know if your name on any supplemental documents might be different than on the application. Not doing so significantly increases the chance that these documents will not be merged with your application.
• It is strongly recommended that you submit your application before 5pm on Wednesday December 15, even though the deadline is 11:59pm (PST). While you may be able to reach Embark until midnight for technical help, noone at UCSC will be available to help you after 5pm, and late applications will not be accepted.

Q. How do I know whether my application file is complete?

Within a few business days after you submit your online application, Graduate Admissions will assign you a student ID and send instructions to access the student portal. You can monitor that your online application was received and you can see which supplemental materials have been merged (letters, scores, transcripts). Merges are done in batches so you should expect reasonable delays before you see the additional documents in your file. 

IT IS UP TO YOU TO TRACK THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION FILE IN THE PORTAL, and to insure that all supplemental documents have been sent to Graduate Admissions.

If you are certain that materials have been sent, and you do not see these in the portal within a reasonable time (i.e. within a couple weeks of submitting the online application), you should take steps to verify the materials have been sent. You should first verify with the sender that your materials were sent to UCSC Graduate Admissions and the date the materials were sent. Only after doing this, should you contact Graduate Admissions.

If you notice that documents for any other applicant were merged incorrectly to your file, please contact Graduate Admissions about the error. While this happens only infrequently, we appreciate your bringing this to Graduate Admissions' attention so that both files - yours and that of the other applicant - can be corrected.

Do not wait until the deadline to take care of problems. And if you do notice any problems with your submission, you should definitely contact someone before the campus holiday closure. The campus will close at 5pm on Thursday December 22 and will reopen on Tuesday January 3. You should not expect to reach anyone for assistance during the campus closure. Still, it may be helpful to look in the portal during the break. It is possible that periodic merges may be done during the break, but again, you will not be able to reach a person to discuss problems.

Q. When can I expect to hear about the admission decision?

Typically the department makes admission decisions by mid-February and relays its decisions to Graduate Admissions. The official offer of admission and funding is sent via email from Graduate Admissions. Admitted students have until April 15 to accept or decline the offer.

Graduate Admissions also sends email notification to students denied admission.

The department does not provide status about decisions prior to the formal notifications sent from Graduate Admissions. Nor will Graduate Admissions give any status prior to the email notification.

Shortly after admission offers are sent from Graduate Admissions, a Sociology faculty member will phone those selected for admission to answer questions about the program or offer. You may also contact Graduate Program Coordinator Ann McCardy about your offer.

Q. Are students admitted in spring?

No. Applications are accepted from October 1 through December 15, and students are admitted for the following fall quarter. UCSC is on the quarter system and there is no spring admission.

Q. Do I have to apply separately for funding?

No. First year funding is decided by the department selection committee and is shown in the offer sent from Graduate Admissions. It is important that you answer the application’s Preliminary Questions since certain of these will populate the application with the pages that have funding-related questions. All applicants will be considered for department funding and campus fellowships for which they may be eligible if they answer these questions. Decisions are made by the selection committee and are based on merit.

Q. Does Sociology guarantee funding for its Ph.D. students?

The admission funding offer, in most cases, is for first-year funding, and may include a combination of fellowships and TAships. The only guaranteed funding is that stated in the initial offer letter. However, the department tries to fund its full-time graduate students for the first four years through a combination of fellowships, TAships, or GSRships (Graduate Student Researcher). Funding is for the academic year only (fall, winter, and spring quarters). In recent years the department has been able to fund a number of students beyond the fourth year through additional TAships. The current California budget situation has made funding projections difficult, but the department remains committed to funding graduate students to the extent possible.

There are no summer graduate courses, so there is no funding guaranteed during summer. Some students do receive TA positions during summer, primarily for sociology course offerings. Available positions are more limited and competitive than during the academic year. Some students are hired as GSRs during summer. And many students do not receive funding during the summer.

A limited number of campuswide dissertation-year fellowships are awarded each year to doctoral students who are within one year of completing the PhD. These fellowships offer a quarterly stipend and payment of full fees in the final dissertation year.

Q. What are my chances to get a TAship?

Most sociology graduate students depend to a large extent upon Teaching Assistantships for funding, and preference for the department TAships is given to available Sociology graduate students, at least through their fourth year. Beyond the fourth year, the department’s current TA policy gives preference to students with fewer than twelve TAships. University of California system-wide policy restricts students to a maximum total of eighteen TA quarters.

During spring quarter each year, continuing students submit their preferences for the following year’s TAships, and the TA offers are usually made in early summer. If applicable, a new student is assigned the number of TAships given in the offer letter, however, new students do not have a choice of TA assignments in their first year.

During the TA application process, students also have some opportunities to apply for available TAships in other departments. Sociology graduate students are frequently selected for TAships by other departments.

The current TA salary is $5769 per quarter (~$1923 per month). Additionally, in any quarter that a student holds a TAship, the majority of fees (including health insurance fees of $889 per quarter) is paid directly on the student’s behalf. Graduate fees for 11-12 are about $5315 per quarter and the TA fee offset usually leave a relatively small balance (~$363) that the student must pay. Note: The TA fee offset does not reduce non-resident supplemental tuition, so non-resident students must still pay quarterly tuition ($5,034/qtr) unless they have a tuition fellowship.

Based on the current TA salary rate, an estimate for a five-week summer session course is $2622. There are two sessions and students may TA for no more than one course in each session. These positions are limited and competitive. Since there are no courses in summer, no fee offset applies.

2011-12 Graduate Student Fees

Q. Is there TA Training?

Yes. A two-day training is mandatory for all new Sociology graduate students, and is typically offered a few days before fall quarter begins. The TA Trainer is usually a Sociology graduate student who has advanced to candidacy and who has excellent teaching evaluations. The trainer continues to be available - to both new and experienced TAs – for help or advice during the remainder of the year.

Q. How does residency affect my status?

It is very important to fully answer the questions on the application about residency. All graduate students pay the same amount in fees ($5,315/qtr, $15,946/yr ), but non-residents also owe non-resident supplemental tuition. Out-of-state students who are U.S. citizens or permaent residents may be reclassified as residents for tuition purposes by the second year at which point they will owe no tuition.

Tuition fellowships may be part of the offer made to non-residents, but these are not guaranteed. Tuition is $5,034/qtr, $15,102/yr.

Some applicants are not residents, but may be exempt from tuition for other reasons. For more information about residency, see the Registrar’s web site. Full answers will help the selection committee make an educated guess about whether a non-resident might be eligible for an exemption from tuition (useful in terms of formulating the offer). However, an official determination of residency status is not processed unless an applicant is actually admitted.

Note: The most common exemption is available to applicants who are not current California residents, but who attended three or more years and who graduated from a California high school. An applicant who claims this exemption – and who is offered admission – will need to provide a high school transcript before the fall quarter begins. For a full list of exemptions from non-resident tuition.

Foreign students have both non-resident fees AND tuition until they advance to candidacy. Tuition does not reduce to zero in the second year as it does for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who file for reclassification. After advancement, foreign students must still pay non-resident fees, but they are exempt from tuition for three years.

Q. Can the application fee be waived?

A few applicants are eligible for a waiver of the application fee based upon either financial hardship or participation in a qualifying program. Pay careful attention to the waiver question in the Preliminary Questions for details and further instructions. International students are not eligible for fee waivers. The department does not authorize waivers. You must contact Graduate Admissions for waiver authorization.

Q. May I visit the department before applying?

It is possible to visit the campus and department before applying. However, a visit does not increase an applicant’s chance of admission. The department does plan a group visit each year for all New Admits. Activities during this group visit usually provide enough information to allow potential students to make an informed decision about accepting their offer.

You may visit the Graduate Program Coordinator (Ann McCardy) without an appointment during regular office hours, Monday to Thursday, 7am-noon and 1-6pm. The majority of questions can usually be handled via email.

If you wish to meet with particular faculty, it is best to correspond first by email. You may be able to discuss their research interests and yours via email. Not all faculty respond to these queries, but many do. A few faculty prefer to meet applicants only after they are admitted. If the faculty member agrees to a meeting after email correspondence, it is a good idea to confirm the appointment a few days prior to your visit. See Faculty for contact information. Office hours for fall quarter are posted during the first few weeks of the quarter.

Many graduate students will respond to inquiries from potential applicants. You may find their contact information on the Graduate Students web page.

Q. Is there a Visit Day scheduled for newly admitted students?

All applicants chosen for admission are invited to attend a New Admit Visit before the April 15 deadline for acceptance. The organized visit is typically a one-day event during which prospective students have the opportunity to meet others who may be in their cohort and to socialize with faculty and current graduate students. Visitors will meet with the Graduate Director and with potential faculty advisors. Visits routinely include a tour of the campus and other activities applicants might find useful when finalizing their decision, such as informal tours of the Santa Cruz area or of graduate student housing.

This visit is held on a weekday when classes are in session (usually the first Monday spring quarter). While we encourage attendance from as many new admits as possible, we realize that some people will have work, school, or family conflicts. The best time for admitted students to visit is on Visit Day, but if you are unable to do so, the department may be able to accommodate your visit at a separate time, if you give advance notice.

Some travel reimbursement is allowed, and details are emailed to each invitee prior to the visit.

Q. I was not accepted last year, but would like to re-apply for the coming year. Can you tell me how I can make my application stronger.

The department does not provide this type of information. The selection committee carefully reviews all applicant files and there are always more qualified applicants that the department can admit. Only the most highly qualified applicants with the best ‘fit’ to the department are admitted each year. The best advice is probably that you review your statement of purpose and personal history statement and make a compelling case about why you’re applying to this PhD program. Because applicants are reviewed relative to rest of applicants in the pool, it is possible that even a slightly different pool in a subsequent year can make a difference in your chances.

Please see the Graduate Admissions FAQs for instructions about reactivating your previous year's application.

Q. I have further questions about the program. Who should I contact?

For routine questions about the admissions process, deadlines, funding, TAing, program requirements, the campus, etc., please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator Ann McCardy. She is also the primary contact for the Visit Day and will handle most of the coordination, including reimbursements. Ann can also answer general questions about which faculty to contact about your research interests.

For a more thorough discussion about how your research interests overlap the expertise of the faculty, you may want to email the individual faculty. However, even in these instances, it can be a good idea to send these queries through the Graduate Program Coordinator for referral, or copy the coordinator on some of this correspondence.

Last update: 11-19-11