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Admissions FAQ

The FAQ below addresses questions specifically for Sociology PhD applicants. For a technical FAQ about the online application, view the Graduate Admissions FAQ.

The application process

What is the minimum or average GPA ?

The department does not track these averages, nor has it established minimum acceptable GPA. Admission is competitive, however, and each year many highly qualified applicants are 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 strong evidence of academic promise in the entire file.

Is the GRE required?

Effective the Fall 2021 admissions cycle, the GRE is no longer required.

How many applications does the department receive?

The department receives from 100 - 115 applications each year. The size of the incoming class varies, and averages about five to seven new students per year. Admission offers are made to those considered highly qualified and who have the best fit with the department.

Is there a waitlist?

Occasionally, the department maintains a short waitlist. However, when someone declines their offer, it is not the case that a space automatically opens up for a waitlisted applicant. Offers are made to more applicants than the department expects will accept. Waitlisted applicants may receive an offer if there are resources available after the department knows the total number and amount of accepted offers.

The department may ask a few applicants if they wish to remain on a waitlist. If an offer can be made to a waitlisted applicant, they must first confirm that they have not already accepted another offer.

Do I need a Sociology degree to apply?

A Sociology degree is not required to apply. Most applicants have a degree or background in social sciences-related fields, and they have a fairly well-defined research focus. For applicants with other backgrounds, it is important for them to show they are prepared for graduate studies in sociology.

Do I need a Master's degree to apply?

The basic requirement is completion of a Bachelor’s degree prior to entering the program. Many applicants do have a Master’s degree or some previous graduate coursework, but this is not required, nor do they automatically get preference.

When can I expect to receive an admission decision?

The department typically 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. 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 offers are sent from Graduate Admissions, Sociology faculty phone everyone offered admission to answer questions you may have about the program or your offer. You may also contact the Sociology Department Graduate Program Coordinator about your offer.

The Department will confirm whether a few applicants wish to remain on a waitlist; these applicants will not receive a notification from Graduate Admissions.

Graduate Admissions will send email notification to students denied admission. These usually follow within a few days of the admissions offers.

Can I receive an application fee waiver?

Some applicants may be eligible for a waiver of the application fee based upon either financial hardship or participation in a qualifying program. International students are not eligible for fee waivers.

Contact Graduate Admissions for a waiver authorization, the department does not handle application fee waivers. Fee waiver request forms must be received by the Graduate Admissions office at least ten days prior to the department's application deadline. For more information, see Graduate Admissions FAQs.

May I visit the department before applying?

Yes, you may visit the department before applying. However, a visit does not increase an applicant’s chance for admission.

All admitted students are invited to a group visit held in March of each year. Activities during this group visit usually provide enough information to allow potential students to make an informed decision about accepting their offer.

Please contact the Sociology Graduate Coordinator at socyga@ucsc.edu if you wish to arrange a visit.

If you are interested in meeting with faculty, the best thing to do is to first establish communication by email and set up an appointment.

Can I contact current students?

Many graduate students are open to corresponding with prospective students. Their contact information is located on the Graduate Students web page. In addition, you can contact the Graduate Coordinator for suggestions on certain students to contact, according to your research interests.

Do I apply separately for funding?

No. Your funding package will be determined according to the application submitted to the Sociology Department. Students should indicate that they would like to be considered for department funding and campus fellowships on the application. Funding decisions are made by the selection committee and are based on merit.

I’m from out of state, how does that affect my tuition and fees?

Out of state students are charged non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) in addition to the tuition and fees. Students can establish residency within their first year of California residency, which will allow them to be classified as a resident from their second year on.

As part of the first-year funding package, out-of-state students receive an amount that covers both the tuition and non-resident supplemental tuition. A student who fails to establish in-state status by the Fall of their second year will be responsible for NRST

For more information on residency, see the Residency website.

I’ve been admitted, what next?

To help you make your decision, the Sociology Department hosts an Admit Visit Day on a weekday at the beginning of March. The Visit Day is a one-day event, which may be either virtual or in-person, where prospective students meet others who have been admitted, faculty, and current students. Propective students have the opportunity to meet with the Graduate Director and their potential faculty advisors.

If the event is held in person, students receive travel reimbursement that may cover all or some of the travel costs to attend the Visit Day.

Funding

What funding is available for Sociology PhD students?

Beginning in 2020, Ph.D. students at UCSC receive support packages of 5 years with a minimum level of support equivalent to a 50% teaching assistantship. In total, this program will bring all Ph.D. student support (stipend, fees, tuition, GSHIP, etc.) up to approximately $43,000 annually. The only guaranteed funding is that stated in the offer letter.

The following fellowships are possible funding sources:

Regent's Fellowships: A limited number of these fellowships are awarded to first-year graduate students. These awards provide a stipend and/or payment of university fees and include nonresident tuition.
Chancellor's Fellowships (Campus wide competition): A limited number of these fellowships are awarded to first-year graduate students. These merit-based nine-month awards provided a stipend of $28,000 plus payment of all university fees, including nonresident tuition.
Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowships (Campus wide competition): These state-funded, merit-based fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to first-year graduate students who have overcome significant social or educational obstacles to achieve a college education, and whose backgrounds equip them to contribute to intellectual diversity among the graduate student population. The Cota-Robles fellowship provides a stipend during the regular academic year of $24,000 plus payment of all university fees (except non-resident tuition); for the summer quarter, a $4,000 stipend is awarded. The Cota-Robles Fellowship is part of a five-year total support package with the department providing support for years three and four and Graduate Division providing support for years one, two, and five. Fellowship recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

In most cases, students receive funding in the form of Teaching Assitantships in the Sociology, or another, department. 1^st through 5^th year students receive priority for Sociology TAships. Graduate Student Researcher positions serve as another source of funding.

After advancing to candidacy, students can apply to be a Teaching Fellow, during which they teach their own courses in Sociology or in another department.

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

In addition to departmental and university sources of funding, students often apply to outside grants and fellowships to fund their education.

Note that summer is not a graduate academic term, and funding is not guaranteed during summer. Some students receive TA positions during summer. Available positions are very limited and more competitive than during the academic year. Some students are hired as GSRs during summer.

What funding does a TAship provide?

TAships provide a TA salary and cover the Student Services Fee, CA Resident Tuition & Health Insurance. For 2022-2023, the TA salary is $7,748.83 per quarter. A TAship covers all but approximately $453 in campus fees per quarter, which can be paid out of your paycheck through a fee deferment.

TA fee remission does not include non-resident supplemental tuition. Out-of-state students typically establish residency in their first year of study, and once they receive in-state status, this charge no longer applies. For International students, please see details below.

International students

Does the program admit international students?

The department welcomes applications from international students. The following information may help you decide whether to apply.

1. English Language Proficiency

Applicants from countries where English is not the primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System test (IELTS). The minimum scores for admission are lower than those required for consideration for teaching assistantships. For admission to the Sociology program, the minimum scores are: 550 for paper-based TOEFL, 83 for internet-based TOEFL, or 7 for IELTS. To be considered for Teaching Assistantships, you must score 26 or higher on the Spoken Word portion of the internet-based TOEFL, or get an overall score of 8 for IELTS.

You should not assume that you're exempt from this requirement. Receiving a degree in an English-speaking country does not automatically make you exempt, however, you may be considered for an exemption if you've also worked as a teaching assistant. Contact the department if you think you may qualify for an exemption of the language exam to initiate the waiver process.

Most sociology graduate students depend to a large extent upon TAships for funding, so English fluency is essential.

2. Transcripts

Transcripts must be submitted in the original language and with an English translation. Many institutions may use an alternate grading scale; this is not a problem. Be sure to include at least one copy of the page that shows the explanation of the grading.

3. Non-resident tuition

International students are charged non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST). The NRST is $5,034 per quarter, and $15,102 for the entire year. The department offers fellowships to admitted students to cover the NRST during their first year. The university offers fellowships to international students to cover their NSRST during their second and third years. The NRST is waived for three years from the time a student has Advanced to Candidacy. International students who are unable to advance to candidacy after three academic years will be expected to cover non-resident tuition till they do.

What funding is available for international students?

International students have the same eligibility for departmental stipends and tuition fellowships as other applicants. They have the same eligibility for student teaching appointments. They are eligible for Graduate Student Researcher positions (GSRships); these positions are fairly limited within Social Sciences. International students are not eligible for diversity fellowships, nor are they eligible for need-based financial aid.

It is helpful if international applicants clearly show details about other sources of graduate support for which they've applied, are under consideration, or have been awarded (e.g., from their government, Fulbright or other scholarship funding). Such funding is not required, but it could help demonstrate that the applicant will have sufficient resources, and is less likely to experience financial difficulties, during their time in the program. The applicant doesn't show actual proof of support until they apply for the I-20, but most consider their finances closely before accepting an offer.

About the program

What are the PhD requirements?

Sociology PhD requirements:
Complete Master's coursework and papert requirements
Pass the Qualifying Exam and advance to candidacy
Conduct research, write, and submit dissertation

For further details, view the PhD requirements.

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

Students are expected to complete their PhD within seven years. Some students finish by the end of their fifth or sixth year.

Years 1 & 2: Complete Master's requirements
Years 3 & 4: Complete requirements and advance to candidacy
Years 5 - 7: Conduct research, write, and submit dissertation

Is there a Sociology MA program at UCSC?

The sociology program at UCSC is a PhD - not an MA - program. After students complete the required coursework and master's paper, they may apply for a non-terminal master's degree on route to the PhD.

If you're interested in an MA only, many of the California State Universities (CSU) offer sociology master's programs.

Will previous graduate coursework or Master’s degree transfer?

An admitted applicant who has accepted an offer may submit a course waiver request for previous Sociology coursework. The course waiver request must be submitted with a course syllabus. The waiver request will be reviewed by sociology faculty who teach the course to be waived.

A previous Master's degree does not count in and of itself as a step towards the PhD. Nor may students transfer directly from another MA or PhD program. Everyone must apply, and be accepted for admission, through the regular applications process.

I am employed full-time. Is it possible to attend part-time?

This program assumes students are pursuing the PhD full-time. Students must complete a substantial amount of required coursework along with their Master's paper. In addition, students are expected to serve as teaching assistants for the department’s courses, which can require a weekly commitment of up to 20 hours.

Part-time enrollment (and/or outside employment) is more common for students after they've advanced to candidacy. Note that part-time students are not eligible for TAships.

What opportunities are available to Sociology students to work with faculty in other departments?

The program offers interdisciplinary opportunities. One of three elective courses may be from outside Sociology, and some students choose to take seminars in other departments.

In addition, graduate students in Sociology may obtain a Designated Emphasis on the Sociology PhD diploma indicating that they have specialized in a specific field in an external department. Departments across campus offer a Designated Emphasis, including Environmental Studies, Feminist Studies, History of Art & Visual Culture, History of Consciousness, Latino and Latin American Studies, and Politics. View the full list of departments that offer Designated Emphases. To pursue a DE, contact the department’s graduate coordinator after admission into the program. Typical requirements include some combination of having an advisor from the external department serve on your Qualifying Exam and/or Dissertation Reading Committee, completing specified courses, and submitting a written component.

Many sociology faculty and graduate students participate in research groups with campuswide membership. Learn more at the Research Centers website and Working Groups and Research Clusters website. In addition, students can participate in the Institute for Humanities Research's Centers & Projects and Clusters and Working Groups.

If you have further questions, contact the Graduate Coordinator at socyga@ucsc.edu.