About PhD Program,
Choosing sociology at USC for your postgraduate studies opens up a range of career prospects from research or education to communications or government service, and much more in the public and private sectors.
Hone your research and analytical skills through focused research clusters examining gender and family, health and well-being, social psychology and social networks.
Students in our graduate programs engage in rigorous academic analysis in a highly productive department. They work with award-winning faculty members with focused expertise in a lab space curated for sociological research.
We keep our graduate cohorts small so you receive support and attention from mentors who take a genuine interest in your success. Because of the outstanding faculty support, our students have high publication records and earn competitive placements for internships and jobs.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s requirements, our department has some additional admission requirements.
- If you’re entering with an undergrad degree, we require a GPA of 3.2 on a 4 point scale for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work.
- If you’re entering with a master’s degree, we require a GPA of 3.5 on a 4 point scale for all graduate work.
- GRE scores in the 70th percentile or above increase the likelihood you’ll be admitted and funded.
- We also consider how well your interests fit with our faculty’s.
PhD Funding Coverage,
From graduate assistantships to merit-based fellowships, you may find you can afford a
great education. While most assistantships and fellowships are arranged by your home department, the Graduate School lists university-wide funding below. Select openings are posted on the Opportunities Bulletin Board and our Graduate Student Resources Hub can help you connect with national fellowships and the campus Career Center.
Find general estimated costs to attend on the financial aid and scholarships site.
Complete listings of Tuition and Fees, including Departmental Fees by College, are on the Bursar’s website. Check out their Tutorials and Frequently Asked Questions regarding payments and payment plans to assist you along the way.
While graduate school is not inexpensive, it can be affordable when you combine funding from multiple sources, including loans if needed. As a general rule, students are advised not to take out loan sums that will total, upon repayment, more than eight percent of their monthly income.
Application Requirement,
- Official Transcripts
- Official GRE Score
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Writing Sample
- Personal Statement
Application Deadline,
Jan 01, 2025
Application Fee,
The base $50 graduate application fee
