About PhD Program,
Graduate training is central to the Department of Sociology at the University of Washington. Our graduate program has a long and distinguished tradition of producing leading scholars and teachers who make important contributions to the discipline of sociology and to our collective understanding of social processes. Our graduate training emphasizes:
- Understanding and critically evaluating social theory and empirical research
- Conducting theoretically guided research that explores, assesses, and further develops explanatory theories
- Developing communication skills (with emphasis on scholarly writing and teaching) that transmit sociological knowledge.
Together, our graduate students and faculty form a vibrant and collaborative scholarly community. We interact regularly in courses, colloquia, departmental seminars, and in joint research projects. Sociology graduate students are actively involved in all aspects of academic life: teaching, conducting research, presenting their findings at national conferences and publishing in the field’s leading journals. They also write fascinating dissertations. We pride ourselves on placing our students in tenure-track jobs at well-respected peer institutions. You can learn more about our current students on the job market.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The Ph.D. program focuses on the development of research skills and sociological knowledge. These are the milestones:
The Graduate School requires a BA degree and a minimum GPA. You can find more information on the Understanding the Application Process page
- Completion of 4 graded elective courses in Sociology beyond the theory and methods courses required for the MA
- Completion of a Ph.D. Training Plan, which is a program of additional courses approved by the Supervisory Committee
- Successful completion of a Comprehensive Exam
- Successful completion of a General Exam/Dissertation Prospectus
- Completion of dissertation research project
- Final exam/dissertation defense dissertation
PhD Funding Coverage,
We automatically consider applicants for both admission AND financial support. Admitted students are typically offered a multi-year funding package as part of their offer of admission. The vast majority of our students are funded throughout their entire time in the program.
Non-native English Speakers must meet certain criteria to be eligible for Teaching Assistantships. The requirements can be found in Graduate School Memo 15.
Teaching Assistantships:
The primary form of departmental funding is a teaching assistantship. Teaching assistants aid faculty in teaching one or more courses. Duties frequently entail leading discussion sections in undergraduate courses. TAs work approximately 20- hours a week and receive a tuition waiver and a stipend for the nine-month academic year.
Student Instructors:
After completion of the M.A. and a UW pedagogy course (SOC 502), graduate students can teach their own sociology courses. These classes are primarily taught over the summer and offer an opportunity to develop a teaching portfolio.
Research Assistantships:
Faculty research projects supported by external funding sometimes employ graduate student assistants. Research assistantships are typically awarded to students who have completed their first year of study. RAs work approximately 20-hours per week and receive a tuition waiver and a stipend for the nine-month academic year.
Department Fellowships and Awards
Most departmental fellowships are awarded to incoming students and do not require an application. Departmental awards are given to current students in recognition of their accomplishments within the program. To learn more visit the Departmental Awards page.
Reader/Grader
Reader/Graders Academic Student Employees covered by the UAW/UW collective bargaining agreement. They are paid $32.21/hour.
Office of Student Financial Aid
The UW Office of Student Financial Aid may has information about guaranteed student loans.
Application Requirement,
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Letters of Recommendation: We require 3 – 5 letters of recommendation.
Writing Sample: Submit a 5 -15 page paper (double-spaced) that demonstrates your ability to clearly analyze and write about a social scientific topic. This can be an excerpt from a larger paper. The 15-page limit does not include title pages and references.
Unofficial Transcripts: Submit unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning (colleges and universities).
GRE scores: At this time, we do not require a submission of a GRE score. This is subject to change. Please contact Tess McShane at tmcsha@uw.edu with any specific questions.
Non-Native English Speakers: The Sociology Department follows the guidance of the UW Graduate School regarding the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Requirement and the appointment of non-native English-speaking Teaching Assistants (TAs). Please refer to Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements for more information
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee,
The nonrefundable application fee is $90 (USD) or $75 for Graduate Non-Matriculated applications.
