Program Overview
Sociology, PhD
Overview
The sociology doctoral degree provides rigorous training in public and applied social research, including skills in research design, data analysis, and substantive areas that are pertinent to various sectors in the Washington, D.C. area. Graduates have the theoretical, analytical, and professional skills that prepare them for academic positions in teaching or research. They are also well-qualified for nonacademic positions in the many settings that rely on the expertise of sociologists including human service agencies, marketing research firms, educational systems, nonprofit foundations, and law enforcement agencies.
Admissions
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental web site.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Satisfactory Progress
According to university policy, students may be terminated if they fail to achieve satisfactory progress toward their degree. In addition to the graduate policies on academic termination (see AP.6.6.2), students in the program are judged as having failed to achieve satisfactory progress if they have a plagiarism finding by the Office of Academic Integrity.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 72
Foundation Courses
- SOCI 601: Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology (3 credits)
- SOCI 711: Classical Sociological Theory (3 credits)
- SOCI 712: Contemporary Sociological Theory (3 credits)
- SOCI 620: Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry (3 credits)
- SOCI 636: Statistical Reasoning for Applied Research (3 credits)
Elective Methodology and Analysis Courses
- Select three courses from the following:
- SOCI 631: Survey Research
- SOCI 632: Community-Based Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- SOCI 633: Special Topics in Sociology (when topic is Critical Theory, Critical Ethnography, or another course with written approval of the graduate director)
- SOCI 634: Qualitative Research Methods
- SOCI 655: Ethnography
- SOCI 660: Historical and Comparative Sociology
- SOCI 730: Analytic Techniques of Social Research
- SOCI 858: Decolonizing Social Research
- ANTH 650: Ethnographic Research Methods
- WMST 610: Feminist Research Methods
Concentrations
Concentration in Institutions and Inequalities (INI)
- Two Proseminars:
- SOCI 803: Institutions and Inequalities (3 credits)
- SOCI 804: Sociology of Globalization (3 credits)
- Select three courses from the following:
- SOCI 605: Gender and Social Structure
- SOCI 614: Sociology of Culture
- SOCI 623: Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives
- SOCI 624: International Migration in the Age of Globalization
- SOCI 635: Environment and Society
- SOCI 637: Political Sociology
- SOCI 638: Feminist Theory
- SOCI 639: Urban Inequality
- SOCI 641: Micro Sociology: Inequality and Everyday Life
- SOCI 845: Society and Education
- SOCI 853: Cities in a Global Society
- SOCI 857: Sociology of Human Rights
- SOCI 633: Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director)
- SOCI 833: Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director)
Concentration in Sociology of Globalization (SGL)
- Two Proseminars:
- SOCI 803: Institutions and Inequalities (3 credits)
- SOCI 804: Sociology of Globalization (3 credits)
- Select three courses from the following:
- SOCI 614: Sociology of Culture
- SOCI 623: Racial and Ethnic Relations: American and Selected Global Perspectives
- SOCI 624: International Migration in the Age of Globalization
- SOCI 635: Environment and Society
- SOCI 637: Political Sociology
- SOCI 661: Global Social Thought
- SOCI 850: Sociology of Development
- SOCI 851: Globalization and Social Movements
- SOCI 853: Cities in a Global Society
- SOCI 857: Sociology of Human Rights
- ANTH 531: Refugees in the Contemporary World
- SOCI 633: Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director)
- SOCI 833: Special Topics in Sociology (with prior written approval of graduate director)
Elective Courses
- Select seven elective courses from advanced courses (500-800 level) in sociology. With prior written approval of the graduate director, up to two courses from outside the sociology program that are not currently listed as approved courses (inclusive of consortium courses) may count toward degree requirements.
Advancement to Candidacy
To advance to candidacy, students must complete all coursework required on their approved program of study. Students must also successfully pass one written comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam tests students' mastery of the foundations of sociological inquiry, linking research methods and sociological theory to public concerns, as well as material in the student's area of concentration. It is administered by a faculty committee appointed by the graduate program director. Additionally, students must defend their dissertation proposal. Evidence of completed requirements must be on file in the Dean's Office before a student can advance to candidacy.
Dissertation
Once enrolled in SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation, students must maintain continuous registration each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation, students must follow the university's continuous registration policy as specified in AP.6.10.6 Dissertation Research. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation.
Students complete a minimum of 3 credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and 3 credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation. 12 credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation combined are required and will be applied to the degree. Because of the continuous registration policy, students may be required to register for additional credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation. Because students cannot register for credits of SOCI 999 Doctoral Dissertation until they have advanced to PhD candidacy, they may choose (but are not required) to register for additional credits of SOCI 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate depth of understanding of core theoretical and methodological debates and arguments shaping an existing literature within the discipline and the ability to accurately apply, analyze, and synthesize them to frame a research question or problem.
- Formulate a research question or problem of sociological importance that is clearly formulated as a puzzle, paradox, contradiction or other intellectual tension and identify its relationship to an existing sociological literature.
- Demonstrate understanding of appropriate sociological methods for data collection and apply them to an analysis of a research question or problem.
- Demonstrate understanding of current theoretical debates related to a given area of study in sociology and situate own work within the context of those debates.
- Effectively communicate in writing the findings and interpretations of their research.
- Apply and analyze sociological concepts to understand a social issue/problem of contemporary relevance.