Program Overview

Sociology Program at Brown University

The Department of Sociology at Brown University has developed an exciting program of studies at the graduate level, built on the faculty's research interests and their commitment to excellence. Students and faculty engage in extensive collaboration in research and teaching, and there is close mentoring of students. Financial support to cover tuition and living costs is available to almost all continuing doctoral students and includes teaching and research assistantships, as well as University and departmental fellowships and traineeships.

Program Description

Areas of specialization within sociology cover a wide spectrum of interests among faculty. Research and teaching collaboration between sociology and other departments, programs, and institutes within Brown enriches the curricular offerings. The program utilizes resources such as the Social Science Research Laboratory (SSRL), which contains state-of-the-art facilities for data analysis and research support, and has close ties with various centers and initiatives, including the Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Development Studies, the Initiative in Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4), the Population Studies and Training Center, the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy, and the Watson School of International and Public Affairs.

Application Information

Application Requirements

• GRE Subject: Not required
• GRE General: Recommended, but not required
• Official Transcripts: At the application stage, unofficial transcripts are sufficient. Official transcripts may be requested at a later point in the decision-making process. If admitted into the program, official transcripts will be required.
• Letters of Recommendations: Three are required; up to five are accepted. Letters from both academic and professional references are accepted; at least one recommender should be able to speak on the applicant's academic background.
• Writing Sample: Required, typically 25-30 pages, double-spaced. Examples could include a portion of a thesis, final course paper, or published papers. It is highly recommended that the writing samples are written solely by the applicant.
• Personal Statement: Required, typically 1-2 pages in length, single-spaced. Applicants should include details about their goals, research interests, why they want to study sociology, and why specifically at Brown.

Dates/Deadlines

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025

Completion Requirements

The program requires three years of graduate study, including:

• Courses in sociological theory and methods, multivariate analysis, research design, and measurement
• MA thesis
• Two semesters of teaching
• Preliminary examination in two areas of specialization approved by faculty and the graduate committee of the department
• Courses and areas of specialization outside the department are acceptable with prior approval of the graduate committee
• Dissertation
• Oral defense

Leadership

• Department Chair: Scott Frickel
• Director of Graduate Studies: John B. Diamond

Program Resources

• Program Faculty
• Program Handbook
• Graduate School Handbook