Sociology

Head of the Department: Tim Liau
Director of Graduate Studies: Gillian Stevens
326 Lincoln Hall
702 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1950
Fax: (217) 333-5225
E-mail: soc@uiuc.edu

Graduate Degree Programs

The Department of Sociology offers graduate programs leading to the doctor of philosophy degree.

Admission

The Graduate College admission requirements apply. Students applying for admission should have a background in one of the social sciences, preferably sociology. Applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores on the tests of verbal ability, quantitative ability, and analytical ability. The advanced test in sociology is optional. A writing sample is required. Non-native English speakers must also submit Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.

Doctor of Philosophy

The graduate program is small and cohesive with a high faculty-student ratio. All students are required to take a small core of required courses in theory and methods, and then specialize in one of four areas. The areas are composed of collaborative research and curricula, and constitute the major locations for graduate student training. The areas are Social Dynamics and Structure: Networks, Population and Life Course, Race, Class and Gender, Science and Technology, and Transnational Studies. Doctoral candidates must pass a specialty examination in their area and write and defend a dissertation proposal and final dissertation.

Financial Aid

Financial support is provided for most graduate students through teaching assistantships, research assistantships, tuition and fee waivers, fellowships, and other University and external financial support.