phd in sociology texas

Sociology Graduate Program

The graduate program provides broad advanced level training for students who intend to enter a Ph.D. program, prepare for undergraduate or community college teaching, or pursue a nonacademic professional career for which a Master of Arts degree in sociology is appropriate and useful. Decisions on the program of study, specific courses, and thesis topics are made through consultation with the graduate advisor and other faculty members based on the individual student's background, interests, and objectives. With departmental approval, requirements may be amended for students with exceptional qualifications, or additional courses may be required or recommended for applicants with inadequate undergraduate preparation.

If you have any questions about the program or how to apply after reading this webpage, please contact Dr. Patricia Maloney , Sociology Graduate Program Director.

Coursework Requirements

Students may select the thesis option or nonthesis option. The thesis option is strongly recommended for students who plan to continue their graduate studies in a doctoral program. The nonthesis option is designed as a terminal M.A. program for students interested in career advancement, practical applications of sociological knowledge and research methods, or intellectual enrichment. Both options require 36 credit hours of coursework, including courses in the core areas of sociological theory and research methods.

Elective courses are available in various substantive areas such as family, criminology and deviance, social psychology, social change, minority relations, demography, urban problems, medical sociology and gerontology. (See list of courses and sample timeline.) Six hours may be taken as a minor outside the department, subject to graduate committee approval. A grade of B or better is required for graduate credit.

Graduate students must take i) Classical Theory (Soc 5308), ii) Contemporary Theory (Soc 5303), iii) Research Methods (Soc 5394), and iv) Statistics (Soc 5334) within their first two long semesters of beginning the master's program.

A comprehensive examination designed to reflect the student's specific areas of study is scheduled during the final semester.Students who attended and presented their work at two professional conferences are not required to take the comprehensive examination.

Teaching Assistantships

Opportunities are also available on a competitive basis for a Teaching Assistantship in the Department. The applications are evaluated by the Sociology Graduate Committee.

List of Graduate Courses in Sociology

• 5101. Professional Socialization (1). Practical issues in sociological research, scholarship, and teaching. Required of first-semester graduate students and teaching assistants through their appointment period. Pass-fail grading.
• 5303. Seminar in Contemporary Sociological Theory (3:3:0). Study of contemporary approaches to society, including conflict theory, functionalism, symbolic interaction, and ethnomethodology.
• 5308. Seminar in the Origins of Social Theory (3:3:0). Development of sociological theory in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Topics may vary, but emphasis usually will be on the work of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.
• 5311. Seminar in Criminology (3:3:0). Critical review of theory and research on selected topics in criminology.
• 5312. Seminar in Urban Education Problems (3:3:0). Extensive analysis of the process and consequences of urbanization and education, with emphasis upon causation and critiques of proposed solutions.
• 5313. Seminar in Minority Relations (3:3:0). American and world patterns of interethnic relations are covered with emphasis on recent and current trends.
• 5315. Seminar in Social Change (3:3:0). Linear and cyclical theories; analysis of the idea of progress, stage theories, dialectical materialism, and the lag hypothesis.
• 5316. Seminar in Social Gerontology (3:3:0). Theory and research on aging, covering demographic, sociocultural, economic, individual, and societal factors. Interdisciplinary aspects are stressed.
• 5320. Social Psychology: Symbolic Interactionism (3:3:0). Central ideas of social psychology are analyzed and integrated in a contemporary model of symbolic interactionism, with focus on affect.
• 5325. Seminar in Deviant Behavior (3:3:0). Critical review of current theory and research in deviance.
• 5327. Seminar in Demography (3:3:0). Theory and skills of population analysis including use of census data in sociological and social science research.
• 5329. Social Inequality (3:3:0). Overview of theories and trends in social inequality in the U.S. and in international context.
• 5331. Field Research (3). Individual research project off campus, covering entire term or longer. Research plans must be approved in advance by the student's major advisor. May be repeated for credit with permission.
• 5332. The Research Organization (3:3:0). Participation in campus-based organized research project. Required at least once of research assistants; open to other students.
• 5333. Qualitative Methods in Sociology (3:3:0). A focus on learning the methods and mindset behind qualitative research in social science, particularly interview, ethnographic, focus group, and content analysis skills.
• 5334. Quantitative Methods in Sociology (3:3:0). Decision making skills (from test selection to inferences from data) for quantitative analysis in sociology.
• 5335. Seminar in Family Violence (3:3:0). Advanced examination of definitions, prevalence, and theories of family violence. Focuses on impact of variation in definitions of family violence and societal responses to family violence.
• 5336. Seminar in Family Change (3:3:0). Analysis of how the family institution has changed, in relation to other institutions and society in general. Family is treated as both a dependent and independent variable.
• 5381. Seminar in Medical Sociology (3:3:0). Theory and research on conceptions of health, illness, and medical care from the sociological perspective.
• 5384. Seminar in the Sociology of Religion (3:3:0). Examination of the religious institution focusing on its sociological meaning, organizations, presence as a force in western society, and relationship to other social institutions. 
• 5394. Seminar in Sociological Research Methods (3:3:0). An examination of the research process including problem formation, case selection, data collection, and data organization.
• 6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).
• 7000. Research (V1-12).

Details About the Graduate Program in Sociology

Thesis option.

• Professional Socialization: 5101 (1 hour each semester; in addition to the 36 required hours specified below)
• Sociological Theory: SOC 5303 (3 hours) and SOC 5308 (3 hours)
• Sociological Research Methods: SOC 5334 (3 hours) and SOC 5394 (3 hours)
• Elective Courses (18 hours)
• SOC 6000: Master's Thesis (6 hours)

The Master's Thesis is supervised by the student's major professor and the thesis committee. The thesis committee must include at least one other sociology faculty member, chosen in consultation with the major professor. The thesis committee may also include a faculty member from another program with the approval of the major professor. Students are advised to consult with the graduate program director in selecting a major professor and thesis committee members. Students must pass a publically announced defense of the thesis before it is submitted to the Graduate School. The date for the thesis defense should be early enough for required revisions (if any) to be made prior to the Graduate School deadline for submission. The thesis must conform to all Graduate School requirements.

Non-Thesis Option

• Professional Socialization: 5101 (1 hour; in addition to the 36 required hours specified below)
• Sociological Theory: SOC 5303 (3 hours) or SOC 5308 (3 hours)
• Sociological Research Methods: SOC 5334 (3 hours) or SOC 5394 (3 hours)
• Electives (27 hours; 2nd course in theory or methods may be included as elective)
• Field Research: SOC 5331 (3 hours)

The student will enroll in Sociology 5331 (Field Research), which will be directed by the student's non-thesis paper committee chair. The major professor for the non-thesis paper should be chosen in consultation with the graduate program director.

Sample Timeline for Graduate Students

Semester 1, fall (10 hours).

• Professional Socialization (SOC 5101)
• Seminar in the Origins of Social Theory (Soc 5308)
• Quantitative Methods in Sociology (SOC 5334)
• Elective (3 hours)

Semester 2, Spring (9 Hours)

• Seminar in Contemporary Sociological Theory (Soc 5303)
• Seminar in Sociological Research Methods (SOC 5394)

Semester 3, Fall (9 Hours)

• Master's Thesis (SOC 6000, 3 hours)

Semester 4, Spring (9 Hours)

Comprehensive examination.

The comprehensive exam will include questions that relate to the student's chosen specialty area and may include applications of theory and methods. The examination committee is comprised of two faculty members, with one member chosen by the student and the second selected by the graduate director on behalf of the Graduate Committee. A third reader may be appointed in the event that the two examiners disagree on their evaluation. The length and time limits for the exam are set by the examining committee.

In keeping with the recommendations of the Graduate School, the Graduate Committee strongly suggests that the exam be written during each student's final semester of study. It may be taken one semester earlier with the approval of the Graduate Committee.

Students who do not satisfactorily complete the exam the first time may, with the approval of the Graduate Committee, re-take it after a waiting period of three months. A third attempt is not permitted by the Graduate School.

For more information, please download the Graduate Student Handbook .

Teaching Assistantships and Financial Aid

The Department provides funding for a limited number of Teaching Assistants (TAs). Most of these are usually available in the fall semester. In addition, Research Assistantships are sometimes available with faculty members in the department or within one of the University's institutes or research centers. These awards are available on a competitive basis and are based on the Sociology Graduate Committee's evaluation of the applicant's overall academic record and other relevant information provided as part of the application process.

The Graduate School also awards various types of scholarships. In addition, various employment opportunities are sometimes available within the University.

New or returning students may apply for a departmental Teaching Assistantship by contacting the Sociology Graduate Program Director:

Dr. Patricia Maloney , Ph.D., Sociology Graduate Program Director Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Texas Tech University Box 41012 Lubbock, Texas 79409-1012

Application Guidelines

Applications are submitted online to the Graduate School [ http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/ ] of Texas Tech University and must include:

• Payment of the application fee, and
• Official transcripts from every university you have attended.
• Letter of Intent/ Statement of Purpose
• Two letters of recommendation
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Academic writing sample (preferably 10-15 pages in length)

The Department adheres to the Graduate School policy of evaluating applicants in terms of holistic admissions criteria. The minimum expected grade point average (GPA) for admission is 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale). Scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE are also considered if provided. In addition to the GPA and GRE, applicants will also be evaluated in terms of additional criteria as reflected in the materials listed above. 

The Graduate School no longer requires GRE scores as part of the application process. However, if you have taken the GRE (or plan to do so) and want the results to be considered, you can report them to the Graduate School.

Your application for admission will not be evaluated until all of the materials listed above have been received. Deadlines for applications to be completed are as follows:

• Fall admission: March 1st
• Spring admission: November 1st

Early applications are encouraged, especially if you wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship.

Follow this link to check your application status: http://www.raiderlink.ttu.edu . Select the "Applications" tab to check the status of your application.

Please contact the Sociology Graduate Director, Dr. Patricia Maloney , if you have any questions about the application process or would like to receive additional information regarding the program.

Contact TTU

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For more information, facilities for graduate work, areas of study, graduate studies committee.

Master of Arts Doctor of Philosophy

Campus address: Robert L. Patton Hall (RLP) 3.306, phone (512) 232-6300, fax (512) 471-1748; campus mail code: A1700

Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Program, Department of Sociology, 305 East 23rd Street Stop A1700, Austin TX 78712

E-mail: [email protected]

URL:  http://liberalarts.utexas.edu/sociology/

The Department of Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin is one of the top graduate programs in the country. Its 40 faculty members are involved in research and publication on a broad range of topics. Among the department’s specialties are gender; race/ethnicity; demography; family; health; poverty and inequality; political sociology/development and globalization; and work, occupations, and organizations. Graduate students receive instruction in the full range of sociological methodologies, including comparative/historical methods, ethnographic fieldwork, and quantitative data analysis. Professionalization courses include formal instruction on publishing, presenting papers at professional conferences, and teaching. The department has housed a number of prominent journals, including Gender & Society , The Journal of Health and Social Behavior , and the Latin American Research Review . Faculty members serve key roles in a number of national and international professional societies, including the American Sociological Association and the Population Association of America.

The Department of Sociology is located in Robert L. Patton Hall (RLP), which also houses the innovative Urban Ethnography Lab and the Population Research Center (PRC), one of the preeminent demographic research and training centers in the United States. Research grant and fellowship opportunities are available through the PRC. The research foci of the PRC include children, youth, and families; population health; religion and demographic processes; and Latin American and border demography. Both the Department of Sociology and the PRC have computer laboratories, data archives, and a weekly lecture series. There are also opportunities for students to receive travel and fellowship funds to support their work.

Faculty and students are also affiliated with the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (CWGS), which provides graduate students with the opportunity to receive a certification in women’s studies. Many sociology students present their original research at the annual CWGS graduate student conference. Other centers on campus provide research and teaching opportunities for sociology graduate students, including the Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, the Department of Mexican American and Latino/a Studies, the Center for Asian American Studies, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies.

Graduate study is offered in theory; education; health; family; race and ethnicity; gender; political sociology, development and globalization; crime, law, and deviance; demography; and work, occupations, and organizations.

The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2023 semester.

The GSC Committee list was not available at publication time; please check directly with the department for an up-to-date list.

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Sociology Graduate Programs in Texas

1-22 of 22 results

Rice School of Social Sciences

Houston, TX •

Rice University •

Graduate School

Blue checkmark.

Rice University ,

Graduate School ,

HOUSTON, TX ,

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas - Austin

Austin, TX •

University of Texas - Austin •

University of Texas - Austin ,

AUSTIN, TX ,

College of Liberal Arts - Texas A&M University

College Station, TX •

Texas A&M University •

Texas A&M University ,

COLLEGE STATION, TX ,

Houston Christian University School of Nursing and Allied Health

Houston Christian University •

Graduate School •

HOUSTON, TX

Concordia University - Texas

• • Rating 4.84 out of 5   19

College of Education - Tarleton State University

Tarleton State University •

STEPHENVILLE, TX

• • Rating 4.33 out of 5   3

College of Arts and Sciences - Baylor University

Baylor University Graduate School •

Baylor University Graduate School ,

School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences - University of Texas - Dallas

Richardson, TX •

University of Texas - Dallas •

University of Texas - Dallas ,

RICHARDSON, TX ,

College of Arts and Sciences - Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX •

Texas Tech University •

Texas Tech University ,

LUBBOCK, TX ,

• Find college scholarships

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences - University of Houston

University of Houston •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   3 reviews

Current Master's student: The academic program is rather good at the University of Houston. I have three social work classes and they are robust and full of great information. The choices of classes at UH is very good and allows students to follow their academic path and find classes that fit their program. The advisors at UH are on top of things and are always able and willing to help. I would honestly say that UH is a great place for academics! ... Read 3 reviews

University of Houston ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says The academic program is rather good at the University of Houston. I have three social work classes and they are robust and full of great information. The choices of classes at UH is very good and... .

Read 3 reviews.

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences - University of North Texas

Denton, TX •

University of North Texas •

University of North Texas ,

DENTON, TX ,

Texas State University College of Liberal Arts

San Marcos, TX •

Texas State University •

• • Rating 4.83 out of 5   6 reviews

Master's Student: I admire how flexible and understanding Texas State is from the admissions to the professors. Texas State also ensures that all bobcat students are receiving proper education that will benefit them in the future. ... Read 6 reviews

Texas State University ,

SAN MARCOS, TX ,

6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I admire how flexible and understanding Texas State is from the admissions to the professors. Texas State also ensures that all bobcat students are receiving proper education that will benefit them... .

Read 6 reviews.

University of Texas - Arlington College of Liberal Arts

Arlington, TX •

University of Texas - Arlington •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: The academics are alright. Core classes are honestly a waste of time, and should be avoided. Courses focused on your actual degree are so much better! ... Read 2 reviews

University of Texas - Arlington ,

ARLINGTON, TX ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The academics are alright. Core classes are honestly a waste of time, and should be avoided. Courses focused on your actual degree are so much better! .

Read 2 reviews.

Texas A&M International University College of Arts and Sciences

Laredo, TX •

Texas A&M International University •

Texas A&M International University ,

LAREDO, TX ,

College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX •

Sam Houston State University •

Sam Houston State University ,

HUNTSVILLE, TX ,

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College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts

Commerce, TX •

Texas A&M University - Commerce •

Texas A&M University - Commerce ,

COMMERCE, TX ,

College of Liberal and Fine Arts - University of Texas - San Antonio

San Antonio, TX •

University of Texas - San Antonio •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: Even with classes being moved online the professors have been nothing but supportive in us graduate students finding our passion through higher education. ... Read 4 reviews

University of Texas - San Antonio ,

SAN ANTONIO, TX ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Even with classes being moved online the professors have been nothing but supportive in us graduate students finding our passion through higher education. .

Read 4 reviews.

University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley College of Liberal Arts

Edinburg, TX •

University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: The faculty were very knowledgeable, talented, and supportive! I would like to see more organization from the college administration. ... Read 4 reviews

University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley ,

EDINBURG, TX ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The faculty were very knowledgeable, talented, and supportive! I would like to see more organization from the college administration. .

College of Arts and Sciences - Texas Woman's University

Texas Woman's University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: Coming to Denton, Texas from Nampa, Idaho to start graduate school was incredibly intimidating. Going into the JMSW program blind, I did not know any of my professors, let alone any of my classmates, but I could not have picked a better program to be in. The instruction I have received at TWU has been nothing but top tier. My professors keep the class sizes small which ensures that each student receives personal and efficient attention. Aside from the program itself, the campus as a whole is lovely and makes you feel as if you are part of a tight-knit community. The grounds are maintained exceptionally and the buildings are always clean. I can honestly say I am proud to be a student of TWU. Boldly go! ... Read 2 reviews

Texas Woman's University ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Coming to Denton, Texas from Nampa, Idaho to start graduate school was incredibly intimidating. Going into the JMSW program blind, I did not know any of my professors, let alone any of my classmates,... .

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas - El Paso

El Paso, TX •

University of Texas - El Paso •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   6 reviews

Master's Student: UTEP's Online MFA program is flexible and allows students to do the program at their own pace. It is perfect for Full time workers and families. The professors are experts in their craft and are always available for their students. ... Read 6 reviews

University of Texas - El Paso ,

EL PASO, TX ,

6 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says UTEP's Online MFA program is flexible and allows students to do the program at their own pace. It is perfect for Full time workers and families. The professors are experts in their craft and are... .

College of Arts and Sciences - Our Lady of the Lake University

Our Lady of the Lake University •

Our Lady of the Lake University ,

College of Arts and Sciences - Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX •

Texas A&M University - Kingsville •

Texas A&M University - Kingsville ,

KINGSVILLE, TX ,

College of Human Sciences and Humanities - University of Houston - Clear Lake

University of Houston - Clear Lake •

• • Rating 1 out of 5   1 review

University of Houston - Clear Lake ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 1 stars.

Read 1 reviews.

College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences - Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University •

Texas Southern University ,

College of Arts and Sciences - Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, TX •

Prairie View A & M University •

Prairie View A & M University ,

PRAIRIE VIEW, TX ,

Houston Christian University College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   10

College of Business - University of Houston - Clear Lake

• • Rating 4 out of 5   2

College of Health Sciences - Tarleton State University

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1

Showing results 1 through 22 of 22

College of Liberal Arts

Sociology, Ph.D.

Students in the sociology Ph.D. program study the social complexities of the U.S.-Mexico border region and its people, conducting research into the challenges they face and possible solutions. Candidates have the opportunity to do research at the Socio-Environmental and Geospatial Analysis (SEGA) Lab and with faculty who possess distinct research experience in areas such as socio-economic effects of transnational corporations, prison communities and more.

Study in an American Sociological Association-affiliate department

Apply for research funding from the NSF, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the NIH

Access federal data through the Rocky Mountain Research Data Center to advance research

Prospective Student Looks to Advance Research Skills

Prospective sociology Ph.D. student Johnathan Cereceres is excited to bring his research skills to the next level. He hopes his research contributions highlight and validate the resilience of the El Paso community and is excited to explore the unique narratives of the Southwest.

Career Opportunities

• Academic researcher
• Nonprofit leader
• Public policy analyst
• Education administrator
• Law enforcement agent
• Government employee

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The objective of the sociology program is to produce intellectually well-rounded graduates capable of (1) functioning effectively in either an academic or a sociological practice setting, (2) analyzing social groups and relationships between groups, and (3) evaluating the influence of social and cultural factors on important social outcomes. All doctoral students are required to study core theory, statistics and research methods. The sociology PhD program participates in a consortium with Texas Woman’s University and Texas A&M University–Commerce known as the Federation of North Texas Area Universities. Through the federation, doctoral students can take elective courses at these institutions and apply them to their PhD degree, include faculty from the other universities on their doctoral advisory committee, and participate in federation professional development programs and events.

Admission requirements

Before being admitted to the doctoral program, the applicant must meet the requirements for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School specified in the Admission section of this catalog. Admission to the doctoral program in sociology is competitive, as available resources do not permit admission of all qualified applicants.

Applying is a two-part process. First, prospective applicants for the doctoral program must obtain and file an application for admission to the UNT Toulouse Graduate School. Second, applicants for the doctoral degree with a major in sociology must obtain and file a separate application for admission to the Department of Sociology. A competitive score on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination may be submitted at the time of the application and a score on the written essay may also be submitted.

The following requirements must be met for admission consideration.

For consideration of unconditional admission to the PhD program in sociology by applicants with a master’s degree, applicants must have completed a minimum of 18 hours of sociology, at least 3 graduate semester hours in social research methods, 3 graduate semester hours in an acceptable course on social statistics and 3 graduate semester hours of social theory, and have at least a 3.5 (B+) GPA for master’s courses.

For possible consideration of conditional admission for applicants with a master’s degree (requiring an appeal to the graduate school), the applicant must have at least a 3.0 (B) GPA for all master’s credit and substantial alternative evidence of potential success in graduate studies. Additional course work is typically required when the applicant has fewer than the required number of hours and courses needed for unconditional admission. The sociology department may request additional evidence of the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.

• Outstanding undergraduates without the master’s degree who meet all possible unconditional requirements may be considered for admission into the doctoral program. If admitted, a pass-through master’s degree option is available.

The dean of the graduate school will notify the applicant of the admission decision to the sociology program. Applicants receiving acceptance for admission should consult with the department’s graduate advisor prior to the first term/semester of enrollment to schedule courses.

Degree requirements

The minimum program for the PhD in sociology consists of 72 hours beyond the bachelor’s degree or 42 hours beyond the master’s degree. All students are required to complete the following:

• A minimum of 9 semester hours in research methods and statistics. All courses must be at the 6000 level, and a minimum grade of B must be achieved for each.
• A minimum of 6 semester hours in sociological theory at the 6000 level. A grade of B or better must be achieved for each course.
• A minimum of 9 semester hours in a concentration area approved by the advisory committee, including at least 6 hours at the 6000 level.
• A minimum of 9 semester hours of electives.
• A minimum of 9 semester hours of dissertation.
• A minimum of 24 semester hours must be taken at the 6000 level.

Students may earn limited credit in an internship as part of their PhD course work.

To fulfill UNT’s residency requirement a student must carry a full load of 9 hours each term/semester for two consecutive long terms/semesters at UNT or 6 hours for three consecutive terms.

The student must establish an advisory committee and prepare a degree plan approved by this committee. The advisory committee is composed of at least three members. The major professor (chair) must be a full-time UNT sociology faculty member. At least half of the committee must be from the full-time UNT sociology faculty. Other members may be from the Texas Woman’s University faculty or represent a second concentration within sociology or a minor outside the program. This committee is appointed by the dean of the graduate school upon recommendation of the student, department chair and graduate advisor. The degree plan of the individual student must be completed by the end of the first semester of the second year of graduate work or before completion of 18 semester hours in the program and taking the concentration exams.

All doctoral students must choose a concentration area in consultation with their major advisor and advisory committee and submit a doctoral qualifying paper. The purpose of the qualifying paper is to determine the student’s grasp of foundational works, the current state of the literature, and how the student’s proposal expands on the latter. The committee should have some indication if the proposed study is 1) feasible in the general time frame provided and 2) advances the literature, either theoretically or methodologically, in notable new ways that are not addressed by current studies. The qualifying paper committee is the student’s advisory committee as indicated on their approved degree plan. A successful defense is a necessary benchmark to move to the prospectus stage and graduate in a timely manner. To receive a “pass” on the qualifying paper, it must be approved by all members of the advisory committee following a shared rubric. The committee can require students to revise their submission and resubmit it. Resubmissions have a time frame of one month to address the comments of committee members. The successful completion of the qualifying paper is a prerequisite for admission to candidacy for the degree. Admission to candidacy is granted by the appropriate graduate dean upon recommendation of the student’s advisory committee, and the department chair and graduate director, and also is based upon the student’s academic record.

Under the direction of the advisory committee the candidate must write a dissertation representing original research. It must make a significant contribution to the discipline of sociology in the student’s area of concentration. The student must defend orally a written dissertation proposal that meets with the approval of the student’s advisory committee before the dissertation is written. The final written dissertation must be defended orally before the committee and approved by them.

Students can apply to their dissertation committee to take a research track. This track prepares the student for an academic position at a research university. Requirements include preparing three research papers in the student’s primary concentration. One of the papers must be accepted for publication and solely authored by the student, a second must be submitted for publication and the third must be approved as near-ready for submission for publication. The three papers are organized within the dissertation format for submission to the graduate school.

Quality of work required

The Department of Sociology has the right to dismiss a graduate student from the master’s or doctoral degree program for one or more of the following indicators of failure to make satisfactory progress:

The student earns grades of C or below in sociological theory, methods, statistics or concentration area course work that will count in these areas on the student’s degree plan (for purposes of this rule, the first grade received in the course will be used).

The student has Incomplete grades that are more than one year old in sociological theory, methods, statistics, or concentration course work.

The student’s overall GPA falls below 3.0 or the student is suspended by the graduate school after being put on probation.

The student fails to make any progress toward the degree for at least one full calendar year (e.g., does not enroll, does not make progress on thesis or dissertation, etc.).

The student engages in an act of academic misconduct.

U.S. News released its graduate school rankings. Here's where UT-Austin's programs landed

The University of Texas at Austin is in the news once again for its academic successes, this time with its graduate programs.

U.S. News & World Report partially released its rankings of the best graduate programs at colleges and universities nationwide. U.S. News has yet to release its engineering, medicine and clinical psychology rankings.

Several of UT's graduate programs ranked among the country's best, with the College of Education landing in the top 10.

More: UT-Austin will again require SAT or ACT test scores for admission. Here's why.

Three UT-Austin programs claim top rankings

Three of UT's graduate programs ranked first in the country among similar programs, though only one ranking has been updated for 2024-25. The university's accounting program ranked first, alongside its Latin American history and sociology of population programs, neither of which has been revised for the current year, according to a news release from the university .

"These rankings are striking and reflect our ability to continue to attract exceptional faculty and students," Jay Hartzell, UT's president, wrote on Instagram. "Our talent is what puts UT at the leading edge of discovery in AI and robotics, life sciences, population research, and many other disciplines that are at the forefront of solving many of the world’s most pressing problems and bettering society."

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Five of the university's graduate schools also landed in the top 10 in their rankings. In total, the university claims 42 graduate schools and programs that have ranked in the top 10 when combined with previous years.

UT will join the Southeastern Conference this summer, and it ranks third among those schools for academics, slightly behind Vanderbilt University at No. 1 and the University of Florida at No. 2, according to U.S. News’ latest 2024 College Rankings .

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US News & World Report Releases 2024 Rankings Of America’s Best Grad Schools

Texas A&M University is one of the nation’s leaders in graduate education, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

The university has 33 programs in the Top 50 spanning across agriculture, business, computer science, education, health, law, political science, public affairs, psychology, science, and veterinary medicine. U.S. News announced this week that the release of rankings for engineering, medical and clinical psychology will be delayed.

In its Best Graduate Schools ranking, the publication placed 10 of Texas A&M’s graduate programs in the Top 20; among those, six are Top 10:

College of Arts and Sciences

• Industrial and organizational psychology, No. 7 (No. 6 public)
• Inorganic chemistry, No. 5 (No. 2 public, No. 1 in Texas)
• Nuclear physics, No. 7 (No. 6 public, No. 1 in Texas)

School of Law, overall No. 26

• Dispute resolution, No. 5 (No. 3 public, No. 1 in Texas)
• Intellectual property, No. 6 (No. 2 public, No. 1 in Texas)

School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, overall No. 10 (No. 9 public, No. 1 in Texas)

According to U.S. News , the rankings are based on expert opinion on program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. Texas A&M currently enrolls 16,762 graduate and professional students (fall 2023), in more than 170 master’s, 94 doctoral and five professional degree programs.

“I’m so proud of our graduate students, the world-class faculty who mentor them and the outstanding programs that set them on a path to success in their chosen fields,” said Gen. (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University. “Post-graduate education at Texas A&M contributes immeasurably to our research enterprise and our teaching and service missions. Congratulations to the students, faculty and staff whose work is reflected not just in rankings, but each and every day on our campuses and in the world at large.”

Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth, which has seen a remarkable rise in the U.S. News rankings, this year rose three spots overall, an increase of 57 spots in five years.

The Bush School of Government and Public Service, which ranks No. 26 overall in public affairs, has seen gains this round in non-profit management, up six places to No. 21. “The Bush School continues to make strides as a world-class Public Affairs school,” said Frank B. Ashley III, interim dean. “Employers know that graduates of our Public Service and Administration program are career-ready leaders with a passion for public service.”

Other notable rankings include:

• Analytical chemistry, No. 11 (No. 10 public)
• Applied mathematics, No. 13 (No. 6 public)
• Legal writing, No. 11 (No. 7 public, No. 1 in Texas)
• Marketing, No. 29 (No. 9 public)
• Management, No. 27 (No. 11 public)
• Statistics, No. 13 (No. 7 public, No. 1 in Texas)

View the full rankings for Texas A&M here and review the U.S. News methodology here .

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The Department of Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest and most highly ranked Sociology departments in the country. Its outstanding group of  faculty  offers an excellent range of opportunities - both inside and outside the classroom - for  undergraduate  and  graduate  students. The  US News and World Report Guide to Graduate Departments  ranks UT Austin Sociology 6th among public universities, and tied for 11th among all universities. This high esteem, along with the high quality of life in the Austin metropolitan area, makes it easy to see why the Department has become a very attractive place for many leading sociologists to make UT Austin their home.

The Department currently serves as the academic home for 80 graduate students and over 600 undergraduate majors. It places tremendous value on core training in sociological theory as well as methods and statistics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It builds on that core with a myriad of  course offerings  in  areas  such as criminology and deviance, demography, education, family, gender, health, politics and development, race and ethnicity, and social stratification.

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• Graduate Program
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The Faculty

The Department's faculty are extremely research-active, placing great value on not only disseminating social scientific knowledge but also producing such knowledge - typically working alongside students. Faculty regularly publish articles in the leading general and specialty journals of the discipline, and books in leading scholarly presses; many faculty and students also have their work funded by grants from the federal government and private foundations. Faculty and students regularly present at conferences throughout the country and in international settings, and are actively sought out by policymakers for advice and by the press for the public's better understanding of social trends and issues. While the faculty provide strong academic instruction in the classroom, they work very closely with students in the research arena, with many co-authored publications and presentations resulting from faculty-student collaborations in outlets such as the  American Sociological Review ,  Demography ,  Social Forces , and the  Latin American Research Review , and in conferences at the American Sociological Association, the Population Association of America, and many others.

The faculty have won numerous awards, including the Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award, the SWS Distinguished Feminist Lecturership, the American Society of Criminology Fellowship, the Warren E. Miller Award, the Liberal Arts Pro Bene Meritis Award, PAA and SSHD Early Career Achievement Awards, ASA Distinguished Scholarly Book Awards, the Tech Innovation Special Achievement Award, and many more. In addition, the Department has hosted editorships to many internationally renowned journals, including  Qualitative Sociology ,  Gender & Society , the  Journal of Health and Social Behavior , and the  Journal of Marriage and Family . The Sociology Department and the  Population Research Center  also house the  Urban Ethnography Lab , which aims to forge strong ties between the fields of demography and ethnography. The faculty and current research sections on this website provide a more in-depth look at the areas of specialization and research activity of a very productive and diverse group of scholars.

The Undergraduate Program

The  B.A.  in Sociology offers a variety of potential  career opportunities . While not necessarily learning a "trade" as they would in Engineering, Liberal Arts majors develop many other skills. They draw on a broad educational background to attract potential employers, buildng on effective verbal and written communication, time management skills, intellectual maturity, and the ability to think critically.

Students actively participate in research activities alongside faculty members, with the  Sociology Honors Program  and the Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) Sociology Honors Society serving as the cores of upper-division student activity. Students have also recently created and developed  Sociological Insight , a national, peer-reviewed journal of undergraduate sociological research. Sociology undergraduate alumni go on to some of the leading graduate programs and law schools around the country, or on to very productive careers in state and local governments, the private sector, and the non-profit sector.

The Graduate Program

UT Austin Sociology is currently the academic home for 80  M.A.  and  Ph.D.  students. Students come from every part of the United States and the world, including the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the People's Republic of China, Mexico, Chile, Turkey, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Israel, and others. Students have been extremely competitive for  funding opportunities  such as prestigious dissertation fellowships, internships, postdoctoral fellowships, and on the academic and non-academic job markets. They have received the William Powers Jr. Fellowship, the Harry E. and Bernice M. Moore Fellowship, the Donald D. Harrington Fellowship, the Lora Romero Memorial Award, the ASA Minority Fellowship, the ASA Medical Sociology Award, the Academic Keys Future Faculty Grant Award, and numerous article and presentation awards. In 2011 the Department established  The Norval Glenn Prize , in honor of Professor Emeritus Norval Glenn and his many contributions to the field of family sociology, and recipients are given a financial award for the best paper in the area of family sociology.

The Department of Sociology is committed to placing its  Ph.D. graduates  in influential academic, government, and nonprofit organizations. A number of  professional development  resources and workshops are available throughout the year offering guidance in the preparation of CVs, research and teaching statements, writing samples, and job talks. In recent years, Ph.D. graduates have won postdoctoral fellowships at Brown University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of California at Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Harvard University, Princeton University, and more. They also now serve on the faculty at many prestigious universities around the country, including Princeton University, Duke University, UCLA, Penn State University, Rice University, and many more. Many others hold important research positions in federal government, state government, and private settings, such as the United Nations, the US Bureau of the Census, the Urban Institute, and the Alan Guttmacher Institute.

Visitors can explore the webpages of faculty and students to look at their research and teaching interests, to contact the graduate program administrator or an undergraduate advisor if they are interested in one of the Department's programs, and to take some of the many exciting and important courses that its faculty members have to offer.

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AUSTIN, TEXAS – The University of Texas System institutions earned several top rankings in U.S. News and World Report ’s most recent partial rankings of “Best Graduate Schools” in the U.S. According to U.S. News , the rankings for engineering, medicine and psychology will be released at a later date.

UT Austin is home to five graduate schools listed in the top 20 and has 39 programs and specialties ranked in the top 25. UT Arlington claimed three top rankings including the Master of Science Nursing program (#31), the School of Social Work (#43) and the part-time MBA program (#60). UT Dallas also achieved notable rankings including audiology (#3), Part-time MBA (#13), Speech-Language Pathology (#21), Criminology (#26) and Business (#38), while its School of Public Affairs ranked #57.

Notable rankings of UT institution graduate schools and programs are listed below. U.S. News updates some of its specialty rankings each year and republishes the most recent rankings in other areas. 

(Programs and specialties ranked in the top 25 are listed below)

• Accounting – #1
• Project Management – #4
• Information Systems – #4
• Part-Time MBA – #7
• Business Analytics – #8
• Real Estate – #8
• Entrepreneurship – #10
• Management – #11
• Marketing – #11
• Finance – #13
• Executive MBA – #15
• Production/Operations – #15
• Supply Chain/Logistics – #16
• Educational Administration/Supervision – #5
• Educational Psychology – #6
• Special Education – #7
• Education Policy – #9
• Elementary Teacher Education – #10
• Secondary Teacher Education – #10
• Curriculum/Instruction – #12
• Higher Education Administration – #14
• Counseling – #15
• Pharmacy (College of Pharmacy) – #6
• Social Work (Steve Hicks School of Social Work) – #8
• Audiology – #12
• Speech-Language Pathology – #14
• Constitutional Law – #11
• Tax Law – #13
• Contracts/Commercial Law – #15
• Intellectual Property Law – #15
• Business/Corporate Law – #17
• Criminal Law – #20
• International Law – #25
• Master’s – #14
• Public Policy Analysis – #15
• Programming Language – #7
• Theory – #8
• Artificial Intelligence – #9
• Systems – #10

UT Arlington

• School of Social Work – #43 (increased eight positions)
• Master of Science in Nursing - #31
• Part-time Master of Business Administration – #60
• Public Affairs – #99 (increased nine positions)
• School of Public Affairs - #57
• Audiology - #3
• Part-time MBA - #13
• Speech-Language Pathology - #21
• Non-profit Management - #24
• Criminology - #26
• Business - #38
• Computer Science - #64
• Engineering - #73
• Political Science - #81
• Economics - #88

UT San Antonio

• Social Work - #77
• Statistics - #79

UT Health Houston

• Public Health - #25
• Nursing Schools: Master's - #31
• Nursing-Anesthesia - #36
• Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice - #45

UT Health San Antonio

• Physician Assistant - #40
• Occupational Therapy - #41
• Doctor of Nursing Practice - #54

UT Medical Branch Galveston

• Occupational Therapy - #37
• Physical Therapy - #53
• Doctor of Nursing Practice - #72

UT Southwestern

• Physical Therapy - #74

About The University of Texas System

With 14 institutions that enroll over 256,000 students overall, the UT System is the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produced over 63,000 graduates last year and awarded more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas, as well as 60% of the state's medical degrees. The combined efforts of UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in over 10.6 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days in 2023. UT’s $4.3 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative, ranking No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the U.S. for federal research expenditures. With an operating budget of $29.1 billion for fiscal year 2024, UT institutions collectively employ more than 122,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and students.

News Contact Information

Catherine Frazier: [email protected] • 512-499-4360 (direct)

U.S. Air Force’s First Female Fighter Pilot Will Deliver Commencement Address

AUSTIN, Texas — Retired Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt, the U.S. Air Force’s first female fighter pilot and a 1990 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, will deliver the keynote address at UT’s 141st Spring Commencement on May 11. The ceremony is expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees and will be held at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. During her 31 years of service, Leavitt logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time, including over 300 hours of combat flying in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Maj. Gen. Leavitt broke much more than the sound barrier when she first took to the skies as a fighter pilot. She set an example of great persistence in pursuing her dreams, resilience in the face of disappointment, and being prepared for unforeseen opportunities,” said President Jay Hartzell. “In many ways she represents this year’s graduates, who entered UT physically detached from our campus at the start of the pandemic and adapted so they could succeed. I am incredibly proud that Maj. Gen. Leavitt blazed her remarkable trail as a Longhorn.”

An aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics alumna, Leavitt went to pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. She was the top graduate of her class. By 1992, Congress had changed the law to allow women in combat aviation, but the Department of Defense still prohibited women in any combat roles. Figuring the Department of Defense could not ignore Congress forever, she went against her leadership’s advice and requested the F-15E Strike Eagle. She was told she was not eligible for that assignment and directed to make another selection.

In April 1993, Leavitt was training to become an instructor pilot in the T-38 Talon trainer aircraft when her career took a dramatic turn. The Department of Defense changed its policy, and the Air Force remembered her request to fly the Strike Eagle. She was flown to Washington, D.C., for a press conference at the Pentagon, where the Air Force announced that she would be their first female fighter pilot. In 1998, Leavitt became the first female pilot to graduate from Weapons School, the Air Force equivalent of the Navy’s Top Gun.

Leavitt grew up in St. Louis and came to UT because she wanted to study aerospace engineering. Though she never flew as a child because of her mother’s fear of flying, she wanted to be a pilot, and at UT joined Air Force ROTC. When she achieved her goal, Leavitt remembers that most of her peer pilots accepted her, but many from the prior generation did not. Leavitt says that her own experience with loneliness in her efforts to become a fighter pilot gives her empathy with this year’s graduates, who persisted through the loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am honored to join the class of 2024 for their commencement ceremony,” Leavitt said. “These graduates showed incredible grit as they persevered through the pandemic. Rather than focus on how their lives were impacted by COVID, they focused on actions they could control and excelled in their endeavors at UT. With courage, compassion and commitment, the Longhorn class of 2024 will change the world.”

Leavitt consulted with Marvel Studios during the filming of the 2019 movie “Captain Marvel.” Wanting it to be an authentic representation of a female fighter pilot, she put her heart and soul into working with actor Brie Larson.

“I think that a lot of the tenacity and the spunk and the attitude of ‘Captain Marvel’ really was based off of Gen. Leavitt,” said retired Lt. Col. Caroline Jensen in Leavitt’s tribute video when Leavitt received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2023 from the Texas Exes.

“One of her great hallmarks is how she made any team she was a part of better,” said retired Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast in the same tribute. “She would uplift the condition of the entire team with the way she approached the human piece of this very difficult job of putting your life at risk, fighting another human being that can be equally as good, and always finding a way to win and to bring your team home alive.”

After a long list of service, including a return to Weapons School as an instructor, Leavitt retired from the Air Force in 2023. Her awards and decorations for heroism and meritorious service include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, and the Bronze Star. Leavitt now lives in New Braunfels with her husband and children.

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Foundational Impact

Social Psychology

Social psychology is an interdisciplinary field of research that emphasizes the interplay among the individual, interactions and macrostructures. Examples of the kinds of issues studied include how individuals’ associations and context create the impetus for certain life events; how individuals negotiate their everyday world; how violence might arise; how important characteristics of individuals and groups like gender, age, ethnicity and class structure interactions; how group interactions can increase or challenge inequality; and how social inequality influences mental health, crime, and deviance.

The Department offers many different perspectives within the social psychology and differing methodologies as well. There are two laboratories associated with social psychology at Texas A&M University: Howard B. Kaplan Laboratory for Social Science Research  and the  Stuart J. Hysom Social Psychology Laboratory .

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Sociology Ph.D. Alumni Michael Davern Awarded the Notre Dame Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award

Published: April 15, 2024

Author: Department of Sociology

Dr. Michael Davern '99 Ph.D., was chosen by the University of Notre Dame Graduate School as the 2024 winner of the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award. You can read more here .