phd sociology in canada

Main navigation

• Undergraduate
• Graduate & Postdoc
• Speaker Series
• Equity Committee
• Graduate Students
• Graduate Admissions
• MA Programs

PhD Programs

• Graduate Student Funding
• Graduate Student Future Employment
• McGill Graduate Sociology Students Association
• Forms and Documents
• Teaching Assistantships

PhD Programs – Residency, Time to Degree and Prerequisites

Phd programs – course requirements, comprehensive exam, dissertation – supervision.

• Dissertation – Proposal Defense
• PhD Thesis – Submission and Evaluation

Our PhD programs are designed to train students for careers in academia, research, and/or social policy. Our graduates have gone on to research positions both within (e.g., University of Chicago; University of Western Ontario) and outside of academia (e.g., Statistics Canada). Others have taken up teaching positions at colleges and universities across North America (e.g., Oberlin College) or more locally, for instance, in Quebec CEGEPs ( Collèges d'enseignement général et professionnel ). Please see our listing of recent placements for more details.

Our PhD programs are generally geared to students who have already completed a Master’s degree in sociology. Such students enter the program at the PhD2 level. In exceptional cases, students with a Bachelor’s degree may be admitted directly into the PhD program as a way of ‘fast-tracking’ them. These students enter the program at the PhD1 level, which necessitates that they take an additional year of coursework, during which they are expected to take the required MA level courses (SOCI 504, 580, 600, 652) and two complementary courses. Students with an MA degree in a field other than sociology may also be considered for admission at the Phd1 level.

Note: The Sociology Department’s graduate programs are governed in vital bureaucratic matters (e.g., residency, additional session, leaves of absence, withdrawal, plagiarism and cheating) by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Students should consult the GPS website and the university calendar for elaboration .

Residence and Time to Degree

Students entering a sociology PhD program – whether at the PhD1 or PhD2 level – are required to spend three years in residence .

How long it will take a student to obtain their PhD degree depends significantly on previous background and success in developing a dissertation topic and building their academic publication record. Candidates for this degree, must, however, complete the degree within six (if admitted at PhD 2) to seven years (if admitted at PhD1) after the initial registration in the program (i.e., at the end of PhD7). For more information on time limits, see the university’s time limitation policy .

Within four years, all program requirements, with the exception of the dissertation thesis, must be completed. There is no residency requirement while the student is writing the dissertation but students must be registered in ‘additional session’ until all program requirements are met. Whether in residence or not, regular contact should be maintained between a student, his/her supervisor and committee members.

There are many steps to completing a graduate degree, and important academic and research milestones need to be met along the way. Please consult GPS guidelines: Students and Supervisors | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - McGill University

General Timeline

Reading and research courses.

A student may register for one independent reading and research course as part of their complementary courses. Reading and research courses provide an opportunity for students to study a topic of interest in greater depth in an independent way. These courses are negotiated between a student and a professor on an individual basis. Students must complete the ‘Reading and Research’ form detailing the nature of the work involved and the method of evaluation. The form must be signed by the student and professor overseeing the course and returned to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Taking Courses - Outside the Sociology Department

Subject to the requirements of a student’s elected course of study and with the approval of the Graduate Program Director, students may take a course in another department (e.g., epidemiology, anthropology). Language courses require the approval of the Graduate Program Director and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Taking Courses - at Other Universities

Students may take a graduate course at another university in order to meet their PhD program requirements at McGill. Students interested in pursuing coursework at other Quebec universities are eligible for a Quebec Inter-University Transfer . Students interest in universities located outside Quebec should confer with the Graduate Program Coordinator as to the current procedures for authorizing such exchanges.

Students may elect to pursue either the standard sociology PhD program or they may couple it with one of two ‘options’ in either 1) gender and women’s studies or 2) population dynamics Such options enable students to acquire a cross-disciplinary specialization. Coursework and thesis foci requirements vary in accordance with the option selected.

Prerequisites

Students entering the program at the PhD2 level (i.e., with an MA in hand) are expected to have completed the following courses (or their equivalents):

• SOCI 580: Social Research Design and Practice (3)
• SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 (3)
• SOCI 600: Qualitative Research Methods 1 (3)
• SOCI 652: Current Sociological Theory (3)

Students will have to ‘make up’ such prerequisites if they are lacking in addition to completing existing program course requirements.

All PhD students are required to take the first class on this list ( SOCI 580: Social Research Design & Practice ) during their first year in the program, regardless of whether they took a similar class in the past. Students who did not take the equivalent of one or more of the remaining 3 classes will be required – once admitted to the PhD program – to take the missing course(s) during the first year of the program. Students who already took an equivalent class for one of these 3 courses may request the Graduate Program Director for an exemption, though such exemptions are not guaranteed and will be decided on a case-to-case basis.

Course Requirements

Students may take a course in a related field, with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.

For students entering the Ph.D. program in the 2019-20 academic year and earlier.

Comprehensive Exam - Preparation and Sub-Fields

Students are required to be examined in two substantive areas in a single exam taken over five days. The Comprehensive Exam in sociology provides an opportunity for students to read broadly in two core sub-fields within the discipline and demonstrate their competence in each sub-field. Preparation necessary to pass the exam is substantial, usually requiring several months of intensive study. As part of their preparation, students are strongly encouraged to work on their academic writing skills. The Writing Center offers a number of courses that can help develop these skills. In addition, students are encouraged to seek detailed feedback on written work submitted in courses.

In consultation with their Supervisor, students select two of the following ten sub-fields to take their Comprehensive Exam: 1) development and social change 2) deviance and social control 3) race and ethnic relations 4) work, labour markets and the economy 5) medical sociology 6) political sociology 7) population dynamics 8) sex and gender 9) social stratification and 10) sociology of knowledge.

In preparing for the exam, students draw on one reading list from each of the two sub-fields. The examinations are prepared by each sub-fields’s exam committee. The reading lists will consist of approximately 20 books and 40 articles/chapters (or their equivalents) from each sub-field for a combined total of 40 books and 80 articles. Students should contact sub-field chairs (see table below) for copies of sub-field reading lists. Students may also contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for reading lists. Note that students must inform both the Graduate Program Coordinator and sub-committee chairs of their intention to to take the comprehensive exam in the sub-field within two months of the expected exam date.  Note that the student must register for the course “SOCI 705” during the term that the exam is to be taken.

Comprehensive Exam - Exam Sub-field members

Comprehensive exam - timing.

Comprehensive exams will be offered each year during the last week of August. Students must take the comprehensive exam no later than August of their PhD3 year. Under certain circumstances, students may be granted an extension to delay the exam. Such requests must be submitted to the GPD/GPC along with formal justification for a delay. The Graduate Committee will review and approve all such requests. Students who do not receive an extension must take the exam as scheduled. Students who do not take the exam by August of their PhD3 year without an approved extension from the Graduate Committee may be placed on probationary standing.

Comprehensive Exam - Format

The format of the examination is a five-day, open-book, written examination. The examination must be taken over five consecutive days. Students will receive the exam at 9am on Monday and return their answers by 5PM on Friday. The exam may be written in either French or English. It will consist of four questions (two questions from each sub-field). Answers to the four questions will be limited to between 30 and 40 pages in length, double-spaced (roughly 7-10 pages per answer). Completed exams should be emailed to the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC).

Comprehensive Exam – Committee Composition

The Comprehensive Examination Committee consists of four members: two members from each sub-field. The Chair of each sub-field included in the examination will assign two faculty members within the sub-field to serve on the committee as an Examiner. Sub-field Chairs collaborate with the Examiners to write exam questions.

Comprehensive Exam - Assessment

Exams are assessed on a pass/fail basis. Passing an exam requires: 1) synthesis in coherent, concise and accurate fashion of relevant literature and 2) display of an intelligent and critical perspective on pertinent readings in response to a given exam question. The student is expected to demonstrate sufficient mastery of key concepts and theories in each sub-field such that s/he could design and teach a course in the sub-field.

After students submit their comprehensive exam, the Comprehensive Exam Committee members will evaluate the answers. The outcome of the comprehensive exam should be conveyed to the student within four weeks after submission. The committee must assign an examination one of the following two marks:

• Pass the examination if it is deemed satisfactory in both sub-fields.
• Fail the examination if the committee deems it in any way unsatisfactory.

In instances where the examination committee has deemed an exam unsatisfactory, retakes must occur on or before the first week of January of a student’s PhD 4 year. The form and content of the re-examination are at the discretion of the exam committee. If the committee deems a rewritten exam insufficient, or should the student fail to retake the exam on or before January of their PhD 4 year, the student will receive a grade of F for the comprehensive exam and will be withdrawn from the Ph.D. program.

Each student is responsible for finding a faculty member willing to service as his/her supervisor for the PhD thesis. The first step for a student is to seek out faculty members and informally discuss possible topics. The student is not bound by the outcome of any exploratory meetings. Students may consult the Graduate and Postdoctoral Support website for guidance about supervisor-supervisee relationships. Once the student selects a supervisor (and the supervisor has agreed to supervise him/her), the student and supervisor work closely together to craft a dissertation research proposal. In the proposal, a student must: 1) state the research problem/puzzle clearly 2) review relevant literature so as to justify the significance of the proposed research 3) generate specific hypotheses 4) relate these to appropriate data and methods 5) provide a tentative outline of the thesis chapters and 6) delineate a timeline for completion of the thesis – from data collection through write-up.  Note that the student must inform the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) once a supervisor has been selected.

Two other faculty members are also required to form a student’s dissertation committee. Such members are typically drawn from within the sociology department but, with the approval of the Graduate Committee, members may be drawn from other departments within McGill and/or from other universities. Ideally, the committee members will regularly communicate with each other about the student’s progress and actively advise the student on a regular basis. Generally, the dissertation committee is charged with reading and commenting on a student’s proposal and then later on dissertation chapter drafts.

Dissertation Committee – Rationale

A three-person departmental committee is commonly used in North American social science departments.  It has many advantages for both students and faculty, including:

• Providing more guidance for the student, giving him/her the benefit of ongoing advice from several people, chosen for their expertise. Access to a variety of expertise, throughout the process, is likely to produce a better dissertation.
• Providing security for the student in case of conflict with the supervisor or the loss of a supervisor (e.g., due to departure from McGill).
• A close working relationship with three faculty members is likely to have important career benefits for the student beyond the dissertation. Frequently, relationships with committee members are maintained throughout one’s career. More immediately, when the student begins the job search, s/he can call upon the three faculty who are familiar with him/her and his/her research.
• For faculty, the committee structure is beneficial in fostering interaction with one another around a student’s research. The supervisor is also relieved of the sole responsibility of advising (although s/he remains responsible for the committee process and bureaucratic matters). Credit will also be given to committee members via the academic merit review process.
• Note that the student must form his/her PhD Supervisory Committee during PhD 3 and inform the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC).

Dissertation Proposal Defense

The dissertation proposal is one of the required milestones of the Sociology PhD program. To complete the proposal requirement, a student must (a) write a ‘dissertation proposal’ and (b) orally defend the proposal to their dissertation committee (the committee is typically composed of the supervisor(s) and two additional members). The dissertation proposal should be defended no later than August of the student’s PhD4 year. Students who fail to do so may receive an unsatisfactory on their Annual Progress Report.

Proposal Structure

Dissertation proposals vary substantially in their format and length. The guidelines presented below are intended to provide a rough blueprint for a typical proposal. Ultimately, the structure of the proposal will be determined through close consultation between the student and members of the dissertation committee. Students may also want to refer to the ebook Grad Skool Rulz , by Fabio Rojas (2011), for a detailed discussion about the structure and content of dissertation proposals. That said, a dissertation proposal will typically contain the following components:

• Statement of the research problem(s) or research question(s) Research questions typically address a concern within the existing literature or an issue in the wider world, and such questions should be clearly stated in the proposal. Students should be explicit about whether they intend to use the monograph or article-based format for their dissertation. Students who intend to write an article-based dissertation should take particular care to explain how the three or four manuscripts will fit together as part of a coherent whole.
• Relevant context Dissertation proposals should provide a summary of the theoretical, social, and/or historical context that is relevant to the research question. Such context is likely to include a discussion of existing scholarly literature that is related to the proposed research. For many topics, a description of the historical context or other social factors surrounding a case will be appropriate. Overall, the proposal should aim to situate the research topic and motivate its importance within a broad sociological frame.
• Existing literature There are many ways to engage directly with existing literature in a dissertation. A proposal might describe existing theoretical approaches that the student plans to re-engage using a specific case or set of cases. Alternatively, the proposed research may involve an intervention in a particular body of scholarly work, aiming to falsify previous findings or interrogate a theoretical frame. Regardless of the form, dissertation research typically engages deeply with a focused area of the literature (more directly than described in the “relevant context” section above), and the proposal should describe this literature. This section should also clearly identify and state how the proposed research would add to our understanding of the research questions beyond what we already know from the most relevant and up-to-date thinking and research on this question.
• Data and methods Proposals should include a clear statement of the data (e.g. type, scope, sampling approach, sample details, means of collection, draft interview guide) and the methods of analysis that students plan to use in their dissertation. A thorough proposal will contain a realistic assessment of the feasibility of the data collection and analysis and will demonstrate that the student has considered the possibility of unforeseen difficulties with data collection and analysis.
• Outline Proposals should include a preliminary outline of the thesis.
• Timeline Proposals should include an anticipated timeline of the steps necessary to complete the dissertation. The content of the timeline will depend on the details of the proposed research but will typically incorporate rough completion dates for data gathering, data analysis, reading and incorporating supporting literature, and chapter drafts.
• Length There are no rigid limits set on the length of a dissertation proposal; the final length should be the result of conversation between students and their supervisor(s)/committee. As a loose guideline, students may aim for 20–40 double-spaced pages (excluding reference lists and appendices), but students are encouraged to discuss the specific expectations for their proposal with their supervisor and committee.

Proposal Defense

The completed proposal should be distributed to all committee members at least three weeks prior to the scheduled defense. There is no set format for the defense, but committees typically ask that the student give a brief presentation (about 15 minutes) of the proposal before opening discussion to questions and comments from the committee itself (Student must contact operations to reserve a room). The student will then be asked to leave the room in order for the committee to deliberate. In addition to assessing the proposal, the committee may consider whether any revisions are warranted and may recommend future steps. If the committee agrees to approve the proposal, the PhD Proposal Approval Committee form  must be signed immediately following the defense by all committee members and returned to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Note that the student must register for the course “SOCI 702: PhD Proposal Approval” during the term that the proposal is to be defended.

• PhD program requirements and timelines
• PhD proposal approval committee form

PHD Thesis – Submission and Evaluation

Phd thesis – format.

The PhD thesis represents a student’s individual contribution to the field of sociology and specifically to his/her own research sub-field. There are two (2) typical formats for a dissertation in sociology at McGill: the manuscript and the paper-based format. A manuscript is akin to a book manuscript.

The paper format requires the completion of three (3) or four (4) article-length papers that are meant for publication (and may indeed be published before the completion of the PhD, though publication does not ensure that the dissertation passes), with an introduction, and a conclusion explaining the coherence of the papers. The student must be the sole or the lead author on each of these three or four article-length papers.

Past dissertations can be located at the McGill library. There are also university requirements regarding the content and format of the PhD thesis. Please consult GPS guidelines . In particular, students should carefully review the GPS thesis preparation guidelines:  Preparation of a Thesis | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - McGill University .

Students should discuss these guidelines with their supervisors when preparing their thesis and consult with them on the ways in which these guidelines are in lines with disciplinary and departmental norms for preparing the thesis.  

PhD Thesis – Formal Deposition

PhD theses can be submitted at any time but there are set deadlines set by GPS for each graduation date.  Please see GPS’s website for deadlines. 

All program requirements must be met before the thesis is initially, formally deposited.  Moreover, all members of the dissertation committee (from its proposal stage) should approve the dissertation in terms of its readiness for deposition.

PhD Thesis – External and Internal Examiners

PhD theses must be evaluated by one ‘external’ examiner and one ‘internal’ examiner. 

The ‘external’ examiner must be a scholar of established reputation and competence in the field of the thesis research from outside the university and normally must hold a doctorate. The external examiner must be at “arm’s length” and have no other conflict of interest.  Once a doctoral thesis is formally submitted, the supervisor should submit three names (and contact information) of potential external examiners – agreed upon by both the supervisor and doctoral candidate – to the Graduate Program Director who is responsible for securing the external examiner. 

The ‘internal’ examiner is typically a McGill faculty member (but not the Supervisor) affiliated with the department but s/he may also be drawn from other units at McGill. The internal examiner is expected to be knowledgeable in the area and topic of the thesis, though not necessarily to the same degree as the external examiner.  The internal examiner serves to ensure that McGill norms are observed with respect to quality of the thesis.  S/he need not satisfy the arm’s length conditions required of the external examiner (but must not be in conflict of interest according to McGill’s “Policy on Conflicts of Interest in Academic Supervision and Evaluation”  ). As such, a member of the student’s supervisory committee may be named as the internal examiner.  Once a doctoral thesis is formally submitted, the supervisor may directly contact a prospective internal examiner – agreed upon by both the supervisor and doctoral candidate – to secure his/her involvement.  Importantly, the internal examiner must attend the final oral thesis defense.

Please see GPS’s guidelines for more details on thesis examiners.

PhD Thesis – Oral Defense

Once the PhD thesis has been formally deposited and deemed passable by both the internal and external examiners, an oral defense is scheduled.  In instances where the thesis is not passed by an examiner (prior to the oral defense), a student may revise and resubmit.  See the GPS guidelines on ‘Thesis Examination Failures ''.

A dissertation must then pass at the oral defense stage in order for a student to graduate.  In instances where the committee deems the thesis not passable, there are several possible recourses.  For details, see the GPS guidelines on ‘Thesis Examination Failures. '

The oral defense committee for the PhD thesis traditionally is comprised of five members please refer to the GPS website: GPS's guidelines for doctoral oral defense .

The Graduate Program Coordinator arranges for the oral defense. The department advises GPS of the composition of the committee and the date of the defense. This must be done at least two weeks in advance of the defense in order that a Pro-Dean can be appointed by GPS.  One week prior to the defense, an invitation is sent to department faculty members and students. The candidate will receive copies of the examiners’ reports at the conclusion of the oral defense.

The oral defense is open to the public.  It entails a 15-20 presentation by the student followed by a question and answer period, and finally an announcement as to whether or not the student has passed.  The oral defense committee may request that the student make changes to the thesis before it is finally deposited to GPS.  This is the last stage before a student is eligible for graduation.

Department and University Information

Department of sociology.

• * Advising for Major and Minor Students
• * Advising for Honours Students
• * Quebec Inter-University Centre for Social Statistics
• * Libraries
• * Student Services

• Sociology Programs
• Family Studies Program
• Opportunities
• Master’s Program

PhD Program

• Research Streams
• Projects & Initiatives
• Sojourners: Undergraduate Journal of Sociology
• Distinguished Speaker Series
• Sociology Research Forum
• Job Opportunities
• Indigeneity, Equity and Diversity
• Student Health and Wellness Resources
• Faculty and Staff Health and Wellness Resources
• Community Food Garden

Students in the doctoral program in Sociology at UBC graduate with extensive experience in research, publication, and teaching.

Besides the comprehensive curriculum equipping our graduates with a strong mixed-methods background, our students build extensive resumes through publication, instruction, and collaboration with a world-class faculty.

Graduates from the PhD program have established themselves at prestigious universities and research institutions worldwide, and students’ research has earned them numerous major awards.

We welcome around 4 students each year into the PhD program.

Sociology PhD students have the opportunity to specialize in any one or more of the Department’s four major research streams:

• Race, Ethnicity and Migration
• Sex, Gender and Sexuality
• Environment and Community
• Sociology of Health

Think critically and socially

Understand the world in which we live and how you can change it..

The PhD program, offered on a full– and part–time basis, is intended to develop research and teaching scholars who can accomplish major, independent research projects, who are able to advance the substantive and theoretical debates in the discipline through professional discourse and publication, and who are able to teach the basic perspectives in the discipline and at least one specialized field at the undergraduate and graduate levels. All requirements for the PhD must be completed within six years of first registering as a doctoral student. During this period, continuous registration at York must be maintained. Part–time study does not entitle students to extra time. Part–time doctoral study is feasible only if the student can collect data for the dissertation as part of their job, or if the student can switch to full–time study for a year or two.

If a student has not finished at the end of their sixth year (18th term), they will have to withdraw from the program and seek reinstatement when they have completed all outstanding work and have an examinable dissertation. In exceptional circumstances, an extension may be granted, and the student will be required to register as a part–time student. Such an extension requires formal approval by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and is not granted routinely. Students need the support of their committee supervisor and the Graduate Program Director. In addition, students must write a petition outlining why they have been unable to finish within the normal time period and submit a detailed work plan for finishing the dissertation within the requested extension period.

The Graduate Program in Sociology at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

Connect with Sociology

• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD)

Canadian immigration updates.

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

UBC has granted Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in sociology since 1970, although the first sociology course was taught at the university as long ago as 1921. Students in the Ph.D. program in sociology at UBC have the opportunity to specialize in any one or more of the Department's seven major areas of specialization:

• Environment, Community and Social Movements;
• Family and Life Course;
• Gender and Sexuality;
• Health and Healthcare;
• Knowledge, Culture and Power;
• Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; and
• Work, Economy and Globalization.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

UBC sociology has a strong tradition of publishing research that matters. A sample of recent and award-winning books include: Gillian Creese's The New African Diaspora (U. Toronto Press); Amin Ghaziani's There Goes the Gayborhood? (Princeton U. Press), Renisa Mawani's Colonial Proximities(UBC Press), Becki Ross Burlesque West: Showgirls, Sex, and Sin in Postwar Vancouver (U. Toronto Press), and Wendy Roth's Race Migrations (Stanford U. Press).

UBC sociology has a strong history of engaging in community and service oriented learning projects, providing students with hands-on learning experiences carrying out research for partnering organizations in and around Vancouver (e.g. RainCity Housing, SPEC, City of Vancouver, Neighborhood House Association, Be The Change). There is a strong co-op tradition, and the Department also runs the Immigrant Vancouver Ethnographic Field School (in conjunction with the Department of Anthropology).

I honestly feel like sociology is the coolest discipline -- the opportunities are endless, both intellectually and for fostering social change!

Julia Goldman-Hasbun

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 13 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 13 students was $17,458.
• 7 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 7 students was $8,761.
• 10 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 10 students was $12,112.
• 17 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 17 students was $20,423.
• 3 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 3 students was $26,111.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

27 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 25 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

There are many places to go with a Sociology degree from UBC. Alumni from our program work with Statistics Canada, with Indian and Northern Affairs, in the provincial health care sector, in an array of public service and non-profit positions, and in a range of private businesses, big and small. Alumni also succeed within academia, securing positions at leading Canadian universities (e.g., University of Toronto, Western University, University of Waterloo), as well as universities abroad.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Abrutyn, Seth (Social theory; Sociological Theory; Suicide; Social Solidarity/Morality; Emotions/Microsociology; Medical/Mental Health; youth)
• Berdahl, Jennifer (Ostracism, Harassment and Bullying, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, Power and Status in Groups, Harassment, Work-Family Interface)
• Cheong, Amanda (Sociology; migration; Citizenship and Legal Status; Statelessness)
• Childress, Clayton (Cultural Production, Reception, and Meaning Making, Taste, Decision Making, Inequality, Organizations, Markets)
• Corrigall-Brown, Catherine (Sociology; social movements; identity; political sociology; social psychology)
• Fu, Qiang (a multidisciplinary perspective on institutional changes, social networks and mental health over the urban space; comparative and temporal analysis of civic engagement and identity; child and youth well-being (e.g., obesity and school bullying); developing)
• Fuller, Sylvia (precarious employment; inequality; work; gender and work; immigration, Work and Labour, Inequality, Gender, Economic Sociology, Social Policy, Welfare state restructuring)
• Ghaziani, Amin (Sociology; Sexualities / LGBTQ studies / Queer studies; Urban sociology; culture / cultural sociology; nightlife)
• Hanser, Amy (Work and employment; gender; consumption/consumerism; contemporary Chinese society, Culture and markets, inequality, gender, consumption, service work, China)
• Hirsh, Elizabeth (Sociology; Law; Structures and Organization; Inequality, Gender and Race Discrimination, Work Organizations, Law)
• Huyser, Kimberly
• Johnson, Phyllis (Allocation of financial and human resources by families coping with stressful circumstances, including immigration and resettlement, family separation, unemployment, and conflicts between work and family responsibilities)
• Jorgenson, Andrew (Sociology and related studies; Environment and Community; sociology of health; environmental sociology; global political economy; sociology of development)
• Karimi, Aryan (Sociology; migration and refugee flows; role of ethnic and racial boundaries in assimilation practices; lived experiences of racialized refugee and diasporic communities)
• Kennedy, Emily (Sociology; Environment and Society; Social and Cultural Factors of Environmental Protection; Gender; social class; Sustainable consumption)
• Lauer, Sean (Urban sociology and community studies)
• Lauster, Nathanael (Population, Housing, Urban Studies, Crowding, Home & Housing, Technology & Environment, City Building & Regulation, Family, Demography, Health)
• Maghbouleh, Neda (Migration, Race, and Identity; Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities; race; Racialization; Im/migration; identity)
• Mawani, Renisa (Sociology; Colonial Legal History; critical theory; Oceans and Maritime Worlds; Philosophy, History and Comparative Studies; Race and Racism; Time and Temporality)
• Nelson, Laura (Social movements, culture, gender, and organizations and institutions, Processes around the formation of collective identities, Social movement strategy in feminist and environmental movements, Continuities between cycles of activism and the role of place in shaping social movement activity, Intersectionality in U.S. women’s movements, Coverage of social movements in news media over time, Ways in which history is recorded and remembered, Gender inequality in startups and entrepreneurship)
• Qian, Yue (Sociology; family; Gender Relationship; Migrations, Populations, Cultural Exchanges; Demography; Family Studies; Gender Studies; sociology)
• Raker, Ethan (Social stratification, Medical sociology, Environmental sociology, Relationship between climate change and inequalities in human health and community well-being)
• Richardson, Lindsey (Sociology of health and illness, substance use, HIV/AIDS, urban health, sociology of work and economic life, health disparities )
• Silva, Tony
• Stecklov, Guy (Family and household demographic studies; Fertility; Migration; Mortality; Demography; Studies of Canadian society; Demographic behavior; Historical social change; Demographic Change in Sub-Saharan Africa; Migration and assimilation; Population and Development; Research and survey methodology)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Participation amidst precarity : medical research experiences among people who use drugs
• Decoding China’s pink economy : emergence, gendered distinctions, and mainstream companies’ pursuit of pink money
• The social psychology of the free speech and hate speech debate
• Identity work across the gender spectrum : negotiations of membership, healthcare, and resilience in transgender and nonbinary populations
• Unmeasurable phenomenon : Native American students overrepresented in early school leaving but underrepresented in the data
• Care conundrum : experiences of younger adult eldercare providers
• Interracial intimacy : how mixed couples negotiate and narrate their identity and experience
• The impact of black/white interracial relationships on identity formation and trust
• Environmental politics after disaster strikes : the cultural dynamics of public participation and mobilization
• Lessons learned and unlearned : a study of queer family-making practices
• Scientific knowledge production and academic labor in unsettled times : Covid-19 pandemic, preprint servers, epistemic validation, and gendered work
• Socioeconomic resources and adult mental health in Canada

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Sociology (MA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Sociology has specialization in the following core areas of study:

• Environment, community, and social movements;
• Family and the life course;
• Gender and sexuality;
• Health and healthcare;
• Knowledge, culture, and power;
• Race, ethnicity, and immigration; and
• Work, economy, and globalization.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Parker Muzzerall

UBC is a globally renowned institution for studying issues related to the environment and climate change, and the Sociology Department in particular has one of the strongest contingents of environmental sociologists in the world. These, paired with the unparalleled access to nature that life in...

Carly Hamdon

I decided to study at UBC for several reasons, but the largest was to work with my supervisor, Dr. Emily Huddart Kennedy. When I came upon her work, I knew immediately that she would be an ideal academic supervisor and mentor for me. Her keen ability to ask questions about things otherwise...

Ryan Stillwagon

Meeting Kaitlyn Jaffe at the University of Chicago during my master’s program drew me to apply to UBC. I knew from the work I did after my master’s degree that I wanted to continue working in the fields of medical sociology and queer sexual health. So, when selecting Sociology Departments, I chose...

Experience the colours of Vancouver

Great academic programs, great location: the distinct seasons and mild climate are among the reasons why graduate students choose to study here -- from the autumn leaves to cherry blossoms, witness the many colours Vancouver has to offer.

• Why Grad School at UBC?
• Application & Admission
• Info Sessions
• Research Projects
• Indigenous Students
• International Students
• Tuition, Fees & Cost of Living
• Newly Admitted
• Student Status & Classification
• Student Responsibilities
• Supervision & Advising
• Managing your Program
• Health, Wellbeing and Safety
• Professional Development
• Dissertation & Thesis Preparation
• Final Doctoral Exam
• Final Dissertation & Thesis Submission
• Life in Vancouver
• Vancouver Campus
• Graduate Student Spaces
• Graduate Life Centre
• Life as a Grad Student
• Graduate Student Ambassadors
• Meet our Students
• Award Opportunities
• Award Guidelines
• Minimum Funding Policy for PhD Students
• Killam Awards & Fellowships
• Policies & Procedures
• Information for Supervisors
• Dean's Message
• Leadership Team
• Strategic Plan & Priorities
• Vision & Mission
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Initiatives, Plans & Reports
• Graduate Education Analysis & Research
• Media Enquiries
• Newsletters
• Giving to Graduate Studies

Strategic Priorities

• Strategic Plan 2019-2024
• Improving Student Funding
• Promoting Excellence in Graduate Programs
• Enhancing Graduate Supervision
• Advancing Indigenous Inclusion
• Supporting Student Development and Success
• Reimagining Graduate Education
• Enriching the Student Experience

Initiatives

• Public Scholars Initiative
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)
• PhD Career Outcomes
• Great Supervisor Week

College of Social & Applied Human Sciences

Sociology PhD

Join graduate students of the highest caliber from across the country and around the world as you delve into the workings of society with a focus on how to improve life. In our program, you'll apply your knowledge, skills and values to examine and engage with current social issues through our four available specializations in environment, food and communities; work and organization; crime and social control; and identities and social inclusion. In addition to our core areas of specialization, our faculty conduct research, supervise and teach in many other fascinating areas of study.

As a self-motivated and talented sociology PhD scholar, you'll find a rewarding array of intellectual and professional challenges through course work, seminars, qualifying examinations, teaching and research assistantships, conference presentations and dissertation writing.

You'll also gain valuable leadership experience and professional development as you build the skills you need to succeed inside and outside of academia, such as advanced theoretical and methodological competence, an ability to conduct research independently at the cutting edge of your chosen field, and the expertise to communicate with precision and confidence while working with world-renowned faculty.

Program Brochure    Meet Our Graduates

Fields of Specialization

Our sociology MA provides the opportunity to specialize in one of four fields where our faculty is well-recognized for its expertise, including:

Environment, Food, and Communities

The field of Environment, Food, and Communities reflects sociological interests in understanding societal-ecological interactions more broadly. The specific focus may include environmental/natural resources/food systems and environmental justice/community sustainability.

Students specializing in this field will be encouraged to draw on established methodologies in the field, including the comparative and historical approach. Attention will be given to the ways in which structure/power/culture and class/gender/race and ethnicity play out in at least one of the substantive topics comprising this field.

Work and Organization

The field of Work and Organization reflects sociological interests in changing patterns of work and employment in comparative contexts, labour markets, gender and work, industrial and organizational change, economic restructuring and work, organizations and protest, education for work, and the regulation of work. These trends are located in the broader processes of globalization, economic restructuring and fundamental shifts in public policy.

Students specializing in this field will be encouraged to focus on the dialectical relationship between the configurations of gender, class, race and ethnicity, and the transformation and re-organization of work.

Crime and Social Control

The field of Crime and Social Control reflects sociological interests in how crime is defined, measured, explained and reacted to by society.

Within this field students will be exposed to scholarly material on a broad range of topics including: cyberbullying, victimization, legal responses to homelessness, intimate partner violence, drug policy, school violence, feminist criminology, critical criminology, restorative justice, sociology of risk, policing, the social construction of crime, inmate re-integration, youth justice, wrongful convictions, and life course criminology.

Identities and Social Inclusion

The field of Identities and Social Inclusion reflects sociological interests in the study of intergroup relations, with special emphasis on struggles over influence and power. Students specializing in this field will acquire a deeper understanding of the complex intersection as well as the overlap of forms of identity and group mobilization based on ethnic, linguistic, regional, class, gender, racial and other forms of social division.

The field also provides students with the opportunity to study Indigenous issues and policies related to multiculturalism, equity and local or regional autonomy.

Collaborative Specialization in International Development Studies

Students can choose to combine their PhD in Sociology with an International Development Studies specialization. The collaborative IDS specialization offers an interdisciplinary framework for the study of international development that combines training in a selected academic discipline with exposure to a broad range of social science perspectives.

More about the IDS specialization

Program Completion Requirements

A minimum of five semesters of full-time study must be devoted to the doctoral program. Normally, the dissertation will be formally submitted within forty-eight months of the completion of the minimum duration.

The PhD program is not offered on a part-time basis. All students are required to register in the program full time.

PhD students are required to successfully complete a minimum of four graduate courses, normally during their first two semesters in the program:

• PhD professional seminar (SOC*6750). This is a two-semester course that consists of a combination of several required and elective components and is expected to be completed within the first year of the program. Some elective sessions may be offered in subsequent years of the program.
• Advanced Topics in Sociological Theory (SOC*6800). This core PhD course is required of all first-year doctoral students and must be taken in the fall semester of the first year of study.
• Advanced Issues in Mixed Research Methodologies (SOC*6200). This core PhD Course is required of all first-year doctoral students and must be taken in the winter semester of the first year of study.
• One required graduate course in one of the four departmental fields of specialization, as determined by the student's area of specialization. Students advancing to the PhD program from the MA program in sociology at the University of Guelph who have successfully completed the existing graduate course in their field of specialization are required to take an elective graduate course offered by the department or a graduate course offered in another department at the University of Guelph (selected in consultation with the student's advisor).

Qualifying Examination

In addition to coursework, students are required to successfully complete one qualifying examination. The qualifying examination has a written and an oral component and covers sociological theory, the student's substantive field of specialization and student's research area.

The purpose of the qualifying examination is to assess a student's knowledge of the relevant subject matter and their ability to critically analyze, integrate and evaluate theoretical, methodological and substantive knowledge, and to assess their preparedness to undertake research for the PhD dissertation and to develop an analysis of their research findings.

As such, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the foundations of sociological theories and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the broad literature in the field as well as theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to that specific field.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal should be formulated early and presented to the PhD advisory committee.

The dissertation proposal must be formally approved by the advisory committee before the dissertation research can begin. The dissertation proposal provides a framework for the actual research.

Dissertation

Each doctoral candidate is required to submit and orally defend a dissertation, written by the candidate, on research carried out by the candidate on a topic approved by the advisory committee. The dissertation is expected to be a significant contribution to knowledge in its field and the candidate must indicate in what ways it is a contribution.

The dissertation must demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgement on the part of the candidate, and it must indicate an ability to express oneself in a satisfactory literary style. Approval of the dissertation is taken to imply that it is judged to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable scholarly media in the field.

Graduate Calendar    Course Descriptions

In addition to our core areas of specialization, our faculty conduct research, supervise and teach in many other fascinating areas of study. If you are interested in working with world-renowned faculty on cutting edge topics, please reach out to a faculty member directly through our faculty profiles.

Meet the Faculty

Admission Requirements

Normally, only applicants with a recognized MA degree in sociology and with high academic standing (80% or higher) in their graduate-level studies will be admitted into the program.

Students are expected to have successfully completed master's-level courses in sociological theory as well as master's-level qualitative and quantitative methodology courses in sociology. Normally, students will have taken courses across the breadth of sociology.

Financial Support

The University of Guelph offers many resources to financially support graduate students. Explore your options on the Graduate Studies website .

Help fund your graduate studies by taking advantage of Entrance Awards .

Cost of Tuition and Living

Take the Next Step

Start the application process and explore options for funding your education.

How to Apply

Awards & Scholarships

Sociology - PhD at Waterloo

Program information.

Watch the How to apply to Waterloo graduate studies video

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.

What does it take to get in?

Minimum admission requirements

• Normally a Master's degree or its equivalent in Sociology with at least an 83% average in course work.
• A statement of academic interest (approximately a page, outlining areas of interest and reasons for choosing to study at the University of Waterloo).
• Students may choose to submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (both the General Section and the Special Field, Sociology).

Supervisors

• Review the finding a supervisor resources

Application material

• Curriculum vitae
• The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the  application documents web page for more information about this requirement
• If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the  writing your personal statement resources  for helpful tips and tricks on completion
• Transcript(s)
• Preferably a chapter from the Master of Arts thesis
• Three academic  references  are required
• TOEFL 90 (writing 25, speaking 25), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5)

How much will it cost?

• Use the student budget calculator to estimate your cost and resources 
• Visit the  graduate program tuition page  on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program
• Review the  study and living costs
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students

What can you expect at Waterloo?

• Review the degree requirements  on the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree
• Check out profiles of current graduate students to learn about their experience at Waterloo
• Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace  to see recent submissions from the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies graduate students
• Check out the Waterloo campus and city tours
• Review the  Department of Sociology and Legal Studies  website to see information about supervisors, research areas, news, and events

This program page is effective September 2023; it will be updated annually.  Any changes to the program page following this date will be indicated with a notation. 

We strive to provide you with the necessary information on each of our program pages.  Was there something you found helpful?  Was there anything missing?  Share your thoughts .

Program Contact

Quinn Smith at  [email protected] 519-888-4567, ext. 41953

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)

Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201

Graduate Studies Academic Calendar

Website feedback

• Contact Waterloo
• Maps & Directions
• Accessibility

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations .

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• News & Events

PhD Sociology

Our PhD program provides students the training necessary to pursue academic as well as non-academic positions. We train our students to become critical researchers through advanced knowledge of theory, methods and developing substantive areas of sociology in Canada and internationally.

About the Program

The graduate program specializes in the following areas:

• Political Sociology and Social Movements
• Social Inequality
• Social Psychology
• Sociology of Gender, Sexuality and Family
• Sociology of Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
• Sociology of Work and Occupations

Requirements and Timelines

The requirements of the PhD programme consist of

• seven graduate courses beyond the MA These courses must:

(a) meet the methodology requirement (this includes the fulfilment of two methods requirements. Quantitative (Sociol 740) plus either Qualitative (Sociol 742) or Historical (Sociol 743).

(b) meet the theory requirement (Sociol 750 or 751)

(c) include two quarter courses on professional development (Sociol 724 and 725)

(d) include at least two regularly scheduled 700-level courses offered by the Department in addition to those taken to meet the methodology and theory requirements;

(e) optionally include no more than one Sociology supervised research course (Sociol 730 or 731) or a one graduate course offered by another McMaster department or by a Sociology Department in another university

• no 600 level courses are permitted.
• the completion of two comprehensive examinations
• in some cases, a foreign language proficiency examination
• an approved one-page dissertation abstract
• an approved proposal for a Ph.D. dissertation; and,
• the writing and oral defence of a Ph.D. dissertation consisting of original research.

Admissions and Applications

The application competition for September 2024 is closed.

September 2025 Competition

Application System opens:   October 15, 2025

Deadline:   December 14, 2025    Deadline is firm.

Entrance period:  September 2026 only

Program is offered full time in person.

Admissions Requirements

• an M.A. degree in Sociology.
• minimum A- average in MA coursework (first-class standing, 80%, 10.0/12.0 or 3.7/4.0).
• demonstration of an excellent record of academic achievement.
• a strong plan for sociological research.
• a research alignment with the expertise of the current faculty members in the Department.

The department will consider applications from those with closely related social scientific degrees.

Note: International applicants must have completed at least five years full-time study at the B.A. and M.A. level in Sociology to be eligible for the Ph.D. program.

The admissions process is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Due to volume, we cannot pre-assess an applicant’s suitability for our graduate program, nor do we open email attachments. All admissions material must be uploaded to the application system.

English Language Proficiency

English is the language of instruction and evaluation at McMaster University. Hence it is essential that all students be able to communicate effectively in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English will be required to furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language.

• University degree at which English was the language of Instruction.
• TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), minimum of 20 per band.
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section.
• CAEL: minimum overall score of 70, with at least 60 per band.
• MELAB: minimum score of 85.
• PTE Academic: minimum score of 63.
• York University course: YUELI Level 6 with a minimum final grade of B.University of Toronto course: Academic Level 60 with a minimum final grade of B

This score should not have been obtained prior to January 2024. All results MUST be received no later than February 1, 2025. (Note: The TOEFL institution code for McMaster is “0936”; the Department code is “96”).

Online Application

Applicants apply via an on-line application. Please review the School of Graduate Studies website for complete information regarding the application process.

Transcripts

Upload a scan of all post-secondary transcripts to the application system. Include one copy of the legend page from the back of your transcript. Please do not submit an unofficial transcript or “student records print” unless the document includes, your full name, the University name and all courses and grades.

Fall 2025 grades are part of the evaluation. If you apply before these grades are available, it is your responsibility to send an updated scan of your official transcript to [email protected] Its is expected that all such documents arrive by January 15 for priority consideration.

If an offer of admission is extended, you will receive directions to submit formal transcripts in institutionally sealed envelopes.

Research Plan

Please upload a one-page, single-spaced proposed plan of research in the “statement of interest” upload portion of the application site. This research plan should be tied directly to the research areas of the department.  Please identify one or more potential faculty supervisors with whom you would like to work.

Applicants who do not have a BA or MA degree in Sociology should add an additional statement (maximum 500 words) outlining their preparation for graduate study in Sociology, e.g., completed courses with substantial sociological content, sociological research and sociologists that have informed your own work, related research experience, etc.

Department Areas/Supervisor

It is not necessary to arrange for a supervisor as part of the admissions process. However, you should review the department areas of expertise , doctoral comprehensive examination areas and course offerings to determine if your research interests align with those of the department. Supervisors will be assigned to new students in the summer of 2025 just prior to the fall enrolment period.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

McMaster Sociology is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Please review the Equity and Inclusion Office website and submit a one-paragraph description of your background and experience with EDI and/or how you could contribute to EDI initiatives.  This paragraph can be added directly into the space provided on the application or it can be uploaded as a separate document.

Writing Sample

Please also upload a sample of written academic work that demonstrates your ability to do sociological research and your ability to write. This sample may be a course paper, part of a course paper, a thesis chapter, or a single author publication. Please do not submit an entire thesis. Formatting should be set at least one-inch margins and 12-point type.

Letters of Recommendation

Two confidential reference letters are required from instructors most familiar with your academic work. The electronic referencing system will send an e-Reference request on your behalf. Please do not submit letters from employers even if they are academic employers (TA or RA); the reference must be from an instructor who can evaluate your potential as a graduate student.

Curriculum Vitae

PhD applicants should submit a CV that contains all scholarships awarded, all conferences attended and any publications.  It is not necessary to list any non-academic employment.

Application Fee

The system will charge a non-refundable application fee. Please have a valid credit or debit card ready to pay the application fee. The fee will not be refunded or waived.

Financial Information, Scholarships and Awards

The Department of Sociology at McMaster University offers financial support for incoming graduate students to help them to excel at their studies and to complete their graduate programs in a timely manner. Funding for graduate study usually comprises a combination of monies from graduate scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships.

Many current and incoming graduate students receive additional funding from external agencies (see below).

Applicants are advised to apply for federal scholarships (not applicable for international applicants).

Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program Doctoral Scholarships, and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships.

If you are currently in a Master’s program, you are required to apply via your home university. Check with your current department for the internal deadline; typically it is in October.

Additional Information

For additional information, please visit the School of Graduate Studies “ Tuition, Fees and Scholarships website.”

Academic Support

Students are assigned a PhD supervisor at the time of their acceptance into the program. The supervisor will be a faculty member of the Department of Sociology. An interim supervisor may sometimes be appointed by the chairperson of the Graduate Studies Committee until an appropriate supervisor is identified. In exceptional circumstances, a student may make a request to the Graduate Chair that they be assigned a different PhD supervisor.

The PhD supervisor acts as the chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee, and serves as the student’s primary research and academic advisor through the entire program.

Apply to a PhD in Sociology

Sociology Courses

There are no course outlines.

{course_name} {instructor}

Instructor: Instructor Name

Contact Info

Course Link(s)

GRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Find a graduate supervisor in your area of interest.

• Department Graduate Handbook
• PhD Comprehensive Examinations Areas
• Advanced Research on Mental Health and Society
• Spark: Centre for Social Research Innovation
• Research Institutes, Centres & Platforms
• Registrar: Tuition and Fees
• Human Resources: TA Payroll
• SGS Graduate Calendar
• SGS Future Students
• SGS Graduate Scholarships
• SGS Forms and Policies
• SGS Graduate Resources
• SGS Career and Professional Development
• SGS Thesis Defense
• Black Student Success Centre
• Graduate Students Association
• Indigenous Student Services
• International Student Services
• Mental Health Resources
• Student Accessibility Services
• Student Success Centre

Sociology Research

Learn more about our research programs and opportunities for graduates.

Department of Sociology Kenneth Taylor Hall, KTH 627 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M4

Contact Information

Corinne Jehle Administrative Assistant, Graduate Program [email protected]

905-525-9140, ext. 23613

Upcoming Events

Dr. Vic Satzewich upcoming lecture on the Immigration Industry in Canada at the University of Saskatchewan’s 52nd Annual Sorokin Lecture

February 15, 2024 7:00 pm

Book Launch - Sex in Canada by Dr. Tina Fetner

February 27, 2024 7:00 pm, find a social sciences expert, researchers.

Dr. Martin Dooley

Professor Emeritus, Economics

Dr. Crystal Biruk

Associate Professor, Anthropology

Anthropology

Dr. Marshall Beier

Professor, Political Science

International relations

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Sociology (PhD)

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Sociology program will choose from specialized training in criminology and social justice; culture and social relations; population health and wellness; power, privilege and resistance; global sociology; and social policy and social change.

Program details

Admission requirements.

• Faculty of Arts • Faculty of Graduate Studies

• PhD in Sociology

Expected duration

Study with us.

The low graduate student/faculty ratio creates an informal learning environment in which students receive considerable individual attention. Faculty members are actively involved in research, including many projects that readily lend themselves as the basis for student theses and dissertations.

Research affiliations

Members of our department have affiliations with other research institutes, centres, facilities and groups such as:

• Centre for Human Rights Research
• Centre on Aging
• Centre for Social Science Research and Policy
• Immigration Research West
• Institute for the Humanities
• Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
• Manitoba Research Alliance
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Qualitative Research Group
• RESOLVE (Prairie Research Network on Family Violence)
• Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at UM

Discover our financial supports

Several scholarships, fellowships and awards are available for graduate students in sociology and criminology.

Learn more about our financial supports.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers programs of study leading to a PhD in Sociology.

Expected duration: 4 years

The PhD program consists of a combination of coursework and a thesis component.

Tuition and fees:  Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees .)

In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section , students must complete:

• 3 credit hours in theory
• 6 credit hours in research methods
• Two comprehensive examinations
• Preparation and successful defense of the thesis proposal
• Preparation and successful defense of the completed thesis

Areas of specialization

Criminology and Social Justice

Criminology is the study of the nature and causes of and responses to crime in society. The concern for social justice broadens the investigation to ask whether our institutions—including law and the criminal justice system—are organized and implemented in ways that realize human rights and equality for all members of society.

Culture and Social Relations

Culture and social relations is concerned with the ways in which social identities and relations are shaped, reproduced, and reconfigured through various socio-cultural processes and institutions.  The individual in society is a subject of research for faculty specializing in the areas of symbolic interactionism, socialization, and social psychology. Faculty in this cluster also extend the socio-cultural approach to the study of class, gender, and ethnic relations, as well as to aspects of the media, consumer culture, and other institutions.

Population Health and Wellness

According to the World Health Organization, health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”  The teaching and research activities within this area are informed by the 12 social determinants of health, as defined by Health Canada. The emphasis is on the social determinants of health, including both structural and behavioural factors.

Power, Privilege and Resistance

This area examines the dynamics of power and the relations of ruling. It is particularly attentive to the way that class, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality and other forms of social differentiation are created and organized and how these operate to produce power and resistance.  Faculty who specialize in this area seek to understand how power is expressed through movements, institutions and structures.

Global Sociology

The global sociology area is distinguished by the scale of its analysis, rather than by its specific substantive content. Researchers in this cluster examine relations, structures, institutions and flows that transcend the usual unit of social-scientific research, the nation state. The cluster emphasizes the movement of people, ideas, culture, capital and commodities as they form webs of connection, difference and inequality across the globe.

Social Policy and Practice

The state and its various policy domains are the focus of the social policy and practice area. Research and teaching in this area emphasize that the state and its policies are products and sites of struggle. Faculty members undertake analysis of social and public policy and corresponding practice.

Sample course offerings

• SOC 7120: Seminar in Sociology of Education (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7190: Seminar in Selected Topics in Sociological Theory (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7280: Seminar in Theoretical Criminology (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7300: Seminar in the Sociology of Law and Social Control (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7320: Seminar in Political Sociology (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7340: Seminar in the Sociology of the Family (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7370: Issues in Health Care Seminar (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7390: Survey Research Methods (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7400: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7440: Seminar in Contemporary Sociological Theory (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7480: Social Inequality (3 credit hours)

For full course descriptions, please visit the  Academic Calendar .

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Admission decisions are based on the qualifications of the applicant as well as the ability of the Department of Sociology and Criminology and the University of Manitoba to serve the applicant’s intended program of study and area of specialization.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum  admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

To be considered for admission to the PhD in Sociology program, you must have:

• A Master's degree in Sociology or a closely related cognate field that includes substantial sociological content
• A minimum GPA of 3.5 (or the equivalent) based on the last 60 credit hours (or two full years or equivalent) of university study
• A strong foundation in sociological research methods and theory

Sociology uses the FGS English Language Test requirements, with the following exceptions:

• IELTS: The minimum score must be 6.5 in each of the test bands
• TOEFL: Minimum thresholds must be 600 on the paper test and 100 overall on the internet-based test (with a minimum speaking/writing of 22)

How to apply

The PhD in Sociology program accepts applications for the Fall term. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

• $100 application fee (non-refundable)
• Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
• Statement of intent ( Guidelines for Writing a Statement of Intent )
• Three letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
• Proof of English language proficiency , if required

Please read the  Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions  before beginning your application.

Application deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications open up to 18 months prior to start term.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.

Start or continue your application

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for City Planning reviews applications in March.

Winter applications are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Design and Planning reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Interior Design reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Landscape Architecture reviews applications in March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Anthropology reviews applications in March/April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applications open September 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications open   up to 18 months prior  to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for History reviews applications in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications open July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  Committee basis . The Committee for German and Slavic Studies reviews applications in February/March.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis .

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Management reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physical Therapy reviews applications in April / May.

Applications open  August 1 of the year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Program currently undergoing review, applications will not be opening at this time.

Select Preventive Dental Science in the Program drop-down on the application form.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Education reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed after the deadline, with decisions issued in March - April.

Currently not accepting applications to this program.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Please contact the department for admission committee review timelines.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. Applications received by the March 1 deadline for a September start-date will receive first consideration for any available funding. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis for any available funding, please contact the department for further information.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Human Rights reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Law reviews applications in January - March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing (MN) reviews applications in April / May.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Nursing PhD reviews applications in February / March.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee reviews applications as per the timelines noted below each table.

Winter applications reviewed in October Summer applications reviewed in February Fall applications reviewed in June

Winter applications reviewed in June Summer applications reviewed in October Fall applications reviewed in February

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. This includes having the support of a faculty supervisor before you apply.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Natural Resources Management reviews applications in March - June.

After the annual application deadline (see below), applications are reviewed on a committee basis by the Faculty of Social Work internal admissions committee. Once this process is complete, decisions are sent to all applicants in March / April. 

Applications open  July 1 of year prior to start term.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Social Work reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Music reviews Fall term applications in December / January, and Winter term applications in July.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Occupational Therapy reviews applications in May / June.

Master of Occupational Therapy regular program  applications open September 15 of the year prior to deadline .

Master of Occupational Therapy accelerated program  applications open October 1  of the year prior to deadline .

The name of your confirmed supervisor is required at the time of application. To identify a prospective thesis research supervisor on your application, please  contact Immunology Faculty members .

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Community Health Sciences reviews applications in March / April.

The name of your preferred supervisor is required at time of application.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . Students selected for in-person interview will be notified in February.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Physician Assistant Studies reviews applications in April.

Offers of admission will be released to successful applicants on May 17, 2024 from the University of Manitoba Master of Physician Assistant Studies, the same day as the University of Toronto BScPA Program and McMaster University Physician Assistant Education Program. The three institutions are pleased to provide applicants their offers on the same day to help with the decision-making process.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pharmacology and Therapeutics reviews applications one month after the application deadline.

Applications for Pathology MSc are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications for Pathologist Assistant are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Pathologist Assistant reviews applications in April / May. 

The Pathologist Assistant program only admits Canadian and US students every two years. The Fall 2023 intake has been suspended. The next intake is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2025.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Statistics reviews applications in March / April.

Applications are reviewed on a  committee basis . The Admissions committee for Biological Sciences reviews applications one month after deadline.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions committee for Indigenous Studies reviews applications in February and June.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated. For those who wish to be considered for scholarships, applications must be received by January 15 of the year in which you're seeking admission.

Applications are reviewed on a committee basis . The Admissions Committee for Applied Human Nutrition reviews applications in February.

Les demandes d’admission sont évaluées par un comité . Le comité d’admission évalu les demandes durant les mois de Mars et Avril.  

Les demandes peut être surmise jusqu’à concurrence de 18 mois avant le début de premier trimestre.

Toute demande d’admission en ligne doit être déposée, avec documents à l’appui, au plus tard aux dates indiquées.

Soumettre ou continuer votre application

Tuition and fees

Learn about tuition and fee requirements for graduate studies at UM.

Financial aid and awards

Find the variety of awards and funding options available to help you pay for school as a sociology and criminology graduate student.

Department of Sociology and Criminology

Our department is home to award-winning teachers and researchers who specialize in a variety of areas within the discipline.

Academic Calendar

Explore program requirements and detailed descriptions for required and elective courses throughout the sociology and criminology program.

Explore the Faculty of Arts

Discover the wide-ranging opportunities in humanities, social sciences and interdisciplinary studies offered by the Faculty of Arts.

• Arts research
• Programs of study
• Student experience
• Arts financial aid and awards

Explore the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Discovery happens here. Join the graduate students and researchers who come here from every corner of the world. They are drawn to the University of Manitoba because it offers the opportunity to do transformational research.

• Funding, awards and financial aid
• Graduate student experience

Keep exploring

Discover more programs

With over 140 programs across multiple faculties, schools and colleges, the University of Manitoba offers more learning, teaching and research opportunities than any other post-secondary institution in the province.

• Master’s in Sociology and Criminology
• Master’s in Economics
• Master's in French, Spanish and Italian
• Master's in Native Studies
• Master's in Psychology

Join the students and researchers who come here from every corner of the world.

What it's like to be a UM student

Be adventurous, challenge yourself and make a difference.

Opportunities for Indigenous students

Experience a world-class education in the heart of Canada.

Why international students study with us

We offer state of the art facilities with 140 years of history.

Our campuses

Admission and application inquiries.

Faculty of Graduate Studies Room 500 UMSU University Centre 65 Chancellors Circle University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

[email protected] Phone: 204-474-9377

Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Program inquiries

Department of Sociology and Criminology, Faculty of Arts 318 Isbister Building 183 Dafoe Road University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

[email protected] Phone: 204-474-9260 Fax: 204-261-1216

Visit the Department of Sociology and Criminology

Meet Sociology and Criminology faculty and staff

• Skip to global menu .
• Skip to primary navigation .
• Skip to secondary navigation .
• Skip to page content .
• Return to global menu .

• Search Sociology
• Search UVic
• Search for people
• Search for departments
• Search for experts
• Search for news
• Search for resources

PhD Program

The department offers two options leading to the PhD degree: the regular PhD program and the PhD with CSPT option.

Students entering the PhD program are expected to have completed basic graduate courses in social theory, qualitative methods, and quantitative methods. Students without the necessary background are required to complete these courses as a part of their doctoral program. The PhD program is designed to build on this foundation and offers students the opportunity to receive advanced training in qualitative methods and/or quantitative methods.

Students who wish to specialize in social theory can apply to participate in the Cultural, Social, and Political Thought (CSPT) program.

Program of Studies

The PhD program requires a minimum of 7.5 credits of coursework (i.e., five courses) beyond the Master's degree and successful completion of a three-part Candidacy Examination as well as a dissertation.   Unless equivalent courses have been taken as part of a previous graduate program in sociology, students will, by the end of their doctoral program, be required to complete two graduate-level social theory courses ( SOCI 503 and SOCI 504 ) as well as graduate-level courses in qualitative ( SOCI 515 ) and quantitative ( SOCI 507 ) methods.

In addition to meeting these basic requirements, all PhD students (except those taking the CSPT option) are required to take one advanced course in social methods, either qualitative methods (SOCI 616), or a statistical course at the graduate level from another department (with prior approval from Graduate Advisor) and one substantive area course (chosen from SOCI 520 , SOCI 525 , SOCI 535 , SOCI 545 ).

Doctoral students must be registered in SOCI 693 (Ph.D. candidacy examinations) from the time a student first enrolls in the PhD program until candidacy requirements have been met.

Sociology doctoral students are encouraged to take graduate courses from the department’s list of elective graduate courses.   They may also take 1.5 units from other departments to enhance their studies, subject to approval by the graduate adviser and the student's supervisor.

Students are encouraged to take the Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LATHE) program, which is jointly offered by Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies (ELPS), the Learning and Teaching Centre (LTC), and the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS).

Candidacy Exam

The candidacy examination process is designed to ensure that students have both a solid basis of knowledge in the broad area of sociology in which they will pursue their dissertation research, as well as the theoretical, methodological, and more specific knowledge necessary to embark upon the dissertation project. The exam also assesses a student's ability to read, interpret, synthesize, and critically engage with relevant literatures at a level necessary in order to successfully complete a piece of independent, original research.

There are three parts to the candidacy examination. Students first write a broad-based paper that addresses a central topic in sociology (e.g., political sociology, health, or gender), followed by a more narrowly-focused written paper that addresses the student's proposed area of dissertation research (including theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to that area of study), and finally all students complete an oral examination on both written components.   For students doing the CSPT option, the CSPT candidacy exam substitutes for the first, broad-based paper and must be completed according to the regulations of the CSPT program.

Examining committees are comprised of three members, who oversee all components of the examination. Students and their supervisors are responsible for assembling the examining committee. The process of compiling the reading lists that guide the writing of the exam papers is a collaborative one between the student and the examining committee.

The examination should normally be undertaken during a student's second year of study. At the latest, it must be completed within 36 months of first registration in the doctoral program, as per Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations. For further details please see the department's " Guide to Graduate Studie s . "

Dissertation

Students are required to complete and orally defend a dissertation proposal before their supervisory committee, normally within 6 months of passing the candidacy exams. The proposal and oral defense must be considered satisfactory by the supervisory committee before the student may proceed to the dissertation.

All students are required to submit and defend a dissertation worth 21 units of credit.

• Return to primary navigation .
• Return to secondary navigation .
• Return to page content .

• Sociology at Western
• Job Opportunities
• Why Sociology?
• Program Information
• Course Information
• Awards/Scholarships
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Program Counselling
• Student Clubs
• Opportunities in Sociology
• Future Students
• Funding/Scholarships
• Research Areas
• Collaborative Specializations
• Supervisors

Graduate Handbook

• Grad Intranet (Restricted)
• Research Groups
• Publications
• Research Resources
• Administration
• MA Graduate Students
• PhD Graduate Students
• Post-Doctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars
• Facilities and Labs
• Research Portal
• Intranet (restricted)
• Undergraduate
• Social Science
• New Students' FAQs
• Academic Matters
• Dates & Deadlines
• Policies & Procedures

Graduate Collaborative Specializations

Students in our MA and PhD programs have the opportunity to earn a specialization in one of the following collaborative specializations.  Application to a collaborative specialization should be made early in the first term of study.

Migration and Ethnic Relations

Transitional Justice & Post-Conflict Reconstruction

• Timing of Degree Requirements

In September of each year, students are expected to develop a plan with the graduate chair indicating how and when they will meet the requirements of their program. This plan includes timing for all course work and other requirements. While the graduate chair has the formal role of establishing the student's program of study, students are encouraged to speak to various faculty members for advice on courses and on their program.

PhD candidates are normally required to take 8 courses, including:

• Three required courses: Sociology 9003 (Research Methods), Sociology 9007 (Advanced Multivariable Statistical Analysis), and either Sociology 9002 (Sociological Perspectives) or Sociology 9005 (Contemporary Social Theory).
• PLUS a minimum of five additional courses beyond the theory and methods requirements, at least two of which will be related to the student's two chosen areas of specialization. Students are required to complete at least one course in each chosen area of specialization before writing a comprehensive exam in that area (subject to availability). It should be noted that specific courses can often serve for more than one area of specialization. Students must consult the graduate chair to make a final determination of the requirements.
• Students normally take 3 courses each term (Fall, Winter).
• Students may take up to two courses from other departments . Students in collaborative programs should consult the respective web pages to determine required courses for the specialization (see side bar for links).  For more information on various course regulations please click on course information.
• In exceptional circumstances, permission to take a reading course may be granted at the discretion of the graduate chair. Exceptional circumstances may include that there is no course being offered in the student's area of study (broadly, rather than narrowly considered) in a given year (not a given term) or that a student wishes to take additional courses beyond those that are required. Normally, students will be permitted to take a maximum of one reading course.
• Note: A candidate’s course load may be reduced (by a maximum of two) in a case where 9002, 9003, 9005, 9007 or equivalent has been taken previously. For example, a student who has taken one of these courses (or its equivalent) previously may have the required number of courses reduced to a minimum of seven; a student who has taken two of these courses (or its equivalent) previously may have the required number of courses reduced to a minimum of six. To request a waiver of 9002, 9003, 9005, or 9007, provide the graduate chair with a copy of the outline for the course you have taken previously. Your outline will be reviewed by the instructor of the course in question and your request is subject to his/her approval.

Research Apprenticeship

The Research Apprenticeship Milestone (formerly Sociology 9689) consists of roughly 60 to 100 hours spent working closely with a faculty member on a research project (either paid work on a grant-funded project or an unpaid research collaboration) and is designed to mentor students in the research process and provide hands-on research skills in preparation for dissertation work. This Milestone should be completed during the first or second year of the program.

Research Apprenticeship Form

Comprehensive Examinations

PhD candidates are required to pass  two comprehensive examinations , normally  in the second year of study . Comprehensive examinations require students to demonstrate a broad understanding of the literature and debates within two substantive areas. The comprehensive examination process provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in literatures that will inform their dissertation work. Further, they help students with the degree-level learning outcomes, including those related to depth and breadth of knowledge, communication skills, research and scholarship, and professional capacity. The process helps to develop an ability to present and discuss ideas clearly and articulately and engage in scholarly discussion and debate. In addition, the comprehensive exams provide the opportunity for doctoral students to develop transferable skills.

Comprehensive exams may be written in the following 5 core areas, which align with the department’s strengths in research and graduate teaching:

• Aging and the Life Course
• Health and Health Inequality
• Inequality, Power, and Social Regulation
• Social Demography
• Work, Occupations, and Professions

Comprehensive exams may also be written in:

• Migration and Ethnic Relations (for students enrolled in the MER Collaborative Specialization)
• Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction (for students enrolled in the TJ Collaborative Specialization)

Reading lists:

The Graduate Assistant will email students a reading list not later than four months preceding a given examination. Each area has an associated reading list reviewed and updated annually by the area committee. Past reading lists may be viewed in OWL (SOCGRADS INFO site, under  Resources ).

Reading lists can be found in OWL SOCGrads Info under Resources.  Log in to OWL  

The comprehensive examination  typically takes the form of a three-day take-home examination.  However, the precise nature of the format will be at the discretion of the comprehensive examining committee.

Evaluation:

Examination committees develop and evaluate the examinations and are composed of a Chair and at least two other members of faculty nominated by the graduate chair. The committee decision is based on a majority vote.

The exams are viewed as a  test of competency  in the area. Passing an area exam requires: 1) a coherent, concise and accurate synthesis and discussion of relevant literature that reflects specificity and depth and 2) the display of an intelligent and critical perspective on pertinent readings in response to a given exam question (and which explicitly addresses all parts of the question asked). Committee members need to see that the student comprehends the key issues and can think coherently about them. Answers must do more than summarize the arguments of all who have written on a given topic. They must utilize the works contained in the reading list to make an argument that is directly relevant to the question being asked. A good comprehensive examination answer demonstrates not only comprehensive knowledge of a field, but understanding of the key issues and debates, and generally, the ability to think critically about these issues and debates.

Exam answers, including answers to fulfill a conditional pass, will be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism.

Students can receive either a pass, pass with distinction (those who demonstrate both competence and excellence), conditional pass, or fail . Exams with one failing answer in the presence of an otherwise passable exam can be awarded a “conditional pass”. Students who receive a conditional pass will be given one opportunity to rewrite the failed question in the form of a written essay of no longer than 15 pages, to be submitted to the committee within two weeks of the evaluation decision .

Students who fail an examination will be given a written explanation, and they may seek further information and advice from Committee members.  Students will generally retake the comps at the next sitting. Students who fail an examination for a second time will normally be asked to withdraw from the program. 

Relationship with coursework:

Students should think about their potential comprehensive exam areas upon entering the doctoral program and plan their coursework accordingly. Courses related to each of the comprehensive exam areas are typically taught every year, and students are expected to take these courses as partial preparation for a comprehensive exam. The intention is that the comprehensive examinations build upon the knowledge base established in the coursework.

The comprehensive examinations should be written in the  second year  of the program, before the completion of the dissertation proposal.

Graduate Assistant emails first-year students on the last day of classes of the winter term to declare both comprehensive exams. Students have a week to make their choice after consulting with their supervisor(s) and Graduate Chair, if necessary. The Graduate Committee will organize the order of the exams (October and February). Students will be notified by mid-May of the schedule for both exams. 

Comprehensive examinations are scheduled to start the second Tuesday of February and October. The reading list is provided 4 months prior to the writing date.  

* An additional date available is June (second Tuesday).  Students need to declare by December 1 and will be approved on a case-by-case basis *

• Students must declare their intention to take both comprehensive exams within a week after the last day of classes of the winter term.
• 4 months prior, the graduate program assistant will email the reading list to the declared students.
• With the exception of medical emergencies, students must inform the Graduate Chair in writing if they have decided to postpone taking an exam at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the exam or the exam will be considered a fail.
• Students may request an accommodation under extenuating circumstances such as caregiving by emailing the Graduate Chair at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the exam: we may grant extended time to complete an exam up to 5 days duration.  Decisions will be made on case-by-case basis.

Information for Faculty:

• Committee members review and update reading lists annually.
• The Graduate Committee will monitor reading lists to enhance consistency.
• Each Comp Committee Chair will be responsible for setting questions and grading the examination in consultation with the other committee members.
• The Comp Committee Chair will email the student the exam adjudication and comments. 
• Students receive the emailed notification normally within three weeks of the examination.
• All correspondence concerning the comprehensive examinations should be copied to the graduate program assistant and graduate chair so that an appropriate record is made and kept on file.

Preparation:

• Students should think about their potential comprehensive exam areas early in their doctoral program and plan their coursework accordingly.
• Preparation necessary to pass the exam is substantial and usually requires months of intensive study.
• Students are encouraged to talk to the examination committee members about their expectations for the examination and ask questions about the literature they are reading.
• Students are also encouraged to review old examinations in the area (available from the graduate program assistant).
• Note that when writing the exam, you are not limited to the reading list.  Yours answers should draw primarily on material from the reading lists but you are also encouraged to bring in outside/additional readings and materials if they help answer a question better.

Comprehensive Exam Studying/Writing Tips

Year 1 - Dissertation Supervisor

By the end of the first year of study, the student must have chosen a supervisor. To serve as a PhD supervisor, the faculty member must be a member of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) and be approved to supervise PhD dissertations.  That faculty member must also be a member of the main campus Sociology Department at Western.  Click here for the Finding A Supervisor web page. The student and the supervisor(s) complete Part A and the names of the supervisory committee of the Supervisory Committee Member and Proposal Milestone Report form and submit it to the graduate program assistant by the end of year 1.

SGPS Graduate Supervision Handbook

Year 2 - Supervisory Committee Member and Proposal Milestone

A doctoral Supervisory Committee consists of the supervisor and at least one supervisory committee member from our program. On rare occasions, a faculty member from outside the department can be a supervisory committee member (as a subject expert or due to the requirements of Collaborative specializations or as necessary for restricted data access). See the graduate chair for further information of this process.

The purpose of the dissertation proposal milestone is for the candidate to demonstrate the requisite theoretical and methodological background as well as the necessary writing skills to proceed to concentrated thesis work. The dissertation proposal provides an opportunity for the student to interact with their thesis supervisor and supervisory committee member in a focused way. The submission of the proposal represents a commitment by the student to pursue the thesis upon completion of the thesis proposal. Typically the proposal would be completed and approved in the summer (at the end of year 2) or the fall (beginning of year 3), following the completion of year 2 comprehensive exams.

PhD students are required to complete the proposal under the supervision of the faculty member selected to be the thesis supervisor. The proposal requires:

1) The selection of a supervisory committee member. The expectation is that the supervisory committee member will serve as a "reader," providing feedback beginning at the proposal stage and throughout the writing process, and will read the thesis in its entirety before preliminary submission. A supervisory committee member must be a member of SGPS with at least non-core limited membership status (see the graduate program assistant for further details).

2) Approval of the proposal by both the supervisor and the supervisory committee member.

3) An informal oral presentation of the approved proposal to which faculty and students are invited to attend. Presentations are held twice a year, in March and November. Dates for 2023-2024 year are set for November 10, 2023 and March 8, 2024.

4) Completion of the Part B of the Supervisory Committee Member and Proposal Milestone Report .

Points to consider:

• Please consult the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Guidelines which provide details such as what should be included and questions to consider in the preparation of your proposal. A proposal typically provides key background literature, methods/methodology, and expected contributions. Further, the candidate must clearly describe the plan of study - what will be done, how, and when.
• Format - The content and structure of the proposal should be developed in consultation with the supervisor before writing. Clearly identify one of the two SGPS approved formats i) monograph or ii) integrated-article. If the dissertation will be integrated-article format, the student needs to clearly identify each of the manuscripts along with the individual problems, questions, and methods involved with each. See Dissertation Format, below, for further details.
• Ethics Approval - Students planning to conduct research involving human participants (e.g., survey, participant observation, interviews) need to obtain Ethics approval from the University's Non-medical Research Ethics Board . This is not a simple process and, since from start to finish the Ethics process could take up to 3 months , the student and supervisor need to plan accordingly.
• In order for completion of the proposal milestone to be recorded, the signed Dissertation Proposal Report must be submitted.

Helpful link: Research Data Centre

Dissertation Format

Students may submit their dissertation in either monograph or integrated-article format. Listed below are components required in the main body of the thesis. Students should consult Section 8.3 of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' (SGPS) Thesis Regulation Guide  for a complete list of components and formatting details. PhD Dissertations in Sociology typically range from 150-250 pages, but should not be shorter than 100 pages excluding appendices. 

Following SGPS guidelines , it is expected that a thesis following an integrated article format will include the following components in the body of the thesis:

An introductory chapter that introduces and establishes the relevance of the broader dissertation topic that is addressed by the separate articles; A literature review chapter that sets the broader theoretical, conceptual, and methodological context for the separate articles to follow (alternatively the literature review can be incorporated into each of the three article chapters); A minimum of three articles; A concluding chapter that relates the separate articles to each other and integrates and discusses the findings within the context of the broader field of study; A separate bibliography should be included at the end of each chapter and article.

Further, following the SGPS guidelines, it is expected that a thesis following a monograph format will usually include the following components in the body of the thesis:

An introductory chapter that introduces and establishes the relevance of the broader dissertation topic; A literature review chapter that sets the broader theoretical, conceptual, and methodological context for the dissertation; A methodology chapter that describes the analyses conducted; One or more results chapters; A concluding chapter that discusses the findings within the context of the broader field of study; A bibliography.

Thesis Examination

The examination committee  typically   consists of a chair (determined by SGPS), two examiners from sociology ( one of which can be the Supervisory Committee Member ), a university examiner (i.e., someone from outside sociology who was not on the supervisory committee), and an external examiner (arms-length, almost always from another university).  All examiners must be arms-length from the student and supervisor   and   must not have been a collaborator on the thesis research . The student and supervisory are encouraged to consider diversity of representation on the committee  (e.g., gender)  when choosing from a pool of qualified examiners.  Note that the university examiner is meant to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the examination; thus, scholars from a sociology department at one of Western’s affiliate colleges are not usually acceptable.  Please confer with the Graduate Chair if you have questions regarding the suitability of a potential examiner. ​ The student should not be in contact with the university or external examiners . For this reason, the supervisor, not the student, should contact university and external examiners to determine whether they are willing to be an examiner and their availability.  Once a date has been determined, provide a completed  Doctoral Exam Request Form  signed by both the supervisor and student to Graduate Program Coordinator. The Graduate Chair will then request that an exam be scheduled. Please remember that final approval of the Examination Committee is by SGPS.

Doctoral Exam Request Form SGPS Thesis Guide and Forms

Graduate Professional Seminar

The Professional Seminar Series is designed to introduce students to aspects of the professional life of the Sociologist. Our purpose is to add to students' professional training in practical ways that will help them successfully compete for both academic and non-academic positions, adjust to academic life in new departments, and be productive scholars that secure tenure. The seminar series is a required Milestone for PhD candidates. 

PROSEM held on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. SCHEDULE to follow soon 

Summary of Requirements

*Any of Soc. 9002, 9003, 9005, or 9007 may be waived if they or their equivalent have been taken previously. The requirement for a total of 6 half-courses still remains, however.

Additional Courses and Professional Involvement

While the MA and PhD programs define a minimum number of courses, students may take more than the minimum, possibly in other areas or possibly as audits. Students are also encouraged to take part in the various colloquia and professional occasions that occur in the Department, in the University, and in professional associations.

OWN your Future is Western's doctoral professional development program offered by SGPS in collaboration with various units across campus.

Professional Development 

Graduate Program in Sociology Social Science Centre, Room 5312 London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5C2 Tel: 519-661-2111 ext 85144 [email protected] Privacy | Web Standards | Terms of Use | Accessibility

Society of Graduate Students

Graduate Student Professional Development

Network for Economic and Social Trends

Centre for Research on Social Inequality

Create profile

Like courses

Apply direct

Create your IDP profile

To continue your research, create your profile with IDP. Your profile allows you to:

• Apply direct to courses and receive a response within the same day
• Shortlist and save courses
• Get the AI course recomendations
• Access our cost of living calculator

Match with universities

Now create a profile

Create a profile and start liking courses. We’ll show you recommendations that match what you’re looking for.

Your password must include

• One upper case letter
• One lower case letter
• One special character
• At least 8 characters
• IDP Education
• Political and Social Sciences Courses
• Sociology Courses
• Doctorate Sociology Courses
• Sociology in Canada

Doctorate Sociology courses in Canada

• IELTS score (low to high)
• IELTS score (high to low)
• Course name (A-Z)
• Course name (Z-A)
• THE World University Rankings
• Next starting
• Course fee (low to high)
• Course fee (high to low)

Filter courses (4) Start a new search

Subject area, specific subject area 1 selected.

• Sociology 

Study Level 1 selected

• Undergraduate 
• Postgraduate 
• Doctorate 
• Foundation 

Study destination 1 selected

Study mode any.

• On campus study 

Course fee range

• Guelph 
• Kingston 
• Ottawa 
• Vancouver 
• Toronto 
• Waterloo 
• Windsor 
• Burnaby 
• Calgary 
• Edmonton 
• Fredericton 
• Halifax 
• Hamilton 
• London 
• Saskatoon 
• St. Johns 
• Winnipeg 

Institution Any

• University of Guelph 
• Queen's University 
• University of British Columbia 
• University of Waterloo 
• Carleton University 
• University of Windsor 
• Dalhousie University 
• York University 
• McMaster University 
• Memorial University of Newfoundland 
• Simon Fraser University 
• University of Alberta 
• University of Calgary 
• University of Manitoba 
• University of New Brunswick 
• University of Ottawa 
• University of Saskatchewan 
• University of Toronto 
• Western University 

Select subject area Selecting a new subject will reset your search and filters

• Agriculture Sciences
• All Accounting
• All Geography
• All Human Welfare Studies And Services
• All Pharmacy
• Art and Design
• Biological and life Sciences
• Building and Architecture
• Computing and IT
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Health and Medicine
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Information Science and Librarianship
• Language and Culture
• Law and Legal Studies
• Marketing, Media and Communication
• Performing Arts and Music
• Political and Social Sciences
• Teaching and Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

Waterloo , Canada

THE world university rank:  158

Course qualification

Entry score

Total course fee

AUD 97,384 ? CAD  88,752 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Burnaby , Canada

THE world university rank:  251

AUD 40,807 ? CAD  37,190 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Toronto , Canada

THE world university rank:  351

AUD 118,504 ? CAD  108,000 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

St. Johns , Canada

THE world university rank:  501

AUD 19,738 ? CAD  17,988 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Kingston , Canada

AUD 25,338 ? CAD  23,092 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

THE world university rank:  21

AUD 27,256 ? CAD  24,840 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Hamilton , Canada

THE world university rank:  103

AUD 27,683 ? CAD  25,229 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology - Political Economy [Collaborative Speci...

Ottawa , Canada

AUD 83,982 ? CAD  76,538 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (Co-op)

AUD 67,186 ? CAD  61,230 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Showing 1-10 of 29 courses

• 1 (current)

How does IDP FastLane work?

With the FastLane 'Offer in Principle', you'll know in minutes if you'll be accepted!

If you are mesmerised by the complexities of the human mind and want to learn more about it, studying Behavioural Science will ...

Political Science is the study of political structures, policies and practices. Studying political science gives you a firm foo...

If you believe that helping the community and being a beacon for change is your calling, then studying Social Justice may be th...

To find out more about the information shown here – read about How we collect and display course information . IDP assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. We always recommend that you speak to an IDP counsellor to get the latest and most accurate advice.

• Undergraduate Sociology courses in Canada
• Postgraduate Sociology courses in Canada
• Foundation Sociology courses in Canada

• Doctorate Sociology courses in United States
• Doctorate Sociology courses in United Kingdom
• Doctorate Sociology courses in Australia
• Doctorate Sociology courses in New Zealand
• Doctorate Sociology courses in Ireland
• Search for courses
• Find a university
• Find a scholarship

Please select a level of study

Enter subject, choose from the list or hit search

Start typing, choose from the list or hit search

Enter subject, choose from the list or or hit search

Please type and select an institution

Type 3 characters of a university name and select from the list

Enter a university or school name and select from the list

Got any ideal countries in mind?

No Event Found.

Let’s get started

Sign up or login in with one click, sign up or login to save your courses, let's get started with "shortlist".

Your profile page will have the liked courses.

has been saved to your shortlist

View your shortlist or close this box to continue researching.

• Courses for you

Universal Navigation

Universal navigation2.

• Key Contacts
• Anti-Racism and Equity Commitment
• Collaborative Specializations
• Completed PhD Dissertations

Search form

Upcoming Events

Recent news, class in con hall - mid levels.jpg.

Sociology Logo angled.jpg

• Request new password