PhD Program Overview

Thank you for considering the PhD program in Sociology at the °µÍø½ûÇø!

The Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado is a well-respected center for teaching and research. Here you can work with award-winning faculty members who have been recognized for their research, teaching, and service.

Our program offers extensive training in the foundational theories and methods of the discipline and allows you the flexibility to pursue interests in a variety of specialty areas.Ìý

The department's strengths include:

  • Children and Youth
  • Criminological Theory
  • Deviance, Law, and Social Control
  • Cultural Sociology
  • Environmental Sociology
  • Health, Life Course, and Medical Sociology
  • International Migration
  • Organizations, Occupations, and Work
  • Political Sociology
  • Population
  • RaceÌýand Ethnicity
  • Sex, Gender and Sexualities

The Department of Sociology strives to maintain a diverse mix of graduate students, promote respect for and opportunities to learn from others with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, and otherwise promote inclusive excellence. By providing a variety of perspectives, a diverse student body enhances students' educational experiences and strengthens our research and outreach endeavors.

Visit the UniversityÌýof Colorado's Diversity, Inclusion, and Academic Excellence PlanÌýto learn more.

Application Process

The Department of Sociology will be admitting graduate students for Fall 2026 with an application deadline of December 15, 2025 for international applicants and January 3, 2026 for domestic applicant. For more information on how to apply to the PhD program, goÌýhere.

Find theÌýPhD applicationÌýinstructionsÌýand helpful hints below. Please read this document thoroughly before beginning an application.

To apply, you must meet the following admission criteria:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university(or complete by the first day of classes for the term applied).
  2. ³Ò¸é·¡Ìý°ù±ð±ç³Ü¾±°ù±ð»å
  3. Undergraduate GPA should be 3.25 or higher for best consideration, but exceptions are made, for example for International students.

To complete an application the following materials are required:

  • .
  • University application fee:Ìý $60 for domestic; $80 for international
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation
  • One unofficial transcript from every college or university attended (official transcripts required upon acceptance).
  • Statement of purpose in essay form (700 to 1000 words)
  • (Recommended but not required) Writing sample (3000-6000 words)

Funding

Most students receive financial support by working as teaching assistants. In general, this funding covers tuition, a monthly stipend, and a portion of the cost of health insurance.Ìý As teaching assistants, students are responsible for a variety of duties including grading papers and exams, helping to design assignments, holding office hours, and leading recitation sections. More advanced students may receive funding as research assistants or graduate part-time instructors. Incoming students will be guaranteed five years of funding, contingent on remaining in good standing in the program.Ìý

The Graduate Teacher Program supports graduate students in teaching endeavors by offering college teacher training, supporting research skill development, and providing career preparation opportunities.

The Office of Financial Aid also offers financial support for graduate students.

Students receive the PhD degree after fulfilling the following requirements. Students should aim to fulfill these requirements within five to six years. Course requirements and full course descriptions can also be viewed in the University of Colorado Catalog.Ìý

Requirements for the PhD Degree

1.ÌýÌý Minimum Course Hours: Students must complete a total of 45 hours of course work credit hours. At least 24 hours must be in the Department of Sociology on the Boulder campus.Ìý

2.ÌýÌý Required Seminars: These include Logics of Inquiry, Classical Sociological Theory, Contemporary Sociological Theory, Statistics 1, Statistics 2, Graduate Professional Seminar, all of which should be taken in students' first year in the program. In addition to this, students must take one designated advanced methods course (e.g. Statistics 3, Qualitative Methods, Historical Methods), ideally in year two or three.

3. ÌýÌýSpecialty Area Exam: ÌýDuring their third year, students are expected to take an exam in two designated specialty areas (see list of areas above). Students must have completed or be in the process of completing 45 credit hours to take the exam.

4.ÌýÌý Publishable Paper: During their fourth year, students are expected to write a journal article length paper based on independent research and analysis.Ìý

5. ÌýÌýDissertation Proposal: Students must prepare a written dissertation proposal and orally defend it before a dissertation committee.

6.ÌýÌý Dissertation: Students must write and orally defend a dissertation.

Ìý

Typical Sequence Through the Program

Year One
During your first year in the program, you will be focused on taking the required graduate seminars (listed above). You should also reach out to faculty whose interests and advising styles meet your needs and establish a primary academic advisor.

Year Two
In your second year, you are expected to take elective courses both in and outside the department. If offered, you should take the advanced methods seminar that best aligns with your research interests. By the end of year two, you should also choose the areas in which you would like to take the Specialty Area Exam.

Year Three
You are expected to take your Specialty Area Exam during your third year in the program. During this time, you will continue to take relevant elective courses. If you have not already, you should complete the advanced methods course requirement. You should also start the process of constituting a committee and conducting research for your Publishable Paper.

Year Four
You are expected to write and submit your Publishable Paper during your fourth year. Once you have completed the Publishable Paper milestone, you will form your dissertation committee and work on your dissertation proposal.

Year Five and Beyond
You must write and defend your dissertation proposal before embarking on your dissertation research. You will then have to write and defend your dissertation to successfully complete the PhD program. The Graduate School currently allows six years from the commencement of coursework in a graduate program for completion of requirements, including the filing of the dissertation. However, starting in Year Six, a student and their advisor may request an extension of the time limit.Ìý

CommunityÌý

As a student, you are encouraged to become involved in the United Government of Graduate ÌýStudents (UGGS) at the °µÍø½ûÇø. UGGS is committed to enhancing the graduate student experience by interacting with the university administration on matters such as financial aid, etc. UGGS has worked with the Graduate School to develop the Graduate Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

Nestled at the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains in scenic , the University of Colorado is the premier teaching and research university in the Rocky Mountain West.

Ìý