Graduate Program

Graduate Advisor
Robert Fiala

Review of Applications
Contact department for information on deadline.

Degrees Offered

The graduate program in sociology leads to a Master of Arts degree and/or to a Ph.D. degree. Admission to graduate work for the M.A. degree in sociology is independent and separate from admission to graduate work for the Ph.D. in sociology. The M.A. degree in sociology is offered under the regulations described earlier in this catalog.

The M.A. Program

Admission to the sociology M.A. program depends on a strong record of academic performance at the undergraduate level. While the entire application is considered, and no precise GPA cutoff is used, competitive applicants generally have at least a B average (3.0 in a 4.0 system) in previous academic work. GRE scores (general test) are also evaluated as part of the application procedure. Applicants are also asked to submit a letter of intent, three letters of recommendation and two writing samples.

We recommend that entering graduate student have had 12 hours of advanced undergraduate sociology courses, especially including satisfactory performance in sociological research methods and theory. We also recommend college level algebra or its equivalent. A graduate student admitted with deficiencies in any of these may be required to satisfactorily complete (with a grade of at least B, 3.0) the appropriate undergraduate course work. Credit hours earned in courses taken to remove such deficiencies do not apply to the minimum hours required for a masters degree.

Plan I: Under this plan, the M.A. degree requires 24 hours of course work, 6 hours of thesis, a written thesis and passing the Final examination for the Thesis. Students need to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and all required courses must be completed with a grade of at least B-. After completing 12 hours of course work, and in consultation with the major advisor, students must file a Program of Studies with the Office of Graduate Studies. Before writing a thesis, students must appoint a thesis committee consisting of a chairperson and at least two additional faculty members. At least two of the committee members must hold regular full-time faculty appointments at The University of New Mexico. Plan I is the normal track for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology.

Plan II: Under this plan, the M.A. degree requires 26 hours of course work, 6 hours of professional paper course work, a professional paper and passing the Final Examination for the Professional Paper. Students need to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and all required courses must be completed with a grade of at least B-. After completing 12 hours of course work, and in consultation with the major advisor, students must file a Program of Studies with the Office of Graduate Studies. Before writing a professional paper, students must appoint a committee consisting of a chairperson and at least two additional faculty members. At least two of the committee members must hold regular full-time faculty appointments at The University of New Mexico.

Core course requirements for all students seeking a master's degree in sociology consist of (i) 3 hours of graduate sociological theory Sociology 500 Classical Sociological Theory (ii) Sociology 523 Proseminar (students should take this as early in their career as possible); (iii) Sociology 580 Methods of Social Research I, (iv) Sociology 581 Advanced Social Statistics I; and (v) at least 12 hours of substantive courses in the social sciences, as approved by the Department's Graduate Committee.

In addition to these 22 core hours required of all M.A. students, Plan I students must complete at least 8 more hours of course work, including 6 hours of thesis credit (Sociology 599). Plan II students must complete at least 10 more hours of course work, including 6 hours of professional paper credit (Sociology 596). Note that once in enrolled in Sociology 596 or 599, candidates must stay continuously enrolled in that course each semester, including the semester (Fall, Spring or Summer) in which they complete degree requirements.

The Ph.D. Program

The department admits a small number of well-qualified candidates to its Ph.D. Program each year. Successful applicants must in addition to University Requirements, submit current (within the last 3 years) GRE General Test scores, three letters of recommendation, two writing samples, and a letter of intent. The Sociology Department recommends applicants have 12 hours of advanced undergraduate sociology courses, including statistics and methods courses (or the equivalents). We also recommend college level algebra or its equivalent. In addition, such factors such as the University's commitment to affirmative action, the applicant's non-academic experience, and the ability of the department to provide faculty guidance and courses in the applicant's areas of interest are considered. Continued progress toward the Ph.D. degree is contingent upon successful completion of the M.A. degree (Plan I or Plan II) and a post-M.A. review. Upon completion of the M.A. degree, the graduate committee will conduct a review before the student can continue in the Ph.D. program. The review will examine the student's overall performance in the graduate program (including but not limited to coursework and thesis/professional paper) and three letters of recommendation from faculty members. Students who have positive reviews will be allowed to continue working toward the Ph.D.

General requirements for the Ph.D. are set forth in earlier pages of this catalog. The Ph.D. degree requires 48 hours of course work and 18 hours of dissertation. Students must also pass comprehensive examinations and write and successfully defend a dissertation. Specific requirements for all students seeking a Ph.D. in Sociology include: SOC 500 Classical Social Theory; One of the following courses in Contemporary Theory: SOC 513 Constructing and Analyzing Contemporary Sociological Theory (Contemporary Social Theory I); OR SOC 514 20th Century European Theory (Contemporary Social Theory II); SOC 523 Proseminar (students should take this course as early in their careers as possible); Sociology 580 Methods of Social Research; SOC 581 Advanced Social Statistics I; SOC 582 Advanced Social Statistics II; and another quantitative or qualitative methods course approved by the Graduate Advisor; 18 units of SOC 699 Dissertation; passing all required courses with at least a grade of B-; Comprehensive Examinations (written and oral); a Ph.D. dissertation and passing the Final Examination for Doctorate. Prior to taking the comprehensive examinations, a Committee of Studies must be appointed which consists of at least three University of New Mexico faculty members approved for graduate instruction. The chairperson must be a regular faculty member approved by the student's graduate unit. A doctoral student must apply for and be admitted to doctoral candidacy after completing all course work and passing the comprehensive examination. The Dissertation Committee will consist of at least four members approved for graduate instruction: two members must hold regular, full-time faculty appointments at the University of New Mexico; one member must be from the student's graduate unit; the dissertation chairperson must be a regular (tenured or tenure-track), full-time member of the University of New Mexico faculty; a required external member must hold a regular full-time appointment outside the student's unit/department at the University of New Mexico. This member may be from the University of New Mexico or from another accredited institution; one member may be a non-faculty expert in the student's major research area. Doctoral candidates must be enrolled during the semester in which they complete degree requirements, including the summer session.

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