The University of New Mexico

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Director
Christopher Lyons

Review of Applications
Refer to the Sociology Department Web site.

Degrees Offered

  • Master of Arts in Sociology (M.A.)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (Ph.D.)

Master of Arts in Sociology en route to Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Sociology with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Sociology earned en route. The M.A. degree represents advanced knowledge in sociology appropriate for a variety of intellectual and occupational endeavors. It typically meets minimal requirements for teaching college-level sociology courses. The Ph.D. degree represents additional specialized sociological knowledge and the development of research skills appropriate for work in a variety of public and private research settings. 

A student can enter directly into the Ph.D. program, with or without an existing M.A. degree. A student pursuing a Ph.D. without an M.A. degree (or with an M.A. degree that did not require a thesis or equivalent) completes a professional paper that fulfills the M.A. examination under Plan II, and is awarded the M.A. en route.

The M.A. requires SOC 500 or 513; 523; 580; 581; 12 credit hours of substantive courses in the social sciences as approved by the Departments’ Graduate Committee; 10 additional credit hours of coursework and a professional paper that serves as the M.A. examination.

Upon successful completion of the M.A. degree, a student may file to continue to the Ph.D. program. Continuation in the Ph.D. program is not automatic. In considering the request, the Graduate Committee will evaluate the student's overall record and departmental file (record of timely progress toward degree, graduate transcripts, letters from committee members, and any other materials useful in assessing promise of high-quality doctoral level work). Grades should reflect doctoral-level ability, which means a grade of "A-" or better in the majority of courses. Students who have positive reviews then move into the Ph.D. program. 

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

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 5 years) GRE General Test scores, three letters of recommendation, two writing samples, and a letter of intent. The Sociology Department recommends applicants have 12 credit 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.

General requirements for the Ph.D. are set forth in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog. The Ph.D. degree requires 48 credit hours of coursework and 18 credit 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 (all required courses must be passed with at least a grade of "B-"):

  • SOC 500 Classical Social Theory;
  • SOC 513 Constructing and Analyzing Contemporary Sociological Theory;
  • SOC 523 Proseminar (students should take this course as early in their careers as possible);
  • SOC 580 Methods of Social Research I;
  • SOC 581 Advanced Social Statistics I;
  • SOC 582 Advanced Social Statistics II;
  • SOC 585 Sociological Fieldwork Methods: Ethnography, Interviews, Focus Groups;
  • SOC 699 Dissertation (18 credit hours);
  • Comprehensive Examinations (written and oral);
  • Ph.D. dissertation and passing the Final Examination for Doctorate. 

Prior to taking the comprehensive examinations, a Comprehensive Exam Committee 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 coursework and passing the comprehensive examination. The Dissertation Committee consists 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.

Courses

SOC 305. Environmental Sociology. (3)


SOC 307. Nonviolent Alternatives. (3)


SOC 308. Sociology of Gender. (3)


SOC 310. Sociology of Aging and the Aged. (3)


SOC 312. Causes of Crime and Delinquency. (3)


SOC 325. Couples, Family and Friendship. (3)


SOC 326. Sociology of New Mexico. (3)


SOC 328. Sociology of Native Americans. (3)


SOC 331. Social Movements. (3)


SOC 340. Sociology of Medical Practice. (3)


SOC 345. Youth and Society. (3)


SOC 346. Health and Social Inequalities I. (3)


SOC 347. Health and Social Inequalities II. (3)


SOC 351. The Urban Community. (3)


SOC 354. Introduction to Latin American Society I: Social Sciences. (3)


SOC 371. Sociological Theory. (3)


SOC 380. Introduction to Research Methods. (3)


SOC 381L. Sociological Data Analysis. (4)


SOC 398. Special Topics in Sociology. (3, no limit Δ)


SOC 399. Advanced Undergraduate Workshop in Sociology. (3)


SOC 412. Sociology of Police and Social Control. (3)


SOC 414. Sociology of Corrections. (3)


SOC 415. Inequality and Power. (3)


SOC 416. Sociology of Law. (3)


SOC 418. Selected Topics in Criminology. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


SOC 419. Social Networks and Crime. (3)


SOC 420. Race and Inequality. (3)


SOC 421. Sociology of Education. (3)


SOC 422. Sociology of Religion. (3)


SOC 423. Gender and Crime. (3)


SOC 424. Race, Class and Crime. (3)


SOC 425. From Youthful Misbehavior to Adult Crime. (3)


SOC 426. Drugs, Crime and Social Control. (3)


SOC *427. Sociology of Madness. (3)


SOC 428. Sociology of Mexican Americans. (3)


SOC *430. Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Class for Social Policy. (3)


SOC 441. Complex Organizations. (3)


SOC 452. Community Organizing and the Struggle for Justice in America. (3)


SOC 461. Visualizing Global Change. (3)


SOC *478. Seminar in International Studies. (3)


SOC 481. Data Analysis. (3)


SOC 488. Field Observation and Experience. (3, may be repeated once Δ)


SOC 490. Directed Study. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


SOC 491. Directed Study in Criminology. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


SOC 499. Senior Honors Thesis. (3)


SOC 500. Classical Sociological Theory. (3)


SOC 501. Knowledge and Power. (3)


SOC 506. Globalization and Transnational Sociology. (3)


SOC 507. Topics in Sociological Theory. (3, no limit Δ)


SOC 510. Social and Political Movements. (3)


SOC 511. Documenting Globalization, Human Rights and Social Change. (3)


SOC 512. International Political Sociology. (3)


SOC 513. Constructing and Analyzing Contemporary Sociological Theory. (3)


SOC 515. Criminological Theory. (3)


SOC 518. Special Topics in Criminology. (3)


SOC 520. Racial and Ethnic Relations. (3)


SOC 521. Sociology of Education. (3)


SOC 523. Proseminar. (1)


SOC 528. Sociology of Mexican Americans. (3)


SOC 530. Social Science Writing and Publishing. (3)


SOC 531. Sociology Teaching Seminar. (3)


SOC 540. Medical Sociology and Health Policy. (3)


SOC 551–552. Problems. (2-3, no limit Δ; 2-3, no limit Δ)


SOC 570. Sociological Research: Special Topics. (3, no limit Δ)


SOC 580. Methods of Social Research I. (3)


SOC 581. Advanced Social Statistics I. (3)


SOC 582. Advanced Social Statistics II. (3)


SOC 583. Special Topics in Advanced Social Statistics. (3, no limit Δ)


SOC 584. Interdisciplinary Seminar on Problems of Modernization in Latin America. (3, no limit Δ)


SOC 585. Sociological Fieldwork Methods: Ethnography, Interviews, Focus Groups. (3)


SOC 595. Special Topics in Sociology. (3, no limit Δ)


SOC 596. Professional Paper. (1-6, no limit Δ)


SOC 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)


SOC 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)


SOCI 1110 [SOC 101]. Introduction to Sociology. (3)


SOCI 2120 [SOC 205]. Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems [Crime, Public Policy and the Criminal Justice System]. (3)


SOCI 2210 [SOC 213]. Sociology of Deviance [Deviance]. (3)


SOCI 2310 [SOC 211]. Contemporary Social Problems [Social Problems]. (3)


SOCI 2315 [SOC 216]. The Dynamics of Prejudice [Dynamics of Difference, Power and Discrimination]. (3)


SOCI 2340 [SOC 221]. Global Issues [Documenting Globalization and Human Rights]. (3)


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Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
 Fax: (505) 277-6809