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 SOCI 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-"):

SOCI 500 Classical Social Theory;
SOCI 513 Constructing and Analyzing Contemporary Sociological Theory;
SOCI 523 Proseminar (students should take this course as early in their careers as possible);
SOCI 580 Methods of Social Research;
SOCI 581 Advanced Social Statistics I;
SOCI 582 Advanced Social Statistics II;
SOCI 585 Qualitative Research Methods;
SOCI 699 Dissertation (18 credit hours);
One 500 level SOCI course in Sociology of Race & Ethnicity;
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.

Keys and Symbols Reference