Graduate Degrees in Sociology

The Sociology Department offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy. The M.A. program includes a thesis and non-thesis option. The graduate program has concentrations in criminology; environmental sociology, and political economy. The criminology concentration includes 505, 551, 653, and 655. The environmental sociology  concentration includes 560, 661, and 665. The political economy concentration includes 504, 540, 541, 543, 644, and 645. Both the master's and the doctoral program allow for the construction of individualized programs of study. Detailed information may be obtained from the Programs and Curriculum Committee in Sociology. New students are admitted in fall semester only and applications must be received by the Graduate Student Services Office by February 1.

Admissions Requirements:

• Acceptable scores on the general Graduate Record Examination (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) are required.
  
• Three letters of recommendation (along with the UT Graduate Rating Form)
  
• Completion of the appropriate previous degree (baccalaureate, preferably with a major in one of the social sciences, for the M.A. program; master's degree in one of the social sciences for the doctoral program)
  
  Note: For links to the Department of Sociology application form, Graduate Admissions, Graduate Student Handbooks, and the UT Graduate Rating Form, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Master's Program

Thesis Option

A minimum of 30 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including 24 hours of coursework and 6 hours of Thesis 500, is required. Students must complete Sociology 521, 531, Statistics 531, and one foundation course (504, 505, or 560). At or near the end of all coursework, the student must take an oral examination on course material and thesis. The examination will be administered by the student's committee.

Non-Thesis Option

Minimum of 30 hours of coursework is required, including Sociology 521, 531, Statistics 531, and one of the following: 504, 505, or 560. Sociology 534, 622, and Statistics 532 are recommended. A student's plan of study should follow one of the following approaches: Plan 1, 6 hours in one of the department's concentrations and 6 hours in a second area, including areas outside the department, subject to the approval of the student's committee; Plan 2, 12 hours in a special area of study approved by the student's committee and the department's Programs and Curriculum Committee. Students are encouraged to prepare a paper synthesizing their knowledge of the concentration(s). Students who incorporate supervised field experience in their programs are encouraged to prepare a report based on those experiences that demonstrates their understanding of research, theory, and report writing. All students must take final written and oral examinations that include questions on their general coursework in theory and methods and on their special areas of study.

Subject to approval by the student's committee, up to 12 hours may be taken in courses outside the department for either program. Sociology courses at the 400 level may also be taken with the approval of the student's committee.

The Doctoral Program

Coursework

Twenty-four hours of coursework beyond the master's degree are required (exclusive of S/NC credits). Twelve hours of course credit in Sociology at the 600 level are required. Students who enter the program without the courses required for the M.A. degree (521, 531, Statistics 531) or their equivalents must take them as remedial work which does not apply to their residence. Students must complete Sociology 622; 534, 633, or 636; and Statistics 532 or another advanced course in statistics. Completion of 9 hours in each of two concentrations is encouraged. A student who cannot achieve his/her educational goals within the department's concentrations may construct an individualized course of study subject to the approval of the student's doctoral committee and the Programs and Curriculum Committee. Sociology courses at the 400 level may not be taken without the consent of the student's advisor and the Programs and Curriculum Committee. Six hours may be taken in related fields without petitioning the Programs and Curriculum Committee for approval. The student's program may include a minor or cognate field.

Comprehensive Examinations

Written examinations in four areas are required (sociological theory, research methodology, and two substantive areas). Doctoral students are eligible to take the theory and methodology examinations whenever offered. Substantive examinations may be taken upon completion of theory and methodology examinations. Detailed information on examinations and examination options may be obtained from the department.

Dissertation and Final Examination

A dissertation based on original research must be completed (24 hours). The candidate must pass an oral defense of the dissertation, including the theory and methodology related to the research, in accordance with the deadlines specified by Graduate Student Services

Environmental Policy Minor

The department participates in a program designed to give graduate students an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary specialization in environmental policy. See Department of Economics for program description.

Gerontology Minor

Graduate students in the Department of Sociology may pursue a specialized minor in gerontology. This interdepartmental/interdisciplinary minor gives the student an opportunity for combining the knowledge about aging in American society with his/her major concentration. Please refer to Human Ecology for specific requirements.

Statistics Minor

Graduate students in the Department of Sociology may pursue a specialized minor in statistics. The requirements are: Statistics 537; Statistics 538; one additional Statistics course; and the service of a Statistics faculty person on the thesis committee.

Academic Common Market

An agreement among southern states for sharing graduate programs allows legal residents of some states to enroll in certain programs at UT on an in-state tuition basis. The M.A. program in Sociology is available to residents of the state of Virginia (concentration in criminology only); the Ph.D. to residents of Florida (concentration in criminology only) or West Virginia. Additional information may be obtained from the Administrative Services Assistant in the Office of Graduate Admissions.

• Click here for Departmental Application for Admissions and Funding
• Click here for Graduate Application for Admissions Office, UT Office of Graduate Admissions and Records
  Note: All applicants must apply to both the Graduate School as well as the Department, separately, and must be admitted by both. However, since it is the Dean of the Graduate School who must approve all admissions, applicants will not be fully admitted until they have received the official notification of admission from the Graduate School. For information, see Graduate and International Admissions.
• The University of Tennessee Graduate Rating Form (Applicants should ask their recommenders to complete this form and submit it along with their letter of recommendation.)
• Click here for Graduate Student Handbook 2007-2008
• Click here for Graduate Student Handbook 2006-2007
• Click here for Graduate Student Handbook 2004-2005
  Note: The Handbook that is current when a student enters the program describes the requirements that the student must meet. If the faculty adopt a new Handbook (and corresponding set of requirements) that replaces the Handbook that applied when a student entered the program, while the student is formally enrolled in the graduate program (at the MA or PhD level), the student has the option of graduating according to a later Handbook (and ALL of its corresponding requirements). However, the student is permitted to do so only ONCE, and MUST formally inform the Director of Graduate Studies of the decision. A student can do so at any point, while enrolled in the program.