UMass Boston

In addition to the criteria below, applicants must complete general graduate admission requirements. 

Applicants with either a BA/BS degree or an MA degree in sociology or a related field may apply to the PhD program. 

Applicants with a BA/BS degree may apply to the PhD program and must complete the requirements needed to earn the MA in Applied Sociology (37 credits) degree en route to the PhD. 

Applicants with a MA degree in sociology or a related field from a nationally accredited college or university or its international equivalent will complete the 36-credit post-MA degree requirements along with any other credits the review committee deems necessary to support PhD-level work at the discretion of the review committee.  

Application Materials include: 
  - Degree transcripts
  - Preference will be given to all applicants whose transcripts show a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.25 and graduate GPA of 3.50, taken within the past seven years.
  - Three letters of recommendation from persons with whom the applicant has had extensive academic and/or professional contact. 
  - An academic writing sample. 
  - An essay of no more than 1,500 words addressing the following:
        - Specific interest in a PhD in sociology and rationale for pursuing the PhD
        - Current major research and interests in the field of sociology
        - Description of professional post-PhD goals.

Please note: Applicants do not need and will not be assigned an advisor or supervisor prior to applying for the program. 

Deadlines: December 1 for fall (extended to January 1 for Fall 2025)

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: Bursar's website

Required Courses (12 Credits)

• SOCIOL 607 - Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 609L - Qualitative Methods and Field Research 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 652 - Advanced Quantitative Methods 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 700 - Proseminar I: Introduction to Graduate Sociology 1 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 701 - Proseminar II: Planning a career in Sociology 1 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 702 - Proseminar III: Developing professional skills and preparing for job market 1 Credit(s)

Electives (18 Credits)

Complete 18 credits of additional graduate SOCIOL courses.

With approval of the graduate program director, up to six credits from another graduate program may be applied toward this requirement.

Dissertation (6 Credits)

Complete a minimum of six credits from the course below.

• SOCIOL 899 - Dissertation Credits 1-9 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Complete a minimum of 36 credits from ten or more courses including six required courses, 18 credits of electives, and at least six dissertation credits.

Students admitted without an MA in sociology must also complete the requirements for the Applied Sociology (MA) program.

Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research.

Doctoral candidacy: Passage of two comprehensive examinations taken in two parts; theory/methods and substantive area concentration.

Statute of limitations: Ten years.

1. Apply theoretical concepts to empirical issues;
2. Analyze data to address a research question;
3. Demonstrate scholarly expertise in a substantive area(s);
4. Design and execute a research project of their own;
5. Demonstrate scholarly independence. 

Graduate Program Director
Dr. Cinzia Solari
Bio

Graduate Program Manager
Joy Solon
sociology.graduate [at] umb.edu