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Welcome Prospective
Graduate Students

The Department of Sociology at Texas A&M provides graduate coursework and training leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree in Sociology and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from Texas A&M University.

This page provides information about the program and the process for applying for admission to graduate study in Sociology at Texas A&M.

To view and/or download and print a printable brochure describing the Sociology Graduate program at Texas A&M University, click on one of the following links.

Graduate Catalog (280-page PDF file)

Sociology Graduate Program Flyer (PDF-version)

For general information about the Department's Graduate Program, click on the "Graduate" button on the main menu (above) or click on the following link.

Graduate Program Page

Program Mission and Orientation

The mission of the Sociology graduate program at Texas A&M - College Station is to train future generations of sociology faculty and researchers. Accordingly, the program is geared to providing advanced training in theory and methods for students interested in careers in teaching and research that require the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Students may earn a Masters of Science (MS) degree, but the program is geared to doctoral students and all of our graduate courses are oriented to students who are working toward the PhD.

Graduate Degrees Offered

Our department offers two graduate degrees; the Master of Science (MS) in Sociology and the Doctor of Philosphy (PhD) in Sociology. Students are reviewed for admission into the program based on their projected capability for completing the PhD.

Students who enter the program with a bachelors (BA or BS) degree earn the MS degree on the way to the PhD degree. Thus, they are initially accepted into MS status and are formally admitted into PhD status when they complete the MS portion of the program. In most cases, this is a routine reclassification.

Students who have already earned a graduate degree elsewhere usually are accepted directly into PhD status.

Graduate Degree Requirements

The MS degree requirements include an earned bachelor's degree (or equivalent), 34 hours of course credit (of which 8 hours is independent research conducted under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty), and completion of a master's thesis research project. (Alternatively, there is a non-thesis option that involves additional coursework and substitutes seminar hours in place of research hours.) The MS degree is typically completed in two years or less. For further details regarding requirements for the MS degree, use the following link.

MS Degree Requirements - Further Details

The PhD degree requirements include an earned master's degree (or equivalent), 64 hours of course credit (of which, 18-32 hours can be independent research conducted under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty), passing exams in two areas of specialization, and completion of a doctoral dissertation research project. The degree can be completed in less than three years. Typically, however, students complete the work in 3-4 years. For further details regarding requirements for the PhD degree, use the following link.

PhD Degree Requirements - Further Details

Is Our Program Right for You?

Graduate programs vary widely in their mission and focus. No one program is right for all students. Consider the following points as you try to decide if our program is right for your needs and goals.

Full-Time. Our program is geared to "full-time" students. The PhD degree takes years to complete under ordinary circumstances. It is very difficult for part-time students to complete the degree in a reasonable time frame. Part-time students often prefer courses to be offered in the evenings or on weekends. Our courses are typically scheduled between 9am and 5pm on weekdays. Part-time students cannot receive department funding (e.g., positions as teaching assistants or lecturers).

Residential. Our doctoral program emphasizes close association with faculty and regular participation in a wide range of activities that take place outside of the classroom on an on-going basis (e.g., research mentoring, colloquia, committee meetings, advising, etc.). Department funding typically carries obligations to be on campus on a daily basis. And doctoral students are expected to participate in and contribute to the intellectual life of the department. For these reasons and others, it is very difficult to complete the PhD degree and benefit fully from what our program offers if one does not live in the local area or within easy commuting distance.

On-Site. A key ingredient in our program is the face-to-face interaction that takes place between students and faculty and between students and other students both in seminar settings and in the daily life of the department. Consequently, we do not offer "distance learning" or "off-site" options for completing the MS or PhD degrees.

Fall Admission. Our program is geared to Fall semester admissions. Our seminar rotations are scheduled with this in mind. Similarly, our admissions review process and our advising program are all structured on the assumption that student applications will be reviewed in the early spring and students will enter the graduate program in the Fall. Finally, we strongly prefer Fall admission as a means of fostering a "cohort" experience wherein members of each new student cohort go through similar experiences together and become supportive colleagues to each other during their time in graduate school (and hopefully beyond). For these reasons and others not listed, we discourage entry during the Spring and Summer semesters. We consider requests to enter "off schedule" on a case-by-case basis but grant them only when there is a compelling reason.

Academic (Rather than Applied) Focus. Our program has an "academic" focus. It emphasizes advanced theoretical and methodological training aimed at preparing students to conduct independent research and scholarship. Students who are seeking a masters degree with an applied focus will likely be better served by other graduate programs that are explicitly geared to that goal.

International Students

We welcome applications from students who are not US citizens and typically accept a small number of international students into our program each year.

We note, however, that we are rarely able to provide funding to international students. Thus, given the higher tuition charged to international students and the restrictions on off-campus employment, we must stress that, unless we specifical inform them otherwise (in writing), international applicants should assume that they will not receive funding from the department and thus must have a sound plan for funding their graduate studies. This plan should include not only the first year of study but also the full span of their time in the program. International students face many challenges. When problems associated with funding are added to this, it can be difficult to succeed in graduate study.

It is especially important for international applicants to complete their applications as early as possible. The review of foreign credentials takes longer and considerable time is needed to work out visas and other arrangements. In addition to the standard application requirements, international applicants must submit TOEFL test scores (or meet alternative English language requirements as appropriate).

Time to Completion

Time required to complete a degree depends on many variables. Students who enter with a BA or BS can easily complete both the MS degree and the PhD degrees within 4-5 years if they identify their specialty interests early on in their program of study. About a third of students finish on that schedule. Another third take an additional year to finish. For the remaining third, time to completition varies considerably.

The MS degree normally takes 2 years to complete and can be finished in just three semesters without ever taking more than three seminars in any semester.

Further Discussion of Time to Complete Degree Requirements

Financial Support

Most students in the program receive funding support from a variety of sources over the course of their graduate training. Funding sources include include Department-assigned assistantships, lecturing positions (for advanced students), faculty-assigned research assistantships, assistantships with other departments on campus, and many other possibilities.

New Students. A small number (4-5) of department-assigned funding slots are reserved for incoming students. These are awarded based on a committee review that begins in February. Entry cohorts are about 12-15 new students each Fall. This means that about 1 in 3 new students enter with department-assigned funding. Many of the other new students find financial support from one of the many other sources once they are enrolled and on campus and in position to respond to seek out available opportunities.

Acceptance and Department-Assigned Funding. Unlike many departments, we do not require that new students be awarded department-assigned funding as a condition for being accepted into our program. As a result, we are able to offer the opportunity of graduate training to more deserving students; not just the small number we can support with department-assigned positions.

Many students welcome the opportunity to be accepted into the program on this basis. However, it is crucial for these students to recognize that they must assume primary responsibility for identifying and obtaining alternate sources of financial suport. While opportunities for support definitely exist on campus and in the local community, it often takes considerable time and effort to find one. The potential stress can jeopardize chances for succeeding in the program. In view of this, students who do not receive department funding may be asked, as part of their review for acceptance into the program, to show that they have a realistic plan for providing for financial support in their first year.

Continuing Students. Continuing students can apply for department-assigned assistantships that are awarded annually on the basis of committee review. In addition, they may seek other funded positions which offer opportunities for research and teaching experience. While there is no centralized review process for these other positions, there are many more of these positions than there are department-assigned assistantships. Thus, about two-thirds of our continuing students are supported through such positions.

Applying for Admission: Overview

The application and review process for admission to graduate study in Sociology can be involved so it is important to begin as early as possible. It is best to start the application process early in the Fall semester to be sure that all application materials are received before December 15.

Candidates completing applications after December 15 may be considered for admission. But chances for funding are significantly diminished because most positions will already be awarded. It is also possible that the admissions decision itself will be delayed because late applications are be reviewed on an "ad hoc" basis.

Steps in the Application Process

The review for admission into graduate study in Sociology at Texas A&M involves three stages:

(1) The applicant submits application materials. This includes submitting the formal application to the TAMU Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) along with relevant materials (e.g., transcripts and GRE scores). It also incluces submitting additional materials to the Sociology Department (e.g., statement of purpose, letters of reference, writing sample).

(2) The TAMU OGA reviews the basic application and, when it is complete, forwards the application file to the Sociology Department for department review.

(3) Finally, the Sociology Department's Graduate Admissions Committee reviews the application and makes decisions regarding acceptance and funding support.

Application to OGA. The formal application begins by completing the On-line Application through Apply Texas. The application can be accessed online via the web (see the link below).

Official Online Application - Apply Texas

Form for Letters of Recommendation

List of Materials Sent to OGA.

Offical Application (online or hard copy).

Offical Copies of All College Transcripts.

Official GRE Scores.

Official TOEFL Scores (International Studetns).

Application Fee.

Application to Department of Sociology. You also need to send application materials to the Sociology Department. This is a separate process. If you send materials used in the Department review to the Office of Graduate Admissions, it can seriously delay the review of your application.

List of Materials Sent to Sociology Department.

Letter of Intent or Interest.

Resume.

Three Letters of Reference.

Writing Sample.

Approximate Time Line

There is no hard and fast time line for admissions review. But the following approximate time table should help you with your planning.

Domestic Applications.

Oct - Review application process requirements.

Oct - Take GRE.

Nov - Identify Potential References.

Dec - Submit application to Office of Graduate Admissions.

Dec - Submit Letter of Intent/Information Sheet to Sociology Department.

Jan - Submit final materials to Office of Graduate Admissions.

Jan - Submit final materials to Sociology Department.

Feb - Sociology Dept review for funding consideration begins.

Admission Review Criteria

Applications are reviewed in two stages, first by the TAMU Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) and then by the Sociology Department's Graduate Admissions Committee.

The review by the Office of Graduate Admissions focuses on transcripts, grades, earned degrees, GRE scores, language proficiency (for international applications), fees, and related matters. This portion of the application materials must be complete and "in order" before they will transmit the application to the department for our review. For this reason, it is very important to make sure that official transcripts, GRE scores, and such are in order as soon as possible. If, for example, a transcript is delayed, it will delay the review of your application.

The review by the Sociology Department's Graduate Admissions Committee focuses on what your application file indicates about your prospects for success in work toward the PhD degree in Sociology. (Note that even if you are seeking only the MS degree, the department review is based on your prospects for the PhD degree.) The committee decisions are geared toward admitting the strongest possible entry cohorts of 10-15 students each year.

The committee members consider all of the materials in your file and they consider these materials as a whole. No single indicator is determinant. Ideally, you would like all of the materials in your file to be as strong as possible. But for most candidates, some materials are stronger than others. Committee members recognize this fact and take this into account in their judgements.

Overall the committe is looking for evidence of ability to perform well in advanced theoretical and methodological training. It also is looking for evidence of a good match between the student's goals and interests and the mission of our program and our faculty's areas of strength. Finally, the committee is looking for evidence that you have a passion for intellectual challenge and a clear sense of how you would benefit from graduate training.

Applicants often wonder if there are certain "magic" numbers for grade point averages and GRE scores. There are none. Most of the students who are admitted into our program have "A" or high "B" averages in undergraduate coursework and score well above the average on the GRE exam. However, these are only patterns; there are no certain outcomes based on these indicators alone. In some cases, students with a below average GRE score or a lesser GPA are accepted into the program because they have other compelling positive indicators (e.g., experience or specific accomplishments). In other cases, students with strong GRE's and GPA's are not always accepted; for example, their goals or areas of interest may not be a good match with what our program has to offer.

Career Opportunities in Sociology

Career opportunities for well-trained sociologists are strong. Of course, career options will vary depending on academic specialization (e.g., culture, deviance, demography, social inequality, culture, etc.), performance in the program, regional restrictions on job search, and many, many other factors.

Historically, our graduates compete very effectively for the following kinds of positions:

Professors in research-oriented universities.

Professors in teaching-oriented universities and colleges.

Researchers in federal, state, and local government agencies.

Researchers in industry and private consulting firms.

Researchers in non-profit agencies.

A wide range of other professional positions.

Contact Information

For additional information about the graduate program contact Wendy Moore, Graduate Advisor for the Department of Sociology at Texas A&M University-College Station.

Wendy Moore

Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor

Department of Sociology

Mail Stop 4351

Texas A&M University

College Station, TX 77843-4351

979-845-6549 (office)

979-845-5133 (department)

979-862-4057 (fax)

Email:

To check on the status of application materials, contact.

Bethany Edwards

Assistant to the Graduate Advisor