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Bulletin 2023-2024, sociology phd.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Learn more about the Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology .

About the Program

The graduate program in Sociology is devoted to the training of research scholars and educators in the discipline. Students have a variety of career goals, ranging from academic research and teaching to research and administration in private or public agencies. The doctoral program provides advanced training in sociological theory, statistics and research methods. The program's main areas of graduate teaching and research are Gender and Sexuality, Immigration and Globalization, Medical Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, and Urban Sociology.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time study is preferred, but part-time enrollment can be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: The program encourages students to participate in seminars in other social sciences, including Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Geography and Urban Studies, History, Political Science, Psychology, Urban Education, and Women’s Studies. A dual degree program is also currently offered:

• PhD in Sociology/MA in Urban Bioethics with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Affiliation(s): The program is affiliated with the American Sociological Association (ASA).

Areas of Specialization: The main areas of graduate teaching and research are:

• Gender and Sexuality
• Immigration and Globalization
• Medical Sociology
• Race and Ethnicity
• Urban Sociology

Job Prospects: Graduates of the PhD program are typically employed as either teaching-research scholars in an academic setting or as applied researchers and administrators in private and public agencies.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students with a bachelor's degree may take graduate courses in Sociology without enrolling in a Temple University graduate program. A limit of 9 credits of graduate coursework taken prior to admission will be accepted toward a Sociology degree. Non-matriculated students should consult with the Graduate Chair before selecting their coursework if they plan to apply for the degree program.

Financing Opportunities: The Sociology Department and Temple University support full-time students during the academic year through Teaching Assistantships, part-time teaching and University Fellowships. Initial funding is contingent on the recommendation of the Admissions Committee. Continued funding is based on faculty assessment at the annual graduate student review. Funded students are typically offered a five-year funding package. Additional support for dissertation research is available through fellowships competitively awarded by the university and from outside sources.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: December 15

Applications are evaluated together after the deadline has passed.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program .

Letters of Reference: Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with academic competence, wherever possible.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A master's degree is not required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree in Sociology, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Urban Studies is required, although a degree in other disciplines can be considered.

Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, share your interest in Temple's program, research goals, future career goals, and academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores: GRE: Required.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 100
• IELTS Academic: 7.0
• PTE Academic: 68

Resume: Current personal resume or curriculum vitae required.

Writing Sample: The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to conduct research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should be on a sociological topic. It must be fully referenced according to a professional and scholarly style.

Transfer Credit: Graduate coursework in Sociology may be transferred from outside the university, provided that the credits were obtained no more than five years prior to the student's matriculation at Temple and the grades are "B" or better. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 12, if the credits earned did not result in the completion of an MA degree.

Advanced Standing: For students entering the PhD program who have received an MA degree elsewhere, up to 19 credits may be applied to the doctoral program, provided the courses are relevant to the department's required courses. These credits must have been obtained no more than five years prior to the student's matriculation at Temple and the grades must be "B" or better. The Graduate Chair decides which courses students may transfer. As a general rule, students with transferred credits should expect that they will have to complete much of the required coursework in residence and are, further, expected to take two courses from Temple faculty in their area of focus before taking the PhD Preliminary Exam in their field.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements: Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 52

Required Courses:

Of the seven elective courses, two must relate to the preliminary examination. Other electives may include: (1) SOC 9382 Independent Study Program: With the consent of the Graduate Chair and the instructor(s), students may take two Independent Study courses, which are intensive programs of study within a specific area of Sociology. Students who wish to take these courses must submit to the Graduate Chair at the beginning of the term a "Department Independent Study Request" form describing the readings and/or research they propose to undertake. The form must be signed by both the participating faculty member and the Graduate Chair. A final statement on the work completed must be filed with the Graduate Chair at the end of the term. Letter grades are given for these courses. (2) Outside courses: With the approval of the Graduate Chair, students may take two courses outside of the Sociology Department. (3) SOC 9385 Internship in Social Research : With the consent of the Graduate Chair, students may undertake an internship for course credit, provided the internship unites the core concepts of sociology with professional organizational settings and the community as a whole. Students who wish to complete an internship must submit to the Graduate Chair at the beginning of the term an "Internship Request Form” describing the duties, frequency of service and major outcomes. The form must be signed by both the supervisor of the internship and the Graduate Chair. Students are permitted to take up to two internship courses.

SOC 8873 and SOC 8883 are taken concurrently.

In lieu of SOC 9998 , an additional credit may be taken in either SOC 9994 or SOC 9999 .

Culminating Events: Pre-Candidacy Evaluation: The Sociology Department evaluates doctoral students at the end of their second year based on two criteria:

• First, full-time doctoral students are expected to complete a Second Year Paper, which is due at the end of the Spring term of their second year. Part-time students are allowed to complete the paper within a year after finishing their required Social Theory and Methods of Inquiry courses. All students are responsible for recruiting two committee members to review and grade the paper, which is due the last day of classes in the Spring term. Students may work with their committee throughout the semester to ensure the paper aligns with expectations. Papers can be a journal-quality literature review, a journal-quality theory piece, a journal-quality empirical investigation, a grant proposal or a research report akin to those put out by research organizations. Students then present their paper to the department. Their committee evaluates the paper based on the student's demonstrated ability to synthesize the relevant literature, conceptualize a research problem, and/or carry out a feasible research design. Both committee members must pass the paper. Any student who does not write a passing paper that term must do so the following semester. Those who are unsuccessful on the second attempt are dismissed from the program.
• Second, students must earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher to continue in the doctoral program. However, a student may petition the Graduate Committee for re-consideration. After a petition is submitted, the Graduate Chair requires a written evaluation from each faculty member in the department with whom the student has taken a course. The student is permitted to continue in the PhD program if at least five faculty members write in support of the petition. Those not allowed to continue can graduate with an MA upon completion of its degree requirements.

Preliminary Examination: After completing the required coursework, doctoral students are expected to take a preliminary examination in the form of a written area exam in the Spring term of their third year. Prior to taking the preliminary examination, students must complete two or more graduate-level courses related to that examination area offered by the faculty within the department. When doctoral students complete the required coursework, they must then take the preliminary examination in one of the broad examination areas identified by the Sociology Department as consistent with its mission and self-defined areas of strength: Gender and Sexuality, Immigration and Globalization, Medical Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, and Urban Sociology. However, students may request to take the exam in another area under the following conditions:

• the student has taken at least two graduate-level courses in the Sociology Department in the requested area, one of which may be an independent study course; 
• three faculty members are willing to sponsor the exam; and 
• the Graduate Chair approves.

No later than the second Monday in August prior to the Spring term when the preliminary examination will be taken, students must fill out the "Department Preliminary Examination Application" form and indicate the selected area for the exam. The Department Chair appoints three faculty members to form area-specific prelim committees charged with grading the exams.

The written area examination consists of four questions, and students must select and answer two of those questions. Students are given one week to complete the preliminary exam. Students receive the questions on an announced Monday in March or April, and the answers are due a week later. The Prelim Committee members assign a grade of “Pass” or “Fail” to each question along with their comments. A student needs at least two passes on both questions to pass the exam.

Based on the written area exam grade, the Graduate Chair assigns an overall “Pass” or “Fail” to each student for the preliminary examination. Any student who fails the written area exam may retake the exam. At the beginning of the following Fall term, three faculty members in the prelim area are appointed by the Department Chair to form a Prelim Committee. The committee submits four questions to the Graduate Chair by an announced date in October. The student receives the questions the Monday of the week before Thanksgiving week, and the exam is due on the Monday of Thanksgiving week.

Doctoral Advisory Committee: Following the preliminary examination, the student selects the Chair of their Doctoral Advisory Committee. The remaining two or more members of the committee are selected by the student in consultation with the Chair. The majority of the committee members must be from the Sociology Department. Other members may include faculty from other departments within Temple University or from other universities. Doctoral-level expert advisors from outside university settings may also be considered as members.

To establish the Doctoral Advisory Committee, the student must submit a "Sociology Department Doctoral Advisory Committee" form to the department's Graduate Coordinator. To include committee members who are not members of the Temple Graduate Faculty on a Doctoral Advisory Committee, the Chair must request approval by submitting the "Nomination for Service on Doctoral Committee" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms," and the proposed committee member’s current curriculum vitae to the Graduate School. If a change is made in the composition of the Doctoral Advisory Committee, the change must be approved by the Chair of the committee. If the change involves the Chair of the committee, the Graduate Chair should be informed beforehand and the original Chair of the committee must be notified. The change must also be noted on the original "Sociology Department Doctoral Advisory Committee" form and signed by both the Chair of the committee and the Graduate Chair.

The Doctoral Advisory Committee meets at least once a year to review the candidate's progress and offer advice to the candidate.

Dissertation Proposal: The dissertation proposal is a brief statement of the dissertation research. It should contain a review of the literature, a statement of the research problem, and a comprehensive description of the research strategy to be employed.

A digital copy of the proposal is made available to faculty at least two weeks prior to the oral defense of the proposal. All department faculty and graduate students are invited to attend the presentation of the dissertation proposal. Normally, proposal defenses are held during the academic year. All members of the committee must be present at the proposal defense.

The dissertation proposal is accepted only when members of the dissertation committee vote unanimously to accept it. An approved dissertation proposal along with the "Dissertation Proposal Transmittal for Elevation to Candidacy" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms," must be filed with the Graduate School. After defending the dissertation proposal, a student is formally advanced to PhD candidacy.

If a change is made in the composition of the Doctoral Advisory Committee after the approval of the proposal, the change must be approved by the Chair of the committee and the Dean of the College. The change must be noted on the "Request for Change in Dissertation Committee" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms," and filed with the Graduate School prior to posting the final dissertation defense.

Dissertation Defense/PhD Final Examination: The dissertation is defended orally. Any discrepancy between the final version of the dissertation and the dissertation proposal should be explained and defended. A digital copy of the dissertation is made available to faculty at least two weeks before the dissertation defense. An abstract of the dissertation, not exceeding ten pages, must be given to all faculty members ten days before the defense.

The Dissertation Examining Committee is formed to evaluate the quality of the dissertation and conduct the oral defense. The committee includes the Doctoral Advisory Committee and at least one outside examiner. If the outside examiner is not a member of the Temple Graduate Faculty, the Chair of the Doctoral Advisory Committee must request approval by submitting the "Nomination for Service on Doctoral Committee" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms," and the outside examiner’s current curriculum vitae to the Graduate School at least four weeks in advance of the scheduled defense. Approval must be received prior to posting the oral defense. The Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee must be a member of the Graduate Faculty, but may not be the Chair of the candidate’s Doctoral Advisory Committee. This person, responsible for coordinating and conducting the defense, must be identified when the defense is posted with the Graduate School on the "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms."

All dissertation oral defense examinations are publicly announced by the Sociology Department in writing at least ten days in advance of the examination. The written announcement must be sent to all members of the Dissertation Examining Committee, all graduate faculty in the candidate's department, and the Graduate School. It must also be posted in the College. All dissertation examinations are open to the entire academic community.

Normally, the dissertation defense is held during the regular academic year. A dissertation defense passed after the Graduate School deadline in the Spring does not qualify the student for a May degree. A summer defense may be scheduled only if all members of the committee agree. The entire dissertation committee must attend the defense. If one or more committee members fail to attend the defense, the Departmental Chair cannot sign the form certifying the defense. All faculty members and students are invited to participate in the dissertation defense.

The dissertation committee must vote unanimously that the student has passed the PhD Final Examination. Each member of the dissertation committee indicates their assessment of the examination and signs their name to the "Final Examination Report for Doctoral Candidates" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms." If the Chair of the Sociology Department agrees that the dissertation meets departmental standards, the Chair signifies approval by signing for the department as well on the "Final Examination Report for Doctoral Candidates" form. The completed form is submitted to the Dean's Office of the College of Liberal Arts.

Information regarding the required format of the dissertation is available in the Graduate School's Dissertation and Thesis Handbook , found at https://grad.temple.edu/resources/dissertation-thesis-handbook . Fees may be required when filing the dissertation electronically, within 30 days of the dissertation defense, at https://www.etdadmin.com/cgi-bin/school?siteId=171 . The student should heed the instructions found on the "Final Checklist of Dissertation Materials," identified as an appendix in the Graduate School's Dissertation and Thesis Handbook . Note that the signature page bearing original ink signatures constitutes the only item required to be submitted in hard copy to the Graduate School.

Students must apply to graduate, through the Sociology Department, by the deadline date announced in the graduate catalog each year. The deadline is usually three or four months before graduation. Applications may be obtained from the department's Graduate Coordinator or online. Upon completion of the doctoral program, the student is required to submit a bound copy of their dissertation to the Sociology Department, as well as a regular hard copy to the Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee.

Program Web Address:

https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/sociology-phd-la-soc-phd

Department Information:

Dept. of Sociology

708 Gladfelter Hall

1115 W. Polett Walk

Philadelphia, PA 19122-6089

[email protected]

215-204-1494

Submission Address for Application Materials:

https://apply.temple.edu/CLA/

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Catherine Staples

[email protected]

Director of Graduate Studies:

James Bachmeier, PhD

[email protected]

Chairperson:

Kimberly Goyette, PhD

[email protected]

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Career options for sociology graduates: top 10 tips

Sociology graduates are found in a wide range of occupations - but which one will suit you? Get inspiration from the top tips from our recent Q&A about career options after studying sociology

• Looking for graduate jobs? Browse a range of top graduate roles and employers at Guardian Jobs

Dr Malcolm J Todd is the head of learning, teaching and graduate employability in the Faculty of Development and Society at Sheffield Hallam University . He teaches sociology and is the author of publications on student learning, graduate employability and work experience. Malcolm is a trustee of The British Sociological Association

Sociology graduates are found in a wide range of occupations: The Higher Education Academy in the UK produces student employability profiles for most subject areas in the UK and they note that sociology graduates are found in a wide range of occupations. What I think is relevant here is that many sociology graduates are attracted to careers that centre on the challenges and demands that members of a society face. This leads to jobs in social services, education, criminal justice, welfare services, government, counselling, charities and the voluntary sector. They include charity fundraiser, community development worker, counsellor, lecturer, housing officer, teacher, probation officer, social researcher, social worker and welfare rights adviser. There are a range of specific abilities and skills associated with a degree in sociology but there are also wider transferable skills that you can develop. The UK Quality Assurance Agency lists these. The specific skills include ability to judge and evaluate evidence; understanding the complexity and diversity of situations, including organisations themselves; collecting information; making reasoned and logical arguments. Sociology students will also develop a wider set of transferable skills like team-working; verbal communication skills; showing initiative; being able to work in a way that is supportive of equality and diversity in the workplace.

Eric Harrison studied Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge, and later did a DPhil in Sociology at the University of Oxford. He is currently senior research fellow in the Centre for Comparative Social Surveys at City University London

Sociology is a good fit for a career in business: It is very hard out there just now. The truth is that no one with any kind of degree is going to walk into a job. I don't believe sociology is non-vocational, simply that it equips you for most vocations. The problem with vocational courses is that economic sectors wax and wane. A degree in tourism and hospitality is fine until the currency fluctuates or the summer is washed out, or the regional development agency closes down. But having transferable analytical skills allows you to move between sectors, making connections between the different situations that you've studied and spotting patterns. So sociology is extremely good for a career in business, probably better than business studies in fact.

Sociologists should have a head-start if it's marketing that interests you: Marketing is a good fit for sociology - especially if you've done the 'right' kind of sociology. Market researchers are interested in mapping the shape of society, and identifying different types of people with different characteristics, lifestyles and attitudes. Social class and status are used routinely - concepts from sociology - in order to target 'segments' of the population. So understanding the dynamics of class, age, gender and ethnicity should give a sociologist a head-start, at least.

The subject should be a good basis for a career in journalism: It's a very discursive subject, you're practiced at writing to time and to word limits, you're used to being presented with a brief (an essay title) and researching the background. It would equip you well for writing features, analysis and 'think-pieces'. You could also package yourself as someone who'd like to specialise in commenting on social affairs, social change and so on. It is a specialist career so you should consider a master's in journalism, but also practice writing. Get a blog and write regularly - about anything - so that you form the habit.

Suzanne Hallam is director of learning and teaching at the School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds

Your university careers service can help you after you've graduated: In the School of Sociology and Social Policy at Leeds University we offer a range of opportunities for students, including an industrial placement year and internships where students can gain valuable employability skills while studying. For people who have already graduated, I would suggest that they contact the careers centre at the university they attended as it is usual for services to be available post-graduation, this is certainly the case at Leeds. I would also say don't give up, it is a challenging economic climate and try to find creative ways of building your CV and skills.

If you're interested in the third sector, get experience in the private sector first: Our careers office advise students wishing to work in the third sector to begin in the private sector, where you can gain experience and access training. The skills you can gain in the private sector are sought after especially by charities and they can get you a foot in the door.

Dr Roger Slack is a lecturer in Sociology and Research Methods at Bangor University

Present your skills in an employer-friendly manner: Sociology provides a skill set that makes them [graduates] eminently suitable for jobs in a variety of sectors. Interpretation and evaluation of evidence, communication, and working in groups are the kinds of skills employers look for. The job market is tough but it is tough for everyone - the point is to present your skills in an employer-friendly manner.

Dr Alana Lentin is a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Sussex

Innovative employers value people with a critical mind who can think laterally: I think that, for various reasons, there is a public culture out there which devalues sociology, an opinion held by many employers unfortunately, but also which others reject. The notion that sociology isn't about 'the real world' is obviously false considering that it is precisely about the real world. However, the negativity about sociology for my mind comes from the fact that many (although far from all) sociologists have traditionally been involved in the critique of the status quo and have sought to overturn the way the world is. Think about Marx's dictum that the point is to change the world. As such, sociology has been held in suspicion by those who benefit from the way things are, especially in a capitalist society.

Now, all of this doesn't necessarily help when it comes to getting a job (although I think political sociologists in particular can help understand why the current economic climate is particularly difficult). For those suspicious of sociology, which often for some reason seems to epitomise the useless ivory towers, their opinion will probably not change. It is up to you as graduates to channel the skills you learned during your degree - power of analysis; the ability to summarize complex ideas; presentation skills; writing skills; team work; qualitative and quantitative research methods; interviewing; running focus groups; and so on - and show employers how these could be transferred for use at the workplace. Interestingly, the most innovative employers these days are not looking for one-size-fits-all employees but want people with a critical mind who can think laterally. I think that sociology's commitment to critiquing the status quo and developing solutions to social problems can be invaluable.

Want to enter academia? Start publishing and attending academic conferences early: A problem that a lot of people - especially at postgraduate level - develop is to focus too exclusively on their studies and to forget that unfortunately perhaps employers these days in a competitive environment look at the candidate's overall experience and will be particularly interested in what else you have done during your university career. I would particularly recommend that people doing postgraduate degrees who want to enter academia start publishing and attending academic conferences early!

Think about a combined sociology and modern language degree: In the UK there are too few people with language skills and international work experience. You will certainly stand above the rest if you can demonstrate this. A good idea for those thinking about doing a sociology degree but who haven't started yet is to do a combined sociology and modern language degree such as those we offer at Sussex. Students spend a year abroad during their degree either working or studying in the country whose language they are studying. For example, one of our students worked in an Italian school for a year before coming back to do her final year. Alternatively try to take advantage of the Erasmus study abroad programme while at university which funds you to send a term or a year abroad in Europe or more general study abroad programmes that allow students to go further afield to the US, Canada, Australia and more.

Check out the rest of the advice here .

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Studying sociology opens up a range of careers in areas such as welfare, education, social research, and local and central government

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Advice worker
• Community development worker
• Further education teacher
• Higher education lecturer
• Housing manager/officer
• Marketing executive
• Police officer
• Policy officer
• Secondary school teacher
• Social researcher
• Youth worker

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Charity officer
• Civil Service administrator
• Family support worker
• Human resources officer
• International aid/development worker
• Newspaper journalist
• Probation officer
• Public relations officer
• Social worker
• Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Look for volunteering or work experience opportunities with organisations and businesses that you're interested in working for, or that will help you develop the skills relevant to your career interests. For example, volunteering opportunities exist in schools, community education and social work departments, or with groups including young people, victims of crime or homeless people.

If you're looking for a career in an area such as law or the Civil Service, internships offer the chance for more structured work experience. Competition for places is strong, so research the company well before applying.

Opportunities and resources are advertised by the British Sociological Association . You can also get student membership with them, which provides access to a community of sociologists, networking events and reading material.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships .

Typical employers

You may be thinking of entering a career within the areas of social or welfare but there are also opportunities with a range of other employers throughout the public and private sector. They include:

• charitable, counselling and voluntary organisations
• local and central government
• media companies
• marketing and PR firms
• police and probation services
• schools, colleges and universities
• social and market research organisations.

Opportunities also exist on a variety of graduate management training schemes.

Find information on employers in charity and voluntary work , public services and administration , social care and other job sectors .

Skills for your CV

Studying sociology provides you with a range of skills that employers look for, including communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and analytical skills. You learn to:

• appreciate the complexity and diversity of social situations
• develop a cross-cultural understanding of the world
• apply sociological theory to society's organisations, including schools, hospitals and offices
• research, judge and evaluate complex information
• make reasoned arguments
• apply different research methods, analysis and statistical techniques
• develop opinions and new ideas on societal issues
• work collaboratively as part of a team on projects
• think creatively and independently in order to understand, scrutinise and re-assess common perceptions of the social world
• relate sociological knowledge to social, public and civic policy
• organise your work and meeting deadlines.

Further study

You may consider going on to further study at Masters level in order to specialise in an area of sociology that interests you, such as social policy, political sociology or social research. It's then possible to go on to study for a PhD, which opens opportunities to work in research.

Alternatively, there are many courses available which can take you into different areas of work, such as:

• community education
• counselling
• information management
• social work

To become a social worker, for example, an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in social work is essential.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in sociology .

What do sociology graduates do?

Welfare and housing associate professionals (10%), protective service occupations (7%), sales, marketing and related associate professionals (5%), care workers (5%), HR (5%), teaching professionals (4%) and admin roles (7%) are all among the top ten jobs held by sociology graduates.

For a detailed breakdown of what sociology graduates are doing after graduation, see What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

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• What Can You Do With A PhD In Sociology?
• After a PhD

Introduction

This article will answer “what can you do with a PhD in Sociology?”. First, let’s start with the basics: Sociology is a social science which aims to understand the behaviour of society. This is a very broad definition but captures the essence of the subject. Sociology studies range from the structure of different groups and organisations within society to divisions from religion, class, race, age and gender.

A PhD degree in sociology provides insight into social concepts and requires a strong understanding of research methods, statistics, data collection and analysis. Research shows that most Social science graduates move into academia, though other (non-academic) career options exist.

Data on leavers

The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Longitudinal Survey, carried out by HSEA, captures information about the activities and perspectives of graduates three and a half years after they completed their studies. Based on over 11,000 responses from 2012/13 Social study leavers, approximately 83% of UK domiciled leavers who achieved a qualification through postgraduate research were in work, with another approx. 7.5% in further study.

Destinations of 2012/13 UK and other EU domiciled leavers with postgraduate research in Social studies.

More information on this data can be found here . The same survey also includes information on those in employment. The table below presents the employment destination (categorised by jobs) of UK domiciled Social study leavers (2012/13) who obtained postgraduate qualifications.

UK domiciled leavers (Postgraduate Social studies 2012/13) in employment (inc. work and further study) by Standard Industrial Classification of employer

More information on this data can be found here .

We can see the largest four destinations are: 1) Human health and social work activities, 2) Public administration and defence; compulsory social security, 3) Education and 4) Professional, scientific and technical activities. We can also see that some social study graduates take up jobs/roles in financial and insurance activities, retail trade and manufacturing.

Of course, a postgraduate degree is much more specialised than an undergraduate degree, and so your PhD programme can be tailored to particular career options if you already have long-term aspirations for your career. For example, a PhD in Sociology with a focus on international relations lends itself to a career in international politics.

Studying sociology equips you with the skills for a career not only in the academic field but also in a wide range of fields including business, health & social care, marketing, public relations, education and politics. Examples of typical first roles post-graduation for sociology doctorates includes lecturers, researchers, positions in government, youth workers and public health services.

The analytical nature of sociology studies lends itself to a career in business. Business is a very broad term – think statistics, public relations, human resources etc. The ability to emphasise and understand human behaviour is important in the last two examples, and business often looks to sociology students at university for these attributes. Due to the competitive nature of business jobs, PhD students should look to undertake work experience which would support their academic work before applying.

Marketing is the art of understanding social behaviour and human thinking to best develop campaigns to target these attributes. A PhD degree in sociology provides a strong foundation of knowledge in gender, race, age and human behaviour etc. which enables you to use your research skills to more accurately forecast the effectiveness of marketing campaigns to target demographics. This understanding, combined with the analytical skills gained from a PhD makes a career in marketing a suitable destination for sociology graduates.

Social & social care

Social researchers are able to transition into social care roles such as community development officers, welfare officers, counsellors as well as careers in the public health service, the criminal justice service and in rehabilitation. These roles let you make the most of the ‘human’ side of your research programme and allow you to interact with members of the public (from varying backgrounds) in a more intimate nature. If you are a student who particularly enjoyed the health oriented aspects of your PhD study, this could be the right career path for you.

A Sociology PhD degree can prepare you in a career in education at any level. As a research student you are likely to have knowledge of child behaviour and the learning process in children which can be used (alongside a professional teaching qualification) to land you a teaching role in primary and secondary education.

In terms of higher education, a research degree typically forms part of the entry requirements for a teaching role in universities. Generally, university lecturers have much more freedom in the contents and coursework of their course than lower education teachers, which allows you to focus on your chosen speciality and tailor research training to your research interest. Universities often offer their doctorates part time teaching positions as a way of assisting in the transition from student to teacher.

It is important to note that an educational role in higher education is not just limited to lecturing at a university, but also includes supervising research projects, tutoring students and running research programmes.

Similar to marketing, a successful politician needs to have a strong understanding of social culture and be in tune with the values of different demographics. A career in politics can range from being an activist to engaging with charities, regardless of the level of involvement – a PhD in sociology gives you the perspective of different cultures and can allow you to use this insight to contribute to society. Whether your postgraduate research area is directly related to politics or not, looking for work experience is advised as it often forms part of entry requirements for political roles.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Skills for your CV

It is important to remember that whilst most Sociology doctorates pursue a career in academia, holding a PhD in the subject gives you a number of skills and attributes which make you desirable to a wide range of employers. You must be able to recognise these skills when preparing your CV and job applications.

Examples of skills you will learn as a sociology PhD student during your postgraduate study include:

• An understanding of the social concepts and current issues faced in society,
• The ability to emphasise and use information to make strong arguments,
• An understanding and application of statistical methods and analytical techniques,
• Appreciate the diversity and range of cultures in the world,
• Use the above knowledge to become more influential in society and relate your knowledge to public policy.

In addition to the above having a PhD also equips you with several transferable skills . These are skills which a vital in the professional working environment and can be used in any sector. Examples of transferable skills postgraduate research students possess include communication, team working, work ethic, time management, problem-solving and the ability to carry out independent research.

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Sociology PhDs on the Job Market

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Ph.D. date: May 2024 (expected)

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Sociology and Social Research

Career prospects.

There is a need felt in society for well-trained researchers with extensive knowledge of social science theories and methodologies.

Job Prospects are excellent

This Master’s programme connects with current major social issues and prepares you for a career in research, whether in academia (PhD training), at research institutes, or governmental organisations. You will also be prepared for a non-scientific career path. Highly qualified researchers are in great demand, therefore career prospects are very good.

Academic career

As a graduate of this programme, you will be a highly trained researcher and well-qualified to work as a scientific researcher in the social sciences.

Graduates are working in positions such as:

• Typically, around 50% of our graduates continue on to a PhD. Our graduates have obtained PhD positions at institutes such as the  Interuniversity Centre for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), Cornell University , Ithaka, US; University of Mannheim , Germany; University of St. Andrews , Scotland.
• Researcher a research institute, e.g.  Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI); Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL); Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) and Statistics Netherlands (CBS) or research institutes in the private sector.

What does your job involve?

PhD student: You will conduct research at a university in the Netherlands or abroad, writing scientific publications and working as a lecturer for Bachelor’s and Master’s students.

Researcher at a research institute: You will perform research in various areas of society and contribute to reports that monitor or support government policies.

Professional careers

Students who complete the MSc can capitalise on their:

• research experience;
• analytical, research, and reporting skills; and
• successful completion of a demanding programme.
• Policy officer
• Demographic researcher
• Researcher in market research

A lot of companies and governmental organisations offer jobs that require strong research competence. Examples are the Ministries in The Hague  and market organisations.

Advisor/policy officer: You will advise companies on organisational issues, such as change management, policy implementations, and structural changes.

Demographic researcher: You will support the government in identifying and evaluating policies. You will perform demographic research and analyse demographic data.

Researcher at market research:  You will determine which business strategies work well and which don’t through the analysis of market data. You will be responsible for the design, implementation, and analysis of research.

The programme is a great preparation for a career in research, either inside or outside the university. Anne van der Put, alumna

Career development

To help you prepare for your career and familiarise yourself with the labour market the programme, the faculty and Utrecht University offers several services and activities.

Within the programme

Through the educational programme, you will train to be an empirical social sciences researcher. After completion of the programme, you will:

• have profound knowledge and experience in sociological theory development;
• be capable of independently developing a research project using advanced methodology and analytical techniques; and
• be able to contribute to fundamental discussions and solutions to social problems based on theoretical and methodological knowledge.

Within the faculty

What's next.

Every year, the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences organises What's Next?! to prepare you for the world of further studies, internships and job-hunting. Over the course of two weeks, you can attend all kinds of free workshops intended to help you plan your future and acquire new skills which will come in handy after your studies. Keep an eye on the What's Next?! web page for more information about the upcoming edition of this event.

Within the university

Uu career services.

Career Services offers training related to career orientation and job application skills; examples include writing an job application letter and a resume or how to conduct a job interview.  You can find more information about career services on  Career Services for Dutch students or Career Services for international students .

UU CareersDay

Once a year Utrecht University organises the CareersDay , which brings students and companies together. The Careers Day offers you the opportunity to sign up for workshops and trainings, and to meet recruiters at the Career Fair. For example, you can attend a job application training or have your resume checked.

Utrecht University Heidelberglaan 8 3584 CS Utrecht The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0)30 253 35 50

Career outlook

What can i do with a degree in sociology.

Sociology is the study of society and social relationships and is an excellent major for anyone interested in social issues or the dynamics of social interaction. Training in sociology allows students to look beyond individuals and consider and analyze how social and historical forces shape human interactions.

Sociology is a very broad field; students can study topics such as race and ethnicity, health, gender, international development, the economy, politics, labor, sexuality and religion. Sociology is relevant for any career that involves social interactions.

Some majors plan to become professional sociologists. However, many also look for sociology-related jobs in fields such as criminal justice, health care, non-profit work, community organizing, social justice work, business or marketing, social services, education and government or politics. The major also provides an excellent foundation for those that are interested in entering professional or graduate school programs.

Transferable skills

A sociology degree offers skills in:

• Articulating and defending a position
• Conducting social analysis using quantitative or qualitative methods
• Critical thinking
• Evaluating ideas, theory, and evidence across diverse topical areas
• Identifying cultural and social considerations
• Planning and designing projects
• Recognizing social processes and patterns
• Understanding human relationships
• Understanding privilege, prejudice, and discrimination

Career insights by degree

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
• Master of Arts in Sociology
• Ph.D. in Sociology

Still want more information about what degree is right for you? Visit our career insights explorer tool to learn more.

Graduate study

A sociology degree also provides a solid foundation for graduate study in:

• Social work
• Education law
• Psychology / counseling
• Business/management
• Public policy/affairs

Notable people with a sociology major

• Wellington Webb (mayor of Denver)
• Brett Schundler (mayor of Jersey City)
• Annette Strauss (former mayor of Dallas)
• Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights activist, minister)
• Roy Wilkins (former head of NAACP)
• Reverend Jesse Jackson (civil rights activist)
• Reverend Ralph Abernathy (civil rights activist, pastor)
• Shirley Chisholm (former congresswoman from New York, first African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives)
• Maxine Waters (congresswoman from Los Angeles)
• Barbara Mikulski (U.S. senator from Maryland)
• Tim Holden (congressman from Pennsylvania)
• Emily Balch (1946 Nobel Peace Prize winner, social worker, social reformer)
• Francis Perkins (social reformer, former secretary of labor)
• Richard Barajas (chief justice, Texas Supreme Court)
• Christopher Connor (Sherwin Williams CEO)

• University of California, Irvine

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Program Requirements

Migration, Ethnicity, Race, Nation Workshop

The following program requirements apply to students who entered the Ph.D program in 2010-11 or later; students admitted prior to 2010 should consult the department or the  Bulletin from their year of admission  for requirements specific to their cohort. Please review the department's Doctoral Program Handbook for more details on each requirement.

Students must complete the following department requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Sociology:

• Proseminar:  Students must enroll in  SOC 305  Graduate Proseminar in Autumn Quarter of the first year. The course provides an introduction and orientation to the field of sociology, and to the department and faculty.
• Colloquium:  The Sociology Colloquium is a semi-monthly seminar held throughout the academic year, in which distinguished scholars lecture about their cutting-edge research. This course,  SOC 396 , is required for all first and second years.
• Minimum sociology units in years 1 and 2:  Students are required to complete 45 units of course work in Sociology in the first academic year, then 15 units of Sociology course work in the second academic year.
• Theory:  Students are required to take two courses in sociological theory. The first course is macro-sociological theory:  SOC 370A  Sociological Theory: Social Structure, Inequality, and Conflict, and the second course:  SOC 372  Theoretical Analysis and Design, should be taken during the first year of the program. 
• Methodology:  Students are required to complete a four course series in methodology. The required methods sequence, to be taken are: SOC 380 Qualitative Methods,  SOC 381  Sociological Methodology I: Introduction,  SOC 382  Sociological Methodology II: Multivariate Regression,  SOC 383  Sociological Methodology III.
• Survey Courses:  Students must complete four broad survey courses to demonstrate command of a range of sociological literature.
• Workshops:  Beginning in year two, doctoral students are required to enroll in at least one workshop each quarter. 
• Qualifying Exam #1:  The first comprehensive examination is designed to ensure that students enter their second year with a firm reading knowledge of two substantive subfields. Students write two essays in response to questions provided by the examining committee. Students choose one of two questions to write on for each subfield. Examinations are offered in a variety of subject areas, and are based on comprehensive readings lists that are available at the beginning of each academic year.
• Qualifying Exam #2 : In their second year of residence, students must pass qualifying exam #2, which is a research paper that is intended to provide students with a more focused engagement in a specialized subfield or research area, and tests the student’s ability to work and think independently. Second year students are required to enroll in  SOC 385A  Research Practicum 1 and  SOC 385B  Research Practicum II  (both workshops assist in developing the front end of the research paper). Students must submit a one-page proposal to the reading committee that includes a brief statement of the problem; a preliminary research design; a data source and proof of reasonable access to it; and a short reading list. Students should produce a paper that makes an original contribution to sociological knowledge and that is ultimately publishable. That generally means writing a paper that includes data analysis; a full and focused analytic discussion of relevant theory and research; and frame the findings as a contribution to the literature. Students may also produce a paper with a primarily theoretical contribution so long as the prospects for eventual publication are clear to the committee. This paper may not also be employed to meet the Third Year Paper requirement, even in revised form.
• Third Year Paper:  In preparation for a career of writing scholarly papers, each student must complete a research paper in the third year of residency. This third-year paper may be on any sociological topic, and may address theoretical, empirical, or methodological issues. The paper is expected to reflect original work and be of publishable quality. Students select a committee of at least two Sociology faculty members to serve as third year paper readers.  
• Conference Presentation:  Students are required to present at least two papers at a major professional meeting (e.g., ASA), department workshops, or a combination of the two in their first five years of graduate study. 
• Dissertation Prospectus and Prospectus Defense:  In order to demonstrate the ability to conduct independent scholarly work, each student must prepare and defend dissertation prospectus by the end of May during the fourth year in residence.
• Doctoral Dissertation and Defense:  Each student must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation. At the choice of the student (and in consultation with his/her adviser), the dissertation requirement may be met either by (1) submitting a book-length document, or (2) submitting three independent papers. The papers may address the same topic, but should be written as stand-alone, single-authored papers in standard journal format (i.e., AJS or ASR). None of these papers may overlap substantially with one another, and none of them may be co-authored. (The main criterion in judging substantial overlap is whether any standard journal, such as AJS, would regard the papers as too similar to publish both.) The dissertation must be submitted to all committee members at least 30 days in advance of the defense date. The dissertation defense serves as the  Oral Examination required by the University . Assessment of satisfactory completion is determined by the student's doctoral committee members. All students are invited to present their dissertation findings at an informal department colloquium.

Students must complete a minimum of  three quarters of teaching apprenticeship in departmental courses, or in other courses by approval. Students working as either a teaching assistant (TA) under the supervision of a faculty member or as a teaching fellow (TF) fulfills this requirement. Students are required to take  SOC 300, Workshop: The Art & Joy of Teaching , in the first year. In addition, students are encouraged to take advantage of department and University teacher training programs. Students for whom English is a second language are expected to acquire sufficient facility in English to be an effective teacher.  It is recommended that students complete their teaching requirements early in their graduate program; the requirement must be completed by the end of the fourth year of residency.

As partial preparation for becoming an accomplished researcher, each student must complete three quarters of research experience, working under the supervision of one or more faculty members, including regular, emeritus, and affiliated faculty. The experience may involve paid (or unpaid) work as a Research Assistant (RA). With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, research experience may be acquired by involvement in research projects outside the department. It is recommended that students complete their research requirements early in their graduate program; the requirement must be completed by the end of the fourth year of residency.

At any point during the degree program, evidence that a student is performing at a less than satisfactory level may be cause for a formal academic review of that student.