UMass Boston

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific 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 an 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.
• Statement of purpose:
• Our doctoral program is designed to train researchers. The statement of purpose is your opportunity to explain to the graduate admissions committee why you believe the Department of Sociology and Criminology at UMass Boston is a strong fit for your research interests and career goals. If you reference faculty research interests in your statement, please note that only tenure-track faculty are eligible to serve on doctoral committees. Be sure to explain why you are pursuing a PhD in sociology and how this program aligns with your long-term professional objectives.
• An academic writing sample:
  • Please upload a writing sample of 10–30 pages. We accept many types of academic papers and written work. Because sociology values both data and analysis, a strong writing sample should demonstrate your ability to present data or supporting evidence, develop a clear argument, and engage in thoughtful analytical writing. It should also reflect your skills in organization, clarity, and scholarly communication. All submitted work must be your own original writing. Please do not use AI-generated content or plagiarized material in any part of your submission.

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

Deadlines: January 2 for fall

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 (29 Credits)

• SOCIOL 604 - Classical Sociological Theory 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 607 - Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 609L - Qualitative Methods and Field Research 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 610 - Teaching Sociology: Theory & Practice 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 650 - Introduction to Research Methods 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 651 - Quantitative Methods 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 652 - Advanced Quantitative Methods 3 Credit(s)
• SOCIOL 694 - Graduate Research Seminar 6 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)

Electives (30 Credits)

Complete at least 30 credits of additional graduate SOCIOL courses. Any SOCIOL course at the 600 level or above that is not being used to satisfy other requirements can be used to meet elective requirements.

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.

Upon completion of the PhD program, students will be able to:

• apply theoretical concepts to empirical issues;
• analyze data to address a research question;
• demonstrate scholarly expertise in a substantive area(s);
• design and execute a research project of their own;
• demonstrate scholarly independence.

Complete a minimum of 71 credits from twenty to twenty-four courses including 10 required courses, at least 30 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 en route to the PhD.

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: Seven years.

Graduate Program Director Evan Stewart
View Evan Stewart's bio

Graduate Program Manager Joy Solon
sociology.graduate@umb.edu