Sociology, PhD
The Department of Sociology offers graduate education that prepares students for diverse careers through a structured combination of rigorous training in methods and theory along with professional development. Our curriculum emphasizes transferable skills crucial for academic and non-academic domains: advanced data analysis, qualitative and quantitative research, grant writing, and the ability to communicate complex research findings to multiple audiences. These "evergreen" or "problem-portable" skills ready graduates for an ever-changing professional landscape, ensuring they are well-positioned to thrive in a job market where the demand for PhDs is increasing across multiple sectors.
Students receive strong disciplinary methodological and theoretical training while also having ample opportunities to pursue cross-disciplinary engagements through coursework and independent research. For example, our graduate students can complete formal cross-disciplinary concentrations in specialized areas of study such as, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Africana Studies, Latin American Studies, Environmental Studies, Urbanism and Built Environment, Health and Medicine, and Politics and Movements. Students can also earn a graduate Certificate in Publicly Engaged Scholarship.
Career Paths for our graduates include:
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Policy research in non-profits or government agencies
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Market research and data analysis in the private sector
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Social and environmental justice advocacy in non-governmental organizations
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Consulting with social and political movements
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Analysis and writing in specialized media
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Academic research and teaching
The Ph.D. program at Tulane is highly competitive; all admitted students receive a stipend and a tuition waiver for a period of five years.
We strongly recommend that prospective students review the profiles of current faculty for areas of common interest and contact those faculty members whom they are interested in working with before applying.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE DEGREES
The School of Liberal Arts governs graduate studies in the Department of Sociology: https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/academics/graduate-studies/resources
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PHD IN SOCIOLOGY
- Completion of coursework amounting to a minimum of 49 credit hours
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Passing two qualifying exams, the first in an established sociological domain, the second in a cross-disciplinary body of scholarship that serves as the foundation for the dissertation.
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Submission and approval of a master’s thesis.
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Submission, defense, and approval of a doctoral dissertation.
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Completion of professional preparation and training, which, in addition to coursework, consists of:
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Six semesters of research/teaching assistantships, of which one semester is dedicated to serving as instructor of record.
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Three appointments with a graduate career specialist at Tulane’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
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Attend colloquia, workshops, and other events in the Sociology department and other relevant units on campus, and participate in meetings with visiting faculty.
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GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN PUBLICLY ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP
The Sociology PhD Program offers an optional Graduate Certificate in Publicly Engaged Scholarship (PES) in partnership with the School of Liberal Arts and the Center for Public Service.
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CONCENTRATIONS
Students can (but are not required to) pursue a concentration in the following subspecialties:
- Gender & Sexuality Studies (in collaboration with Gender & Sexuality Studies)
- Africana Studies (with the Department of Africana Studies)
- Latin American Studies (with the Stone Center for Latin American Studies)
- Environmental Studies (with Environmental Studies)
- Urban Studies and Built Environment (with the School of Architecture and the Built Environment)
- Health and Medicine (with the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine)
- Politics and Movements (with the Department of Political Science)
Concentrations can help Sociology PhDs in four principal ways:
- Provide a broad cross-disciplinary understanding of a topical area that will be central to their qualifying exams, master’s thesis, and/or dissertation project.
- Form close relationships with non-Sociology faculty who can later serve on dissertation committees.
- Make focused progress toward degree completion by taking courses in related fields.
- Add a specialization to their professional toolkit that can help with career advancement.
Concentration requirements:
- Coursework:
- Foundational/Introductory Course in the related concentration-specific program/department/school.
- Two non-SOCI electives in the related concentration-specific program/department/school.
- One qualifying exam in their area of concentration.
- One dissertation committee member from the concentration-specific program/department/school.
Requirements
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Coursework | ||
| Theory (2-course sequence) | 6 | |
| Sociology PhD Theory I | ||
| Sociology Theory II | ||
| Research Methods (5-course sequence) | 15 | |
| Research Design | ||
| Data Science I | ||
| Data Science II | ||
| Qualitative Methods | ||
One additional Methods course | ||
| Professionalization (4-course sequence) | 12 | |
| Proseminar | ||
| Sociology Teaching Seminar | ||
| Research and Grant Writing | ||
| Public-facing Scholarship | ||
| Electives (5 courses) | 15 | |
3 SOCI courses at the 6000 level or above | ||
2 non-SOCI courses at 6000 or above | ||
| Two Qualifying Exams | ||
Passing two qualifying exams, the first in an established sociological domain, the second in a cross-disciplinary body of scholarship that serves as the foundation for the dissertation | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
Submission and approval | ||
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
Submission, defense, and approval | ||
| Professional Preparation and Training | ||
Six semesters of research/teaching assistantships, of which one semester is dedicated to serving as instructor of record | ||
Three appointments with a graduate career specialist at Tulane's Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies | ||
Attend colloquia, workshops, and other events in the Sociology department and other relevant units on campus, and participate in meetings with visiting faculty | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Program String and Field of Study: LAPHD_GR, SOCI
For more information, contact the School of Liberal Arts