The University of Oklahoma Department of Sociology proudly offers a PhD Degree. This is a highly competitive program that provides rigorous theoretical training and a state-of-the-field foundation in social scientific research methods. Students who complete this degree are expected to produce cutting-edge, high impact sociological/criminological research. Those who complete this degree will also be well positioned to serve as faculty at research universities, excel as instructors at teaching focused institutions, and will also be competitive to pursue non-academic research jobs anywhere in the world.
Graduate Applications Due December 15th
The PhD degree in Sociology is the pinnacle research degree offered in our discipline. Our program prepares students to conduct the highest levels of sociological and criminological research along with developing and implementing a wide variety of courses in the classroom. Students who have completed our PhD have gone on to fill tenure-track positions in sociology/criminology departments such as:
Those who have emphasized their teaching have gone on to be professors at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, Texas Tech University, Northern Arizona University, and many other universities and colleges in Oklahoma and beyond. We have also placed graduates in postdoctorial positions at the University of Indiana, Bloomington and Purdue University. Many of our graduates also go on to work as researchers in a wide variety of public and private agencies including Department of the US Census, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Complete 90 hours of graduate course work
Beyond the required coursework, 6 or more hours must be housed in the Department of Sociology at the 5000-level or above. The remaining 15 hours of electives may be additional courses in department, Directed Readings (SOC 5960) or courses housed outside the department.
Our PhD program also emphasizes the importance of teaching. All of our PhD students receive hands-on training and experience in teaching. Our training program includes an orientation workshop for new teaching assistants, a teaching seminar for PhD students, and an opportunity for PhD students to design and teach their own courses. The university also offers extensive resources including the Graduate Teaching Academy through the University of Oklahoma Center for Teaching Excellence.
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Social Statistics (5283) | Advanced Regression Analysis (5483) |
| Sociological Theory (5933) | Advanced Methods of Social Research (5293) |
| Professionalization Seminar (5821) | Issues in Sociological Theory (6903) |
| Graduate Elective Course | Teaching Seminar (5831) |
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|
| Cat, Panel, and Advanced Soc Stats (5683) | Graduate Elective Course |
| Graduate Elective Course | Graduate Elective Course |
| Graduate Elective Course | Graduate Elective Course |
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|
| Complete General Exams | Defend Dissertation Proposal |
| Form Dissertation Committee | Complete Any Remaining Coursework |
| Complete Any Remaining Coursework |
We strive to provide up to 5-years of funding to most of our PhD students through graduate assistantship positions. This includes a monthly stipend (for 9 months), a tutition wavier, and student health insurance. We also offer competative opportunities for summer funding through our Grasmick/Riddle Summer Research Fellowships. To assist with travel to national and international conferences, the department and university also provide travel grants to graduate students who are presenting their own research.
If you are interested in applying to our graduate program, please download our application packet.
If you have any additional questions about the program or the application process, contact Dr. Cyrus Schleifer, the graduate director, at cyrus.schleifer@ou.edu or (405) 325-3647.
The department requires and up-to-date GRE general exam score for all applicants for either our PhD or MA degree. The requirement cannot be waived by the department.
Additionally, the department is unable to waive the application fee for any graduate applicant apllying for admission to OU.
