About the Program
The Department of Sociology’s MS and PhD in Sociology prepares students to become researchers, scholars, and teachers through a well-balanced curriculum comprising theory and methods that enable students to conduct sociological research at the forefront of the field. In addition to the program’s cutting edge methodological training and broad sociological teaching, the program offers instruction in seven specialization areas: Family; Health, Aging, and the Life Course; Law and Society; Social Inequality: Class, Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Sexuality; Social Movements and Political Sociology; Sociology of Religion; and Work and Organizations. The Sociology graduate program consists of two parts. The first two and a half years of the program focus on foundational work in social science research methods, classical theory, and areas of research specialization. This period of study culminates in the production of an Analytic Project (AP), an original piece of research, no later than the end of the Fall semester of the third year. Following the completion of this component of the program, students earn an MS degree. The remainder of the program focuses on developing deeper expertise in social science research methods and students’ chosen areas of specialization that lead to the completion of a dissertation. Students who enter the program having already completed a Master’s degree in Sociology may, with the permission of the Graduate Committee, bypass completing an AP and begin with the PhD component of the program. Program Website Program Requirements
90 Credits Required (30 credits from a Master’s may be applied.) Required Courses (6-17 credits)
If students enter the program with an MS, only two courses from Advanced Research Methods are required. If students enter the program without an MS, they should take all five Advanced Research Methods courses, along with the Seminar in Sociology. Advanced Research Methods Courses (6-15 credits)
If entering the program with an MS, students should choose two courses from the list below. Without an MS, students must take all five. Seminar Course (2 credits)
Only required if students enter the program without an MS. Areas of Specialization Electives (18-36 credits)
Students should select six 500/600-level electives, which consist of courses offered in the Sociology department’s areas of specialization (described below) and other topics designated as 500/600-level seminars. Students may petition the Graduate Committee to count a course outside of the department as fulfilling an elective by submitting a Course Approval Request Form. Only one SOC 590 may appear on the PhD plan of study. Coursework used to satisfy the requirements for the MS degree may not be used on the plan of study for the PhD. Students can choose to fulfill remaining 18 credit hours with additional 500/600-level courses or dissertation research credit. Family
Family sociologists explore the ways in which families are affected by the social structures and cultural contexts in which they are embedded, and in turn, how families affect individuals’ well-being. Faculty members in this specialization study a wide array of topics that span the adult life course, including the impact of relationship quality with family members on psychological well-being, physical health and health behaviors, the influence of marriage and fertility on women’s status, health, and well-being in sub-Saharan Africa, patterns and consequences of parental favoritism, caregiving to older family members, sibling relationships in adulthood, and the ways in which paid work has the potential to support or harm families. Training in this area emphasizes theoretical and methodological advances in the study of families, using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, and involves close collaboration with faculty mentors to create new scholarship. Health, Aging, and the Life Course
The Health, Aging, and the Life Course area focuses on the many ways in which social structures and social processes intertwine to shape human development and health over the life course. Faculty members in this specialization study a diverse set of topics that include childhood health, drug use, sexual behaviors, fertility, parent-adult child relations, family caregiving, health inequalities, and health in later years. Training in this area emphasizes theoretical developments from both micro and macro sociological perspectives, methodological advances that draw on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, and close collaboration with faculty on their research. Many faculty and students in this area are affiliated with Purdue’s Center on Aging and the Life Course which offers an interdisciplinary graduate minor in gerontology as well as a dual-title Ph.D. in Sociology and Gerontology. Law and Society
The study of law has been central to sociology since the beginning of the discipline, and for good reason. What a society decides to call a crime or presumes is deviant behavior, how it exacts punishment, and the nature of its courts and legal profession are important in their own right and also provide key windows into the broader society. For example, it is impossible to understand fully how business organizations operate nor the characteristics and health of a democracy (or any other political system), nor the nature and extent of social inequalities, including those of race, class and gender, nor how people think about fairness, justice, their broader culture or even themselves without some knowledge of law. With a critical mass of faculty specializing in the sociology of law and/or criminology and deviance, Purdue Sociology’s Law and Society program offers both breadth and depth. Emphasizing coursework, one-on-one mentoring, and research opportunities that prepare students to succeed in the job market, the program enables graduate students to develop their own research and teaching skills in the sociology of law and criminology. The program also emphasizes the links between these areas of specialization and other areas of study in the program, including inequality (race, class, and gender), politics and social movements, the family and life-course, work and organizations, religion, and social psychology. Faculty members have expertise in a large number of quantitative and qualitative methods, and some have formal legal training to complement their sociological expertise. Social Inequality: Class, Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Sexuality
The study of social inequality is arguably the most fundamental area of sociological investigation. This research area centers on broad categorical distinctions, such as class, gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality, and how they emerge, change, and structure opportunities, experiences, and identities. Scholars in the area are currently exploring a diverse array of topics, including crime, health, immigration, religion, and work, utilizing an equally diverse set of theoretical lenses and methodological tools. The Social Inequality area aims to provide students with a broad overview of the field, its development, and current debates. Social Movements and Political Sociology
The Department of Sociology at Purdue has a strong cluster of faculty doing research in the areas of social movements and political sociology. The program draws on a diverse set of methodologies, cases, and theoretical perspectives. Faculty and student work focuses on mobilization and political change in the U.S. and internationally. Faculty and students have received funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, published in the field’s top journals, and presented at conferences around the world. Sociology of Religion
The sociology of religion uses the tools and methods of social science to understand 1) the nature of religious belief and practice and its implications for individual and social behavior, 2) the ways in which religious ideas, subcultures, and organizations influence many other aspects of society (for example, gender, sexuality, demography, family, politics, social class, race, crime, law, etc.) and 3) the ways in which these other aspects of society act back on religion (e.g., the religious beliefs and practices of individuals, the rise and decline of different kinds of religious groups, and the changing position and influence of religion in different societies). Faculty draw on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches to study a diverse range of topics. A sampling of these topics currently includes religion in East Asia (the department houses the Center on Religion and Chinese Society and the Review of Religion and Chinese Society), immigrant religion, religious conversion as a way of illuminating the nature of human identity and the connections of human identity to cultural practice and social relationships, and the ways that the religious composition of geographic areas (the types of religions and non-religion found in different cities, counties, states, and countries) influences local subcultures. Work and Organizations
The work and organizations area explores how work is structured, how it changes, and how it is experienced in society. Work is a fundamental social domain in all societies; it is how humans transform their environments to meet their needs. However, the collective goals and needs, the organization of work, and the conditions and compensation of work are socially determined. In contemporary societies, work occurs in a variety of settings-but most commonly in formal organizations. Understanding work in contemporary societies often requires a critical analysis of the organizations in which work commonly occurs. Faculty in this area study a broad range of topics including: inequalities in wages and compensation; employment relations (nonstandard employment, work schedules); access to and behavior in leadership positions; hiring practices and employment discrimination; and organizational responses to legal mandates and environments. Faculty who study work and organizations often uncover phenomena that are relevant for other specialty areas, including family, gender, education, and social inequality. Students have many opportunities to work with faculty in this area and are expected to develop a broad understanding of the theory and research in this subfield. General Electives (0-18 credits)
Students can choose to fulfill remaining credit hours with additional 500/600-level courses or dissertation credit. Concentrations
Interdisciplinary concentrations: Additional Information
Comprehensive Examination: Students are required to complete a comprehensive examination in one area by the end of the spring semester of the fourth year of the program. The Director of Graduate Studies maintains a list of the areas our department currently covers with comprehensive exams. A student may petition the Graduate Committee to take a comprehensive exam in an area of the discipline not currently listed if the student is able to identify three faculty willing to serve as a committee for the exam. Initial reading lists for each area consist of 40 to 60 classic and contemporary sources that are central to the given area. In addition to the core list, students are expected to contribute up to 40 sources that reflect aspects of the area that are most relevant for their work. Dissertation Proposal and Preliminary Examination: Students are required to complete a preliminary examination, which consists of the defense of the dissertation proposal, no later than the end of the fifth year. The preliminary examination must be completed at least two semesters before the expected date of the dissertation defense. The dissertation proposal should follow a conventional format similar to proposals prepared for external funding agencies (e.g., the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation). The proposal should include (1) a clearly stated and motivated research question, (2) an assessment of relevant literature including both theoretical and empirical work, and (3) a data and methods section that provides a justification for the data and measures used in the study as well as the analytic approach. In addition, the proposal should articulate the intellectual merit and anticipated contributions of the research. Finally, the dissertation proposal should also include IRB approval or a ruling or indication of exempt status. The preliminary examination is an oral defense that includes the student, the Major Professor, and all other committee members. GPA Requirements
Students are expected (1) to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, (2) earn grades of a “B” or better in the MS-level statistics, research methods, and theory courses, and (3) earn grades of “B” or better or “S” in research hours (Soc 695 or Soc 699). Graduate Programs Disclaimer
- The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
- Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary.
- Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
- Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
- Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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