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Degrees & Majors

Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy

About

The Department of Sociology is a large, comprehensive department that prides itself on providing world-class, hands-on intellectual support and guidance to graduate students—not only across the fields and areas that constitute sociology, but across the discipline's full methodological spectrum.

Our Ph.D. students are trained to be adept researchers and often have opportunities to conduct research in collaboration with faculty members who are at the forefront of sociological research and teaching in virtually every subfield. There are several funded research projects and fellowships made available to graduate students that provide experience and financial support. Many Ph.D. students have presented their work at regional, national, and international conferences and have been published in some of the most prestigious sociology journals.

Classes are taught through both formal coursework and active participation in faculty research projects.

The department's graduate students are also formally prepared for careers in teaching. The majority work as teaching assistants for faculty members, preparing to teach their own IU undergraduate courses, usually during the third year of graduate work.

The Department of Sociology's Ph.D. program is highly structured and requires a substantial amount of coursework, typically taking three years to complete. Students receive extensive training in a range of areas and methods. The required methods sequence at IU emphasizes quantitative methods and is intended to provide the preparation necessary to be both a producer and a consumer of quantitative research as well as qualitative research.

See the degree website for more-detailed information.

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