Jan 16, 2026  
Graduate Record 2012-2013 
    
Graduate Record 2012-2013 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Sociology


Degree Requirements


Doctor of Philosophy


Students are admitted into a Ph.D. program only, although they may earn a Master of Arts degree as they work toward the doctorate by fulfilling the Graduate School’s requirements for that degree.   Students who have completed coursework in Sociology in another graduate program may petition the Director of Graduate Studies for transfer of up to 24 credit hours toward the Department’s coursework requirement for the Ph.D. degree.
 
Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology are required to complete 15 graded courses and 5 semesters of the non-graded Seminar on Sociological Issues.  Required courses included the second-year Graduate Research Workshop, which culminates in the preparation of a Qualifying Research Paper.  In addition, students must pass two written comprehensive examinations and complete a dissertation based on independent research.
A more detailed statement of the requirements for the Ph.D. is available on the Department’s website: www.virginia.edu/sociology.

Course Descriptions