The Ph.D. Program in Sociology

Course requirements for a Ph.D. in sociology include six designated courses, two in sociological theory, two in statistics, one in foundational research methods, and an introductory seminar in global sociology. Students are also required to take one course that provides additional methodological training and at least eight seminar/ survey courses. 

Upon written approval from the department’s Graduate Program Director, students may earn credit for two courses taken outside the department. 

Students may apply for an M.A. degree in sociology as a sign of progress toward the Ph.D. To receive the M.A. a student must complete:

• A total of at least 30 credit hours of graduate work including the theory, statistics, methods, and global sociology seminar requirements.

• A theoretical/ empirical track paper.

The Ph.D. in sociology requires the successful completion of two track papers written under faculty supervision. These should normally be completed by the end of the third academic year. Each paper should be more substantial than a seminar paper and less substantial than an M.A. thesis. One of these papers must be a theoretical/empirical paper and the second can be either a second theoretical/empirical paper, an analytical review of the literature, or an analytical review of the literature embedded in a grant proposal. In other words, one paper must be theoretical/empirical and the second may be chosen from among the three possible kinds of papers described below:

1. Theoretical/Empirical Paper: The majority of sociological articles use empirical data to answer theoretical questions. The empirical data explained or clarified by the theory or theories can take a number of forms. It can be the product of ethnographies, comparative and/or historical research, social surveys, small group or experimental laboratory research, content analyses, etc.  The project must receive IRB approval prior to data collection, if human subjects are involved.
2. Analytical review of the literature: This paper is to be an assessment of the state of the art in some substantive area of sociology. This paper can take various forms. One possibility is a review essay and examples of this form can be found in the Annual Review of Sociology . A second approach could be a review of a field that could serve as the substantive underpinning for a graduate seminar.
3.  Analytical review of the literature embedded in a grant proposal: This is to be a major grant proposal. It should normally include a review of the relevant literature, statements of the theoretical framework being used, the hypotheses to be tested, and methodology to be employed in the project. The proposal does not have to be submitted to a funding agency, but all the materials required by a particular agency or foundation must be completed and, in addition, the project must receive IRB approval, if human subjects are involved.

The requirements for the Ph.D. in sociology include a two-semester practicum in teaching. In their second year, students enroll in the teaching practicum to prepare them to teach their own course, under supervision, typically in a summer session following their second year. This practicum is organized in a workshop format to aid students in preparing for all aspects of teaching.

The department will recommend to the Graduate School that a student be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. when the student has passed the Field Examination, the dissertation proposal has been successfully defended, and when all other department requirements have been met. 

• Field Examination
  • This takes the form of an oral examination in the student’s specialties to be given only after all the above requirements have been met. It is designed to appraise the depth of knowledge in two broad areas from which the student has selected a dissertation topic.

• Dissertation Proposal Defense
  • The Dissertation Proposal should be written according to the guidelines for the NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards. Central to the proposal are the following sections: Cover Sheet, Project Summary, Table of Contents, Project Description, and References Cited. A committee of four to six faculty members will oversee the development of the proposal and evaluate it in a formal oral defense. Upon unanimous committee approval of the dissertation proposal, the student will advance to candidacy for the Ph.D.

This must be an independent piece of research and scholarship representing an original contribution, the results of which are worthy of publication. Upon oral defense and acceptance of the dissertation, the department will recommend to the dean of the Graduate School that the student be awarded the Ph.D. degree.

Official transcripts are required and must be sent to :
Stony Brook University
Office of Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions
Computer Science Building, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
Official E-Transcripts:  Should be send to gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu

All questions regarding admission materials should be directed to gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu

Applicants with domestic credentials must submit an official transcript from each undergraduate college or university attended, regardless of whether a degree was conferred.  Applicants must also submit an official transcript from each college or university relating to graduate level work, regardless of whether a degree was conferred.

Unofficial copies for both domestic and international credentials are acceptable for an admission decision to be made. If admitted, the applicant must submit final official transcripts/evaluations sent directly from the college/university or evaluation agency.

Applicants with international credentials must submit an official English translation of all coursework showing a complete course-by-course record, GPA, degree, and institution, in addition to the original documents. SBU graduate admissions personnel will evaluate coursework, GPA, degree requirements and institutional equivalence. In some instances where the coursework, degree equivalency, GPA, and/or institution cannot be verified, a course-by-course evaluation from one of Stony Brook University's approved NACES members listed below, may be requested from the applicant. Unofficial copies for both domestic and international credentials are acceptable for an admission decision to be made. If admitted, the applicant must submit final official transcripts/evaluations sent directly from the college/university or evaluation agency.

If your native or primary language is not English, English proficiency must be established based on the results of the TOEFL exam. A score of 90 is required for admission to the doctoral program and to be eligible for consideration for TA support. The TOEFL is not required for international students who have a degree from an English-speaking school.