The sociology department’s graduate program is built around (1) qualitative and feminist methods; (2) inequality studies; and (3) aging, health, and social policy. Students receive advanced training in the basics of the discipline, including theory, quantitative and qualitative methods, and statistics. Students are mentored carefully and provided with many opportunities to teach, conduct research, present papers, publish, and pursue fellowships and grants.

The department’s strength lies in its teaching and use of qualitative methodologies such as ethnography, narratives, conversational analysis, life history, and in-depth interviews. Quantitative design and analysis of large-scale data sets are also well-mentored and integral to basic coursework. Theory courses incorporate classical foundations of sociology, as well as more contemporary theory, including feminist and post-modernist voices.

After doctoral students complete core courses, they pursue advanced study in theory and method, developing substantive areas of specialization. This portion of the program is highly individualized and includes some combination of disciplinary and interdisciplinary seminars, directed studies or apprenticeships, and participation in Maxwell School programs and research centers.

Although sociology offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, the program is structured primarily for students pursuing doctoral degrees. The M.A. requires 30 credits, including theory, methods, and statistics; two advanced seminars; and four graduate courses selected by the student. A master’s thesis option may be substituted for six graduate credits.

The Ph.D. requires 72 credits, including master’s degree work. Students may petition to transfer a maximum of 30 credits from other institutions. In addition, the student must pass a comprehensive examination and complete the advanced research methods requirement. The doctoral qualifying examination is usually taken during the third year of study. Students choose an exam committee, and the exam covers theory, methods, and a substantive area. The final stage of the Ph.D. is the successful development, execution, and defense of a dissertation.

The sociology department typically admits 8 to 10 new graduate students each year. This small class size allows students to develop close relationships with faculty members and extensive involvement in department activities. Graduate students serve on departmental committees. All graduate students are encouraged to work closely with faculty advisors to develop their own courses of study by taking advantage of other social science disciplines and centers within Maxwell.

Students are encouraged to develop and present their research at professional meetings and to publish in journals of the discipline. Joint publication with faculty members is also encouraged, as is participation in the Maxwell School’s multidisciplinary research centers.

In addition to scholarly and research activities, the sociology department stresses teacher training. It actively participates in the University’s Future Professoriate Project, which helps students develop their teaching skills in a heavily mentored and supportive environment. Most graduates obtain academic positions in teaching colleges and universities.

The department is located in Maxwell Hall at the heart of the Maxwell complex. Graduate student amenities include study bays, computer clusters, and numerous quiet study areas.  

The graduate admissions committee consists of departmental faculty members and graduate students. Financial assistance includes teaching assistantships and a small number of highly competitive University fellowships. Some research and program assistantships are available in the department or through Maxwell research centers.

Selected Student Research Topics

• Barriers to domestic violence services among indigenous women
• Aging and mental health
• Sex worker activism in the United States
• Hip-hop culture and perceptions of blackness
• Transnational feminist research on refugees' experiences with integration
• Technological processes and social interaction in web chat rooms
• Social organization of knowledge and antiracist feminist educators' work in academe
• Media activism and TV images of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people
• Social movements, militarization, and social change

Sociology contact:  

Andrew London, Graduate Director
Department of Sociology
302 Maxwell Hall
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY 13244-1090

Telephone: 315-443-2346
Fax: 315-443-4597