Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology | Humanities and Social Sciences | SIU

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

A distinguishing featuer of our program is the supportive atmosphere we foster. Ours is a rigorous program with high expectations—where you are an individual whose unique interests and goals matter to us.

As a doctoral student, you'll have access to resources for quantitative and qualitative research. We are a memer of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)—a membership which gives you access to data sets on domestic and international issues related to the economy, education, family, gender, and health. This and other tools make it possible for you to approach almost any topic appropriate for sociological study. Our well-rounded faculty are prepared to mentor doctoral students into the professional academic world.

Degree Requirements

In this program you’ll work with the Director of Graduate Studies to initially formulate a plan of study and later you will work with your dissertation chair. You’ll gain a foundation of research tools, including statistics and qualitative data analysis. You’ll take at least four topical seminars in addition to the required research tool courses. See the catalog for all details, deadlines and other crucial information.

As part of your degree, you'll encounter two significant milestones. The first is the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam, designed to showcase your sociological insights and evaluated by two faculty members. This exam involves discussing a chosen article and providing 15 pages of commentary, emphasizing your summarization, discussion, critique, and ability to present alternative theoretical/methodological arguments. Typically taken within the first or second year, it sets the stage for your academic rigor.

The second milestone is the Substantive Comprehensive Review Paper, a test of your critical thinking and writing skills within a Sociology subfield relevant to your future dissertation. Approximately 40 pages in length, outcomes range from High Pass to Fail, potentially involving the same committee as your dissertation. Alongside these, you'll engage in coursework, annual faculty reviews, maintain a dossier, and begin forming your dissertation committee, culminating in the dissertation itself – the cornerstone of your doctoral journey, from prospectus to oral defense, with a bound copy archived in the program library

This graduate program can be accomplished by fulfilling the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.  a full  View all related graduate courses.