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Department of Sociology

College of Social and Behavioral Science

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Admission Requirements 

Prospective graduate students must apply for admission through the Graduate School at the University of Utah.  

Students are admitted only to work toward the MStat in sociology or the Ph.D. in sociology. We do not consider applicants seeking only a master’s degree in sociology. All applications to the Ph.D. program will be automatically considered for funding.

 

Application Deadlines

Ph.D.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program for academic year beginning Fall 2024 must submit all required application materials on or before December 15. Except in extraordinary circumstances, students may enter the PhD program only during Fall term. Applications submitted after December 20 will not be considered for funding.

MStat

Applicants to the MStat program are encouraged to submit their application materials by December 15, but may apply throughout the year since they are not eligible for funding and can petition to start the program in Spring or Summer terms. MStat applicants applying after December 20 will need to notify the Director of Graduate Studies via email that they have submitted an application.

The Graduate Committee in the Department of Sociology will review all application materials and make recommendations for admission to the department faculty. Upon final approval by the Sociology faculty and by the University of Utah Graduate School, the Director of Graduate Studies will notify applicants of their admission status before April 15.

 

Online Application

Applications must be submitted electronically through the FutureU  website. At this time we do not offer application fee waivers. Thank you for your understanding.

Start your APPLICATION 
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE ADMISSIONS Information

 

Minimum Requirements

The requirements listed below are minimum requirements only and do not guarantee admission to a graduate program at the University of Utah.

  1. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, based on all undergraduate work or work completed during the last two years (i.e., 60 credit hours) of undergraduate study
  2. A bachelor's degree from a fully accredited college or university
  3. Approval of the faculty in the Department of Sociology
  4. Approval of the Graduate School

International students must submit additional documentation, such as a TOEFL exam to assess English language proficiency.  International applicants should consult the University’s International Admissions Office.

 

Admissions Criteria

Admission to the graduate program in Sociology requires a strong undergraduate foundation in Sociology or a related field from a fully accredited college or university. Student’s qualifications, interests, and previous experiences are evaluated through three letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Applicants must also submit transcripts from previous universities or colleges. They are also encouraged to submit a writing sample.

  • Statement of Purpose:
    • A brief (three-page maximum) statement outlining your present sociological interests and goals, your academic and career interests and any additional information that might be helpful in evaluating your application.
  • Official Transcript(s)
    • Request one official transcript from each college and/or university (except the University of Utah) attended, regardless of length of attendance.
    • The transcript will be uploaded to the FutureU online system.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
    • Request letters from three endorsers.
    • Endorsers should be able to speak of your academic ability and promise as a graduate student.
    • If the applicant has a baccalaureate in sociology, at least one of the endorsers should be a faculty member from the applicant's sociology program.
    • Endorsers should not be relatives, personal friends, or religious leaders.
    • Each endorser should fill out a personal reference form via the FutureU system.
  • Writing Sample (optional)
    • Applicants are given the opportunity to submit an original piece of writing, typically a paper they wrote as an undergraduate student, to show their writing and critical thinking skills.

Admissions decisions are made based on the full packet of materials submitted. The faculty in the Department of Sociology tends to prioritize applications from candidates who have

  • a strong, well-rounded set of experiences that indicates their potential success in a graduate program, and
  • research interests that are closely aligned with one or more of the program areas in which we offer training (Population & Health, Development & Environment, Political & Cultural Sociology).

We also prioritize applicants we believe we can effectively mentor, given the skills and expertise of our existing faculty members.  

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to review the faculty profiles and are invited to contact current faculty members prior to preparing an application.

Last Updated: 11/13/24