Dr. Jeffrey Kentor
Director of Graduate Studies
Sociology Graduate Program
380 S 1530 E Rm 301
Salt Lake City UT 84112-0250

Sociology Graduate Program of Study

GRADUATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

To download the requirements as a PDF document click here
To download the recommended time line as a PDF document click here

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

SOC 6010    Proseminar (1)
SOC 6901    Professional Development Forum (0-3, every semester)
PHL 7570     Research Ethics (2)
UGS 6000    Teacher Training (3)
SOC 6050    Classical Sociological Theory (3)
SOC 7050    Contemporary Sociological Theory (3)
SOC 6110    Methods of Social Research (3)
SOC 6115    Sociological Analysis (3)
SOC 6120    Statistics I (3) Note: FCS 6110 is currently an alternative SOC 7130    Statistics II (3)
Advanced Statistical Methods (3)
Elective Seminars (9)

SOC 7961     Independent Reading : Comparative International Sociology (3 ,3 )
              - or -
SOC 7962     Independent Reading : Sociology of Population & Health (3 ,3 )

SOC 7963     Independent Reading :   Qualifying Exam Area #2 (3, 3)
SOC 6977     Master's Project Research (6)
SOC 7964     Pre-Dissertation Research (6)
SOC 7977     Dissertation Research (14)

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS

Students must pass all of the required master-level courses with a grade of B or better. This core curriculum consists of:   PHL 7570 Research Ethics, UGS 6000 Teacher Training, SOC 6050 Classical Sociological Theory, SOC 7050 Contemporary Sociological Theory, SOC 6110 Methods of Social Research, SOC 6115 Sociological Analysis, SOC 6120 Statistics I, SOC 7130 Statistics II.

If a grade of B- or lower is received in any core class, the student is automatically terminated from the program unless a petition is filed within 40 working days from the posting of grades. The petition will be evaluated by the graduate committee and core course faculty. A decision will be made and notification given to the student within 15 working days after the receipt of the petition.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

A Supervisory Committee will provide guidance and advice to students regarding their coursework and master's project.   This committee will also evaluate the student's progress annually.

Each student is responsible for forming a supervisory committee before the end of the second semester.   Students unable to form a committee before the end of their first year must obtain a formal extension from the Graduate Committee.

A Supervisory Committee is comprised of 3 faculty members, with one designated as the chair.   The chair and at least one other committee member must be regular faculty in the Department of Sociology.   The Graduate Committee will formally approve each student's Supervisory Committee.  

MASTER'S PROJECT

Second-year students will complete a major research project that is approved and evaluated by their Supervisory Committee (pass/fail).  

To complete a master's project, students must first pose a problem or question that can be empirically assessed.   They will then locate their research topic within a body of already-published literature, use data to explore the topic or question, and then discuss the significance of their findings.   The project does require an empirical investigation of data, but it does not require primary data collection.   Students are expected to follow all protocol established by the Institutional Review Board if their research involves human subjects.

This requirement consists of a written paper and an oral defense of the Master's Project:

PAPER :   The end-goal of the requirement is to create a "publishable-type of paper."   A typical Master's Paper will be 30-60 pages and follow the standard format of published journal articles (e.g., abstract, intro, methods, results, discussion, references ) .   A Master's Paper may have a longer literature review than is typically found in a published journal article.

ORAL DEFENSE :   Each student will present their research findings during a formal public hearing.   After the student gives a formal presentation, s/he will respond to questions asked by the audience.   The Supervisory Committee will often excuse the public audience and conduct further questioning of the student.   The date of the oral defense will be set by the Supervisory Committee, and must be announced at least two weeks ahead of time.  

QUALIFYING EXAMS

After finishing the required coursework, students must pass two qualifying exams in which they demonstrate both a breadth and depth of sociological knowledge.

EXAM #1:   This exam will test students' mastery in one of two areas of specialization:  

1) Comparative International Sociology (CIS)

2) Sociology of Population and Health (PH)

A faculty committee will provide a list of the seminal articles and books for each topic area.   A two-semester independent reading course (SOC 7961 for CIS and 7962 for PH) will provide an opportunity for students to prepare for the exam in their chosen field.

Exam #2 :   Students may choose to take an exam in the area they did not take for Exam #1 ( Comparative International Sociology o r Sociology of Population and Health ) - OR - Students may choose another specialized field of sociology.  

Students choosing the latter option should select a topic that is directly related to the dissertation research.   Therefore, the student must select a dissertation topic and form a Dissertation Committee before completing the self-designed Exam #2 option.   The student, along with his or her Dissertation Committee, will develop an appropriate reading list for the chosen field of specialization.   All reading lists for the self-designed option must be approved by the Dissertation Committee.   Students should enroll in an independent reading course, SOC 7963, while preparing for the exam.

Timing :   Exam #1 will be given each spring, at the end of the winter semester.   Students should complete Qualifying Exam #1 by the end of their third year, immediately following the Independent Reading Course (SOC 7961 or SOC 7962). Students should complete Qualifying Exam #2 by the end of their fourth year.   Students choosing to complete the exams at other times must formally petition and obtain approval from the Graduate Committee.

Format :   Both exams will be administered in a take-home format.   Students will have 72 hours to complete 3-4 questions.   Each answer should be approximately 7-10 typed double-spaced pages.   Each answer will synthesize multiple literatures rather than summarizing individual articles.  

Grading :   A faculty committee will evaluate the written test and award it a score of pass, conditional pass, or fail.   Students receiving a "fail" are given one additional opportunity to retake the exam.   Students receiving a "conditional pass" will participate in a 2-hour oral examination, in which a designated committee of faculty will ask students to clarify and expand on the answers provided in the written exam.   During the oral defense of the dissertation proposal (usually occurring at the end of Year 4), student should also be prepared to orally discuss the reading lists from either Exam #1 or Exam #2.  

DISSERTATION PROJECT

A dissertation is the final requirement of a Doctoral Degree (PhD).    A dissertation is an original piece of research that provides evidence of a student's ability to conduct an independent investigation.   A dissertation should make a unique contribution to the field of knowledge in sociology.

DISSERTATION COMMITTEE :   A student must select a group of five faculty members who will oversee and evaluate the dissertation project.   The chair of the committee (AKA, the major professor) must be a core Sociology faculty member, and at least one of the members must be from outside the Sociology Department.   The committee should be formed no later than the end of the student's fourth year.

PROPOSAL :    Students are required to discuss their proposed research during a proposal hearing that is approximately two hours in length.   The student must submit a written proposal to each committee member two weeks prior to the colloquium.   The proposal should contain a clear statement of the research question, a review of the relevant literature, and a description of the methodology and the data that will be used in the proposed project.   Projects that involve human subjects must obtain approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB).   Once the student receives approval from his/her committee and the IRB, he/she may commence the dissertation research.   The proposal should be approved no later than the end of a student's fourth year of study.

DISSERTATION :    The style and format of the dissertation should adhere to the guidelines set out in the Handbook of Theses and Dissertations available from the Graduate School . This Handbook also outlines the steps students must follow to formally submit and bind their dissertations.           

ORAL DEFENSE :   The students must pass a final oral examination of their dissertation project.   This is a public examination scheduled by one's Dissertation Committee.   The student should prepare a brief but formal presentation of the project, as well as be prepared to answer any questions regarding their research methods and findings.   A public announcement of the time and location must be made two weeks prior to the defense.   The full copy of the dissertation must also be put on file in the department two week prior to the oral defense, so all faculty and students have time to review the work.

Students are expected to complete the doctoral program within five years. Students who are allowed to continue after the normal five years must complete the degree within seven consecutive calendar years. Upon written recommendation from one's dissertation committee and the Director of Graduate Studies, the Dean of the Graduate School may modify this requirement in extraordinary cases.

According to the University of Utah Graduate School guidelines, all work for a master's degree must be completed within four consecutive calendar years. On recommendation of the student's supervisory committee, the dean of The Graduate School can modify or waive this requirement in meritorious cases.

In addition to the departmental requirements outlined above, students are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of academic and professional degrees, as described in the University of Utah Graduate School Handbook .

November 10, 2005