Applications for admission are accepted from those who will have a completed baccalaureate or master’s degree upon starting the program. It is limited to students whose records clearly indicate both scholarly and research potential to do doctoral level work. For applicants who will have a completed master’s degree from another institution upon starting the program, the master’s degree/thesis and up to 12 credit hours of relevant coursework with a grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4-point scale) or better from accredited institutions may be accepted for transfer towards the doctoral degree, subject to approval by the Sociology Department and college dean. 

All applicants must submit official transcript(s) indicating at least a 3.2 overall undergraduate GPA (on a 4-point scale) from an accredited institution. For applicants with a master's degree, a GPA of 3.5 (on a 4-point scale) for all graduate work is required for admission to the doctoral program. In addition, all applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within the last five years (ideally above the 60th percentile in all three areas), three letters of recommendation from current/former professors who can adequately evaluate the applicant’s past work and potential, and a 1-2 page statement describing the applicant’s current academic interests, research interests, long-range career goals, and how admission to the Department of Sociology at Kent State University will facilitate the achievement of these goals.

Degree Requirements

Doctoral program aspirants who do not hold the M.A. upon starting the program must complete all the requirements for the (intermediate) master’s degree, which amount to 34 total credit hours, including 14 hours of required courses, 14 hours of electives, and 6 hours of Thesis I (62199) toward completing and successfully defending a master's thesis.

Requirements for the Ph.D. degree are 60 total additional credit hours. This includes 30 semester hours of required and elective coursework, passing the doctoral candidacy examination (involving an evaluation of theory, methodology, analysis, and other topics relevant to the student’s specialty areas), and 30 credits hours of Dissertation I (SOC 82199) toward completing and successfully defending a dissertation.

Funding Opportunities

Ph.D. Teaching Fellowship or Graduate Assistantship carries an award of $12,500 per academic year, a remission of tuition, and health benefits.

Kent State University and University of Akron Joint Ph.D. Program