Graduate Program

Sociology |

We seek to understand the social world in order to change it. With its focus on the study of Race, Inequality and the Black Experience, the Graduate Program in Sociology is committed to preparing students for careers and lives in service to their communities and to struggles for a better world. We do this by providing them with the theoretical, methodological, and substantive training needed to critically analyze conditions of oppression, exploitation and injustice in order to overcome them.

The Graduate Program in Sociology at Howard University offers both a Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Sociology. The M.A. may serve as a terminal degree for students pursuing positions in social research and analysis in the public, non-profit, or private sector or as a first graduate degree for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. either at Howard or elsewhere. The Ph.D. prepares students for academic careers or for higher-level positions as social scientists in the public or private sector.

Application Deadline for Fall 2023 Admission: December 1, 2022

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Contacts

Dr. Carolette Norwood Nishikawa

Department Chair
202-806-6858
Email

Dr. Christopher Gunderson

Director of Graduate Studies
202-806-6858
Email

Philomena Wankenge
Administrative Coordinator
202-806-6858
Email

Program Details

Related Degrees: M.A., Ph.D.
Program Frequency: Full-Time
Format: In Person

Program Documents

Sociology Newsletter, 2021

Admission Requirements

The deadline for applications for admission to the Graduate Program in Sociology is December 1 for matriculation the following Fall semester. The Graduate Program in Sociology does not admit students in the Spring semester. The process of reviewing applications takes approximately two months from receipt of the application to decision. Students applying for admission to the Program are strongly encouraged to simultaneously apply for financial support as those decisions are made separately and earlier applications for such support are more likely to be successful.

To be admitted into the Graduate Program in Sociology, applicants must complete the Graduate School application, meet all the Graduate School requirements and be admitted by the Graduate School. Completed applications are reviewed by the department. Students must have a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) from an accredited institution, take the Graduate Record Examination (and the TOEFL if applicable), submit three (3) letters of recommendation from persons in position to evaluate their academic work, and forward a statement of their research interests, an autobiographical statement, and a writing sample.

In addition to the requirements listed above, international applicants MUST submit:

An evaluation by World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/) or by a current NACES member (https://www.naces.org/members) of official transcripts, final certificates and/or mark/grade sheets sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions (photocopies of transcripts in the applicant's possession are not acceptable);
An official translated copy of any documents not in English.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) from all applicants from countries in which English is not the official language. The TOEFL test is not required if you received a degree in the U.S..
Statement of Financial Resources Form – A completed form that verifies proof of financial support (sufficient funds to cover expenses for one full year in US dollars only) and supporting financial documentation indicating sources of funds while attending Howard University (such as a certified bank statement dated within three months of registration).

Degree Requirements

The Masters of Arts Program

Credit Hours and G.P.A
The M.A. in Sociology requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate course work in sociology beyond the B.A. degree exclusive of the thesis (which carries a minimum of 3 credit hours and a maximum of 6) with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 (B).

Academic Requirements
Core Course Requirements:
All students must complete 24 credit hours of required core courses as follows:

Six (6) credit hours in Sociological Theory I and II (SOCI 300 and 301).
Six (6) credit hours in Sociological Research (SOCI 310 and 311).
Three (3) credit hours in Advanced Statistics I (SOCI 219)
Six (6) credit hours in Race, Inequality and the Black Experience (Any two of SOCI 250, 302, and 303).

All students must also take at least six (6) graduate credit hours in electives in sociology.

All students must earn a grade of B or better in each course designated as a core requirement. A grade of C or below in any of the core requirements will be considered unsatisfactory and the course will have to be repeated. Only grades earned at Howard University are used for computing the G.P.A..

All requirements for the degree, including the successful Final Oral Defense of the M.A. thesis must be satisfied within the time requirements for the M.A. degree.

Students admitted into the program who have not completed undergraduate coursework in Social or Sociological Theory, Sociological Research Methods, or Statistics are required to complete departmental prerequisite course requirements (SOCI 200, 210 and/or 211) before they can matriculate.

Master’s Thesis
A student must research, write, and defend a Master’s Thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to integrate theoretical insights and methodological skills in the formulation and investigation of a sociological problem. The M.A. Thesis Committee consists of at least three members of graduate faculty, one of which serves as its Chair. The Chair and the Committee guide and review the student's thesis work from the proposal stage through the final oral examination.

For further information and details on the policies for the Masters Program, please consult the Sociology Graduate Program Student Handbook.

Ph.D. Program

Credit Hours and G.P.A
The Ph.D in Sociology requires a minimum of 72 credit hours of graduate course work in sociology beyond the B.A. degree exclusive of the thesis (which carries a minimum of 3 credit hours and a maximum of 6) with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 (B).

Academic Requirements
Core Course Requirements:
All students must complete 24 credit hours of required core courses as follows:

Six (6) credit hours in Sociological Theory I and II (SOCI 300 and 301).
Six (6) credit hours in Sociological Research (SOCI 310 and 311).
Six (6) credit hours in Advanced Statistics I and II (SOCI 219 and 319)
Six (6) credit hours in Race, Inequality and the Black Experience (Any two of SOCI 250, 302, and 303).

All students must also take at six (6) credit hours in Electives in Methodology and nine (9) credit hours in a Cognate Minor outside of Sociology.

All students must also take at least thirty-three (33) graduate credit hours in Elective courses.

All students must earn a grade of B or better in each course designated as a core requirement. A grade of C or below in any of the core requirements will be considered unsatisfactory and the course will have to be repeated. Only grades earned at Howard University are used for computing the G.P.A..

All requirements for the degree, including the successful Final Oral Defense of the Master’s Thesis must be satisfied within the time requirements of the Graduate School for the M.A. degree.

Students admitted into the program who have not completed undergraduate coursework in Sociological Theory, Sociological Research Methods, or Statistics are required to complete departmental prerequisite course requirements (SOCI 200, 210 and/or 211) before they can matriculate.

Master’s Thesis
A student must research, write, and defend a Master’s Thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to integrate theoretical insights and methodological skills in the formulation and investigation of a sociological problem. The M.A. Thesis Committee consists of at least three members of graduate faculty, one of which serves as its Chair. The Chair and the Committee guide and review the student's thesis work from the proposal stage through the final oral examination.

For further information and details on the policies for the Masters Program, please consult the Sociology Graduate Program Student Handbook.

Admission to Candidacy

Master of Arts Program

M.A. students must spend at least one year or two semesters in full-time residence, and must enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credits each of these semesters The residency requirement need not, however, be fulfilled in consecutive semesters in full-time study.

Ph.D. Program

At least four (4) semesters of full-time residence are required for the doctorate in sociology. To qualify for full-time residency, a student must enroll for at least nine (9) graduate course credits each semester.

Residence Requirements

Master of Arts Program

M.A. students must spend at least one year or two semesters in full-time residence, and must enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credits each of these semesters The residency requirement need not, however, be fulfilled in consecutive semesters in full-time study.

Ph.D. Program

At least four (4) semesters of full-time residence are required for the doctorate in sociology. To qualify for full-time residency, a student must enroll for at least nine (9) graduate course credits each semester.