Ph.D. and M.S. Minor Requirements
NOTE: All students must meet the requirements of the Graduate College in addition to the requirements of
the Sociology Program. Please familiarize yourself with the following:
Description of the M.S./Ph.D. Program
A sociology graduate degree provides advanced training for work in specialized public and private human
service programs, undergraduate teaching, applied research, work in the private sector, or preparation for
continued education (for master’s students). Students seeking the sociology graduate degree receive a broad
background in sociology, encompassing the major research and theoretical concerns of the discipline.
Departmental requirements for the degrees emphasize general competence in sociology as well as special
expertise within an area of concentration. In addition to formal class work and conducting research, students
work toward intellectual independence while developing an integrated grasp of the field through a thesis or
dissertation. Both M.S. and Ph.D. students develop the capacity for original and creative research.
M.S. MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Theory (3 cr)
- 1 course in sociological theory:Soc 506 (3 cr) Classical Sociological Theory
ORSoc 607 (3 cr) Contemporary Sociological Theory
Methods (3 cr)
- Soc 511 (3 cr) Research Methodology for the Social Sciences
Electives (6 cr)
- 2 three-credit graduate-level courses in Sociology
Thesis and Other Requirements
- Sociology graduate faculty member on POS Committee
- Final oral exam must test for sociological content
TOTAL = 12 semester credits minimum
PH.D. MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Theory (3 cr)
- 1 course in sociological theory:Soc 506 (3 cr) Classical Sociological Theory
OR
Soc 607 (3 cr) Contemporary Sociological Theory
Methods (6 cr)
- Soc 511 (3 cr) Research Methodology for the Social Sciences
- 1 course in advanced methods:Soc 512 (3 cr) Applied Multivariate Statistics
OR
Soc 513 (3 cr) Qualitative Research Methods
Electives (6 cr)
- 2 three-credit graduate-level courses in Sociology
Dissertation and Other Requirements
- Sociology graduate faculty member on POS Committee
- Preliminary and Final oral exam must test for sociological content
TOTAL = 15 semester credits minimum
Sociology Graduate Program Policies for Minors
- Take one preliminary oral exam (Ph.D.) and one final exam (M.S. and Ph.D.) that incorporates
disciplinary questions from the minor. - A required course may be waived for students who have taken a similar course at the graduate level
at ISU or elsewhere (B or better). Decisions about waiving a required course will be made on a
case-by-case basis. Students must submit the syllabus for the course for review by the DOGE and
faculty in that research area. - Graduate-level courses from other institutions (B or better) may be applied toward electives with
permission of the POS committee and DOGE.
Graduate College Policy on Courses on Program of Study (POS) - With POS-committee approval, graduate students will be permitted to use undergraduate classes
from both within and outside of their majors toward the POS (B or better). - Up to 9 credits from 300- and 400-level courses at ISU (not undergraduate classes from other
institutions) may applied toward their POS, with a maximum of 3 credits at the 300 level (must
receive B or better). - If a 300-level class is used, it must be from outside of the student’s major (psych, econ, etc.).
- Expired courses (over 7 years old) must be approved by the Graduate College (see expired courses
petition form).
Sociology Graduate Student Evaluation
All graduate students in sociology will be reviewed yearly by the faculty. After the review, the student
will receive a letter as to whether his or her progress and performance in the program is satisfactory or
not. If not, the student will receive specific information from the faculty as to how to remediate the
issue(s). If a problem is not rectified in accordance with the faculty’s recommendation, the student may
be dismissed from the program.
Petitioning Procedures
Students may request a waiver of any of the procedures, rules, and regulations described in this
document and appeal decisions based on these procedures, rules, and regulations. Such requests are to
be submitted to the DOGE and Department Chair and should take the form of a written document that
presents the student’s rationale for requesting the waiver or appealing a decision, accompanied by an
evaluation of the request by the student’s advisor or major professor. The DOGE and Chair will examine
the issue, seek advice from departmental committees as necessary, and make the final decision. These
petitions will be approved only under highly extenuating circumstances.