Period of Specialization

After admission to the period of specialization, the students consult with members of standing specializations committee to out a program of graduate seminars, directed reading courses, and research experiences appropriate to the student's two areas of specialization. The following are the primary areas of specialization offered by the Department:

1. Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies
2. Family and Social Psychology
3. Gender Studies
4. Organizations and Institutions
5. Political Economy and Global Social Change
6. Race and Class Inequality
7. Sociological Theory

A student's program must include at least one academic quarter of supervised research experience through enrollment in SOC 297 and/or through working as a Research Assistant. The equivalent of at least one academic quarter of experience in classroom teaching at the college level is also required.

EXAMINATION SEQUENCE

1. Students must successfully complete three courses with a minimum grade of "B" in each of their two specialization areas.
2. Written qualifying examinations are taken in two areas of specialization. These examinations are administered by standing committees. Both examinations should be completed before the end of the fourth year of graduate study.
3. The student must choose a dissertation committee approved by the graduate advisor. the student completes a dissertation proposal and successfully defends the prospects in an oral examination. During the student's fifth year in the program the oral examination, if conducted by a committee of at least five faculty members, one of whom is from another department and three of whom are from the student's dissertation committee.

Before advancement to candidacy is approved, students must successfully complete a minimum of eight courses; three in each of their two specialization areas and one each in two other specialization areas, with a minimum grade of "B" in all courses.

Students who pass the oral examination and all course requirements are advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D degree.