About The Department | Program Degree Requirements| Application Procedures| Akron Area Info| F.A.Q.

• What is the application deadline?
  The deadline to submit application for consideration for funding is January 15.  The last day for application for admittance for fall semester is March 1.
  
  
• What supporting materials must be submitted?
  For your application to be considered we require your application, all official transcripts from the colleges and universities you’ve attended, a writing sample and statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and for international applicants, TOEFL scores.
  
  
• What exams do I have to take in order to be considered for admission?
  Applicants should take the GRE General Test. International students must also submit TOEFL/TSE scores.
  
  
• Will my application be rejected if my scores fall below a certain level?
  The Department does not require any minimum GRE score. Rarely, though, are students admitted who score less than 1000 on the Verbal and Quantitative portion combined.  We weigh the merits of each application on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the factors of the application. GRE scores alone do not guarantee admission, nor does any particular GRE score result in an automatic denial of admission. 
  
  
• What should I emphasize in my application?
  All applicants to the graduate program in Sociology submit GRE scores, transcripts from undergraduate and (if relevant) graduate institutions, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a sample of written work. The graduate admissions committee will carefully review everything that you submit. The committee looks for evidence that you have the academic preparation and skills to succeed in the program, and that the program can offer you the training that you desire. In keeping with the latter, the committee will evaluate how well your interests match with the interests of department faculty. Do not feel that you have to identify specific faculty with whom you would like to work (although you may do so, if you like). But do provide some idea about the areas of sociology in which you have interest so that we can evaluate our ability to train you in those areas.
  
  The graduate admissions committee evaluates applications in total. Thus, no one part of your application will make or break your case. For example, GRE scores are important, but the committee will discount low GRE scores for students who submit strong writing samples or whose letters of recommendation describe strengths in the areas in which students received low scores. One approach might be to identify any weak areas of your application and draw the committee’s attention to those parts of your application that either compensates for the weakness or that speak to the inadequacy of the indicator for evaluating your competency. For example, if your quantitative GRE scores are low, point out high grades that you have received in math or statistics courses, or discuss relevant quantitative research experience that you have had, as a way of arguing that the admissions committee should pay less attention to the low score. You can make such points in your statement of purpose.
  
  
• How and when are acceptance decisions made?  Can I delay entering the program if accepted?
  A committee reviews complete application files at then end of January and the beginning of March. The committee will make its initial admission and funding decisions by February 1st.  The committee considers applications holistically and competitively. Your cumulative undergraduate and/or graduate GPAs, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, your writing sample and personal statement all play key roles in the committee’s decision.  
  Admitted students can delay their entry into the program for 1 calendar year.
  
  
• When do you need to know whether or not I will attend?
  We must hear from you by April 15. If you have chosen another school before that date, we would appreciate it if you would let us know as soon as you make your final decision.
  
  
• Does the department have a Masters Degree program?
  Yes. Although the graduate program is designed for those who are planning to pursue their Ph.D. in sociology, we do award Masters degrees.
  
  
• Can I apply to enter your program in the spring?
  No. All applications must be for fall admission.
  
  
• What is the process for obtaining financial aid?  How competitive is it?
  To be considered for financial aid you must complete the “   “ form and submit with your application by January 15.  We provide financial support for virtually all of our full-time students.  All students receiving financial support also receive a fee remission to pay for their tuition. In addition to this, funded students receive a graduate stipend that covers most living expenses. For their assistantships, students assist a faculty member with an undergraduate class and/or provide assistance with faculty research projects.
  
  
• What kind of background is required?  Will my application be considered if sociology was not my major?
  Successful applicants come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. Undergraduate work in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and mathematics are all appropriate.  Some students enter the program directly from their undergraduate institutions, while others enter with a Masters degree or several years of work experience. Regardless of undergraduate academic background, an applicant's statement of purpose describing current goals, plans for a professional career, and reasons for selecting Sociology as the field of study is taken very seriously by our review committee.
  
  
• What kinds of jobs do people get with a PhD from this program?
  Most Ph.D.s from this graduate program fill teaching and research positions at universities and colleges, while some attain research positions in government or private organizations.  You can visit the “Where are they now?” Map in the Students section for more information. 
  
  
• What are some of the academic, social, and leadership opportunities available to graduate students in the department?
  Graduate students in the Department of Sociology are a diverse group of individuals seeking a range of employment opportunities.  While earning their degrees, students are encouraged to foster inclusive, supportive, and lasting support structures with their peers.  Also, students have abundant opportunities to participate in graduate student life both academically and socially, either as leaders or active members or both – within the department and or the greater university. The inclusive structure of the department is evidenced by the democratic appointment of graduate student representatives to faculty and graduate committees within the department which serve to carry out the business of teaching and scholarship.  Professional development is encouraged by emphasizing collaborative research between students and faculty and departmental funding support for students who participate in regional and or national conferences.  The department prides itself in the collegiality that exists between and among faculty and students alike.  Social functions, for example, such as our annual AKD banquet (hyper link here) are special occasions where the accomplishments of our students and faculty are celebrated at the end of every academic year. 

• Will the program accept transfer credits that I've completed in another graduate program?
  The Sociology Department will allow a maximum of 9 credit hours in specialty courses.  The credits must be relevant to the student's academic program as determined by the student's academic department and must fall within the ten-year time limit to complete degree requirements if beyond the master's degree.  All credits transferred must be at the "A" or "B" level in graduate courses.  The Graduate Committee will review the syllabus and reading list for comparable courses from other universities.  A student may also receive additional specialty credit (but not hours) beyond 9 hours may be allowed by the Graduate Committee with a review of the syllabus, readings, and a rationale.

Credits transferred may come from a prior degree.  No more than thirty credits may be transferred from a single master's degree.  Credits earned in prior or concurrent programs at The University of Akron shall be treated in the same manner as credits earned elsewhere.  A University of Akron student who seeks to enroll in courses elsewhere for transfer credit here must receive prior approval.

If you have any questions not answered by our FAQs section or would like more information about admission to the Department of Sociology at the University of Akron contact:

Director of Graduate Studies
Professor Rebecca Erickson
Department of Sociology
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-1905
Phone – (330) 972-5157
email – rericks@uakron.edu