Our department offers two graduate degree programs in Sociology: an MA and a PhD. Both degrees offer students rigorous training in theory, as well as research design, execution, analysis and dissemination, across a range of specialty areas. Students who will have earned a BA/BS degree by matriculation are typically admitted into the MA program and may apply to continue onto the PhD program at the end of the MA programb contingent on satisfactory performance. Students who will have earned an MA/MS in sociology or related fields by matriculation should apply directly to the PhD program. Students without an MA/MS may directly apply to the PhD program if their prior training and experience make them competitive with applicants who have already earned an MA/MS. 

The MA (and first 2 years of the PhD) is a 2-year program that requires 32 credit hours. Coursework in the MA is focused on exposure to key sociological theory, training students to ask sociologically relevant research questions, introducing them to common research methods in sociology, providing foundational statistical training, and teaching them the craft of research paper writing and publication. The MA is earned after completing required courses and producing an original research paper on a sociologically related topic, guided by faculty mentors.

The PhD continues this training with additional coursework in advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods, theory, and specialty area electives. The PhD is earned after completing these additional required courses, passing a comprehensive exam designed to demonstrate expertise in a subfield in sociology, and successfully completing a dissertation guided by faculty mentors.

While we will not be able to offer departmental funding to members of the Fall 2026 cohort, we will nominate strong students for university-level fellowships. Other units on campus may have graduate assistantships available (information on current openings may be found here). In years with available funding, students at both the MA and PhD level are eligible for financial assistance, with priority given to PhD students.

Although we will not be able to offer financial assistance this year, graduate students are eligible to apply for need-based awards through the University's Office of Student Financial Aid. Need-based forms of financial aid, such as Federal Work-Study and student loans (Stafford, SLS, Perkins, etc.), are available through state and federal financial aid programs and require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

One of the best ways to reduce your cost of attendance is through establishing residency in Maryland. Please review information on the Residency Classification Offices’ website to understand the procedures and deadlines for establishing Maryland residency.

Deadlines:

Find out more about admissions requirements and our program below. Questions about our program should be directed to gradsoc [at] umd.edu.