PhD in Sociology in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The Sociology Graduate Field accepts approximately 6-7 PhD candidates annually, maintaining a total enrollment of around 40 graduate students. These students receive guidance from over 30 distinguished Sociology Graduate Field Faculty members from various Cornell departments, with many holding primary appointments in the Sociology Department. Candidates may seek mentorship from any faculty member within this group. Prospective students should examine faculty research specialties and contact relevant professors, though admission isn't tied to specific faculty or labs.

First-year sociology PhD students begin with general registration, completing core theory and methodology courses. They then select two specialization areas from the options below, which may include one major and one minor focus. Following first-year coursework, students complete two concentration exams and produce a Qualifying Paper - an original research article suitable for journal submission. Successful completion leads to Doctoral Candidacy, typically achieved by the third year's start. The subsequent stages involve developing a dissertation proposal, conducting dissertation research, and defending the completed dissertation.