PhD in Sociology in Houston United States | Rice University

You must provide an official, confidential transcript. An official transcript must be in a sealed envelope and sent directly to the Department of Sociology. Rice University requires all applicants to provide GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test scores. The scores must not be more than five years old, and an official copy must be sent to Rice University directly from the Educational Testing Service. Personal copies are not acceptable. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of any student whose native language is not English, regardless of whether or not you have attended another U.S. institution. Your score must not be more than two years old and an official copy must be sent to the Graduate School directly from ETS. Students must score at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or score at least 90 on the internet-based TOEFL. For students who choose to take the IELTS in lieu of TOEFL, the minimum score is 7. Three letters of recommendation are required for admission. Applicants are required to submit a sample of their best writing. This might be an undergraduate course paper or research term paper. The writing sample may be from any discipline. And while there is no official limit on the length of writing samples, most submissions are between 10 and 30 pages in length. In addition to the writing sample, applicants must submit a statement of purpose of between 2-4 pages in length. This statement should explain why the applicant is a good fit for the program as well as possible research interests and professional goals.