PhD in Sociology in Morgantown United States | West Virginia University

The WVU Department of Sociology and Anthropology provides a Ph.D. program in Sociology, where all incoming students begin as doctoral candidates. Those joining with a bachelor's degree will simultaneously participate in both the M.A. and Ph.D. tracks until fulfilling the master's requirements. This doctoral curriculum examines social relationships through four distinct focus areas: Crime, Law, and Deviance; Social Inequalities; Social Psychology and Group Processes; and Sociology of Religion. Designed for aspiring professional sociologists in academic or research roles, as well as those targeting non-academic professions, the program stresses core sociological training in theory, methodology, and statistical analysis, alongside specialized coursework and independent research aligned with departmental expertise. Students develop customized academic plans tailored to their research interests, with opportunities to enhance their education through supplementary certificate programs.