Ph.D. Degree in Sociology

The Ph.D. program is designed to give the student systematic instruction and training in sociological theories and methods of social research, as well as preparation in two substantive fields within the discipline. The Ph.D. program is intended to provide a professional basis for careers in research, public service, or college/university teaching. At present, three primary areas of concentration are offered: medical sociology, race/ethnic relations, and criminology.

The Ph.D. in sociology is awarded for high achievement in advanced work in the discipline of sociology. The degree requires a mastery of specialized subject matter, the possession of critical analytic skills, and demonstrated competence in independent, scholarly research. Although a minimum of 42 credit hours of graduate credit beyond the M.A. is required, the admission to the Ph.D. candidacy and the granting of the Ph.D. degree are not based solely on the completion of course work. The granting of the Ph.D. degree requires comprehensive knowledge in substantive areas of sociology as demonstrated by passing four comprehensive examinations and the ability to conduct independent research as demonstrated by the successful completion of a dissertation.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

A Master's Degree is Required

Although it is desirable for entering students to have a Master's degree in sociology, applicants of high merit with a Master's degree in another discipline will be considered. Admission to the Ph.D. Program following completion of the M.A. in the UM Sociology Department is not guaranteed. A simplified application/transition process is available for current UM M.A. students desiring to advance to this program. This includes a letter of application and two letters of recommendation from U.M. Sociology faculty. All applicants may be required to complete courses in which their background is incomplete. The Graduate Committee will inform each applicant, prior to initial registration, about the remedial courses that should be taken. Students with deficiencies may also be required to take proficiency examinations. These examinations will be prepared, administered, and evaluated by the Graduate Committee in collaboration with the student's advisor and other departmental faculty who teach regularly in the areas related to the student's perceived incomplete education.

The complete Ph.D. program is 42 credit hours beyond the M.A. It includes core requirements, concentrations in two specialty areas, computer competency, comprehensive and specialty exams, and the successful completion and defense of the dissertation. These are detailed and explained below.

Core Requirements		(12 credits)
SOC 612	Sociological Statistics II	3 credits
SOC 613	Qualitative Research Methods	3 credits
SOC 622	Teaching Seminar in Sociology	3 credits
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING (must be different than course taken for M.A.)
SOC 615	Class Structure and Social Stratification
SOC 616	Social Psychology: Sociological Perspectives	3 credits
SOC 617	Social Organization
Primary Concentration in Medical Sociology		(9 credits)
SOC 620	Social Epidemiology	3 credits
SOC 632	Social Psychology of Health & Illness	3 credits
SOC 635	Research Issues in Medical Sociology	3 credits
SOC 691	Special Topics in Medical Sociology	3 credits
Primary Concentration in Criminology		(9 credits)
SOC 570	Theories in Criminology	3 credits
SOC 670	Criminal Justice System	3 credits
SOC 672	Research in Crime and Delinquency	3 credits
SOC 692	Special Topics in Criminology	3 credits
Primary Concentration in Race/Ethnic Relations		(9 credits)
SOC 650	Social Analysis of Race Relations	3 credits
SOC 651	Race Relations: Social-Psychological Perspectives	3 credits
SOC 652	Theories of Race/Ethnic Relations	3 credits
SOC 693	Special Topics: Race/Ethnic Relations	3 credits
Students have the option of selecting as one of their two areas of substantive concentration an area outside Race/Ethnic relations , Medical Sociology, or Criminology. If an option other than these is chosen-e.g., epidemiology, sociological theory, or research/methodology-an elaborate proposal must be provided to and accepted by the Graduate Committee .
Doctoral Dissertation (SOC 730)		12 credits
TOTAL CREDITS: (Beyond the M.A.)		42

Computer Competency

A demonstration of computer competency is required, including the use of data analysis packages in the context of course work and/or the dissertation. Specifically, students are expected to have skills in work processing, data entry, data management, statistical computation, and advanced statistical procedures.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Sociology at the University of Miami is determined by the following criteria and procedures.

1. Course Work

1. All relevant core courses must be successfully completed before any comprehensive examinations may be taken. Specifically, the satisfactory completion of theory courses SOC 601 and SOC 602 is required before taking the sociological theory examination. The successful completion of the methods/statistics sequence-SOC 611, SOC 610, SOC 612, and SOC 613 (or equivalents, if approved)-is required before taking the methods/statistics examination.
   
   
2. The successful completion of each specialty concentration includes nine credit hours of coursework and a successful performance on the relevant specialty exam. The specific courses to be taken and exam arrangements will be determined in consultation with the student's exam committee (see below). Present course offerings are listed above. These are subject to change to reflect developments in these substantive fields and strengths of the faculty. Note that no specialty exam can be taken before the completion of the agreed-upon coursework.
   
   
3. Successful completion of course work is required but in itself is not sufficient for admission to candidacy.
   
   

Please note that because full-time enrollment (9 credit hours per semester) is required of students receiving financial aid, funded students will take more than the minimum number of courses, which is one, 3 credit hour course.

2. Comprehensive and Special Examinations

Admission to candidacy requires the passing of two comprehensive and two specialty area examinations. The comprehensive examinations are in the areas of theory and methods/statistics. The specialty area examinations are typically in one of the Department's areas of strength (medical sociology, criminology, race/ethnic relations), though students have the option of designing and proposing a different specialty for one of their concentrations. Students benefit from comprehensive and specialty area exams because they master a large body of material, synthesize this information, and express their ideas in writing. Due to the extensive reading that is required to pass these exams, students go beyond their course work and become aware of the wide range of sociological literature while honing their ability to work independently.

Comprehensive examinations in theory and methods/statistics and specialty exams may be taken following the completion of the relevant core courses and sufficient preparation based on the pertinent reading lists. Students are encouraged to take these exams as early in their programs as practicable; planning to take the exams soon after the completion of the theory or statistics /methods sequences is highly recommended. (Procedures for administering the exam are detailed below.)

Students who wish to take an exam must make a written request no later than the third week of the semester in which they are to be administered. The granting of this request will be confirmed by the chair of the examining committee and become binding no later than 6 weeks prior to the administration of the exam. Normally, examinations will not be given during the summer term. They may be administered during the summer only when agreed to by the members of the Comprehensive Examination Committee.

At least two examinations must be completed before a student will be permitted to register for dissertation hours (SOC 730) and all four examinations must be taken and passed before a student will be permitted to defend his/her dissertation proposal. Typically, students complete these exams within two consecutive semesters. (When planning their examination schedules, those students who are on doctoral assistantships should keep in mind that these stipends are funded for a maximum of three years.

Specialty Area Examinations

A three or more member Specialty Area Examining Committee (SAEC) will be responsible for preparing and grading the specialty examinations. A reading list and copies of previous examinations will be made available to students by the chair of each SAEC. Students should consult beforehand with the faculty members who will be creating/reading each exam, so that issues related to time frames, styles of answers, and other expectations are clearly understood.

For exams taken in the three programmatic areas of the department (Criminology, Medical Sociology, and Race/Ethnic Relations) the student shall select two faculty members to serve on the committee, and the department will assign a third faculty member to the committee from a duty roster. At least two of the three members of the committee must be from the Department of Sociology. Although three member committees are strongly encouraged, the student may supplement the committee with one additional person with the consent of that faculty member and the approval of the graduate director. Exam committees for individually designed specialties will be constituted as needed. Faculty willingness to serve will be indicated by signatures on the student's proposal to the Graduate Committee.

Customarily, each examination will be designed to take approximately four hours to complete. However, some exams may require more time. Students should make sure they understand the rules and expectations covering each exam. Students may complete their examinations by using a word processor or, with permission, in handwriting. All examinations will be administered in a setting determined by the examination committee.

 

Reading List

The reading list for each specialty area shall be comprised of three parts. The first part shall be a core that reflects the seminal readings in the specialty area. This core of readings shall be prepared and updated periodically by a committee of all members of the specialty area, both primary and secondary. The second part of the specialty area reading list shall be comprised of an expanded and updated list of readings based on the student's course work taken in preparation for the specialty exam. The student's specialty exam committee shall be responsible for generating this list. Finally, the students' committee shall supplement the list with readings that reflect the student's focus in the area with the intention of providing the student with a grounding that will enable the student to successfully undertake a research agenda well into their career.

Selection of Committee Members

Students shall obtain a list of faculty specialty areas from the graduate director. The student may select and/or change two committee members from this list at any time during the period prior to semester that they are scheduled to take the specialty area examination. The Department Chairperson will supplement the specialty area committee by adding one member from a duty roster with the remaining faculty members who claim the area as a primary or secondary area of interest.

Deadlines

Students must select two members of their specialty area exam committee no later than two weeks before the end of the semester prior to the semester in which they will take the exam. The graduate coordinator will make the appointment of a 3 rd member of the committee no later than two weeks after the student makes his or her selection or the last day of the semester prior to the semester in which the student will take the exam, whichever comes first. The committee will provide the student with a complete reading list no later than ten weeks prior to the scheduled date of the examination. The committee will meet with the student to answer questions about the exam no later than four weeks prior to the scheduled date of the examination. Final arrangements for the exam will be made and communicated to the student no later than one week prior to the scheduled date of the examination

Comprehensive Exams in Stat/Methods and Theory

Reading Lists

Periodically, members of the Comprehensive Examination Committees (those faculty members routinely teaching in these areas or those who claim particular expertise) shall meet to update the reading lists. The reading list should contain at least three categories of materials, including both original and secondary works. First, general reference materials that we as professionals often rely on in our own writing and research are included in this list. Second, the list is tailored periodically so that the readings reflect the course work offered in the core sequence. Finally, readings are included on the list that go beyond coursework to the extent that students should reasonably be expected to master such material on their own given the foregoing as a base of knowledge in these areas.

Selection of Committee Members

Service on comprehensive examination committees shall include two members of the department who routinely teach in the area, supplemented by one member who claims special expertise or training in the area

Deadlines

Continuing members of the Comprehensive Examination Committees shall be appointed no later than two weeks before the end of the semester prior to the semester in which they will give the exam. The graduate coordinator will make the appointment of a third member of the committee no later than the last day of the semester prior to the semester in which the student will take the exam. The committee will provide the student with a complete reading list no later than ten weeks prior to the scheduled date of the examination. The committee members will write the questions for the exam no later than five weeks prior to the scheduled date of the examination. The committee will meet with the student to answer questions about the exam no later than four weeks prior to the scheduled date of the examination. Final arrangements for the exam will be made and communicated to the student no later than one week prior to the scheduled date of examination.

Role of the Departmental Chairperson

The departmental chairperson has final authority in all actions taken by the graduate director and graduate faculty.

 

Results of Comprehensive and Specialty Area Examinations

Students must pass the qualifying Comprehensive and Specialty Area Examinations with three passing votes. A fourth reader is required when the decision is split and the student fails to obtain at least three passing votes. If the student obtains only two passing votes and one failing vote, the graduate director or the chairperson of the department will take the responsibility to be a 4 th reader.

Students will be awarded a grade of "High Pass," "Pass," " Conditional Pass ," or "Fail" for each exam. Students who fail an examination must petition for the Graduate Committee in order to re-take it. When a petition is granted, arrangements for the examination must be made with the Chair of the Comprehensive or Specialty Area Examining Committee. In no instance can an examination be re-taken during the semester in which a failure occurred. In cases of a conditional pass, the graduate student, in consultation with the Comprehensive or Specialty Area Examining Committee, will develop a course of action to deal with the deficiency. A student may be dismissed from the program if he or she fails two exams, fails a single exam twice, or receives conditional passes on three exams.

In the case of a conditional pass, the committee shall direct the student to undertake additional study and work. In order to pass the exam, the student must satisfactorily complete this work no later than the end of the semester following the semester in which the qualifying exam was taken.

All information concerning the outcomes of the comprehensive and specialty examinations must be communicated to the student, his or her advisor, and the Chair of the Graduate Committee in writing by the Chair of the examining committee (see guidelines below), with a copy to the student's file. Normally, this will be done within two weeks following the completion of an examination, but in no case will it be delayed more than one month.

Expectations for Grading of Comprehensive

Protocol for Committee Evaluations

Once, at least four weeks prior to the exam, the committee will meet with students to inform them of the format, date, timing, and expectations for performance. Details on where, when, to whom, and how the exam is to be administered should be shared at this meeting, including the length of exam in hours, proctoring of exam, place (room and building) the exam will be administered, and, of course, the date of exam.

Communicating Results to Students

1. The committee chairperson will write a standard letter to the student, with copies sent to the Graduate Director, the student's advisor, and the students' records (for certification of progress towards the degree). The graduate director shall inform the Graduate Committee of students' results on exams each spring during the students' performance evaluation
   
   
2. Students will receive written notification of their performance from the chairperson of the exam committee in a separate document that does not become part of the student's record. This should provide a point-by-point summary of strengths and weaknesses and include an invitation to make an appointment to see the Chair of the comprehensive exam committee to discuss the exam performance.

Dissertation

Admission to Ph.D. candidacy allows entry into the dissertation phase of the program. The dissertation must embody the results of scholarly scientific research. The project should represent an independent investigation that makes an original contribution to sociological knowledge.

Each candidate will select a Dissertation Committee in consultation with his or her Advisor, who typically, but not always, is asked to Chair this committee. The Dissertation Committee will be comprised of four faculty members, one of whom will come from a department other than Sociology. No more than two members of the Committee, however, may come from departments outside of Sociology. The candidate will present to the Dissertation Committee a written dissertation proposal that contains a complete description of the proposed project. This should include the theoretical problem to be investigated, its justification, the proposed research design and procedures, sources of data, and proposed means of analysis. The format of the proposal, the thoroughness of the justification for the plan, the extent of detail, etc. required in the proposal varies between committees. Students are advised to discuss these issues with their Chair. Once the proposal has been accepted by the Dissertation Committee-in the form of a successful formal defense-the student may begin the project.

Once the dissertation has been completed, following the rules of the Department of Sociology and the Graduate School , the dissertation must be defended orally. The student has the responsibility to schedule the defense, clarify procedures and requirements with the Graduate School (obtaining necessary forms), and notify the departmental Graduate Coordinator, so the defense can be posted. Dissertation defenses are open to all members of the Department of Sociology. The Committee Chair determines who may participate in questioning the Ph.D. candidate. At least three weeks before the date of defense, the student must submit an acceptable draft of the dissertation to the Chair of his or her Dissertation Committee. At least two weeks before the defense, the remaining members of the Committee must receive copies. After a successful completion of the defense, the Dissertation Committee will recommend to the University of Miami Graduate School that the candidate be awarded the Ph.D. Degree.

 

Departmental Awards

The Department encourages students to define themselves as professionals and become engaged in sociological research at the earliest possible time. Accordingly the Department recognizes these academic accomplishments of students beyond their course work. Toward this end, a series of academic awards based on student research projects are given at the end of each academic year.