Frequently Asked Questions

General | Financial Support | The Community | Admissions

General Questions

Do you have an MA program? We grant MA degrees, but our program is meant for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD degree. If you know that you just want to get an MA, it is better to apply to a specialized MA program oriented towards your career interests.

I am interested in a career in counseling or social work. Is this program for me? No--you should apply to a specialized graduate program in those areas, such as the one at UConn's School of Social Work .

Can graduate students take courses in other departments? Does UConn have other programs that are of interest to sociologists? Yes, most students take some courses in other departments, and it is possible to include faculty from other departments on your dissertation and area exam committees. UConn has many programs and centers that offer courses or other activities of interest to sociologists, including Women's Studies , the Human Rights Institute , the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research , African-American Studies , Asian-American Studies , and the Center for Population Research .

What are the requirements for a PhD degree? See the Graduate Handbook for information.

Does the department offer research assistantships? Faculty members who obtain grants may hire research assistants. The number varies from year to year, and hiring decisions are made by the individual faculty member rather than the department.

What other research opportunities are available to graduate students? Most faculty members are glad to work with students, and many have published work in collaboration with them.

Financial Support

What percentage of graduate students receive financial support? We attempt to support all of our graduate students who are making good progress in the program. This normally means 5 or 6 years of support while students obtain the PhD. Support beyond that point depends on the teaching needs of the department .

What forms of support do you offer? Pre-MA students are usually employed as teaching assistants. After receiving the MA and completing the teacher training program, students are generally employed as lecturers--that is, given full responsibility for teaching their own courses. The university also offers fellowships for exceptionally strong students.

What is the amount of support? Most students receive "full" support (20 hours per week). See the "Admission and Financial Aid" link at left for more information. In addition to the stipend, students employed as lecturers, teaching assistants, or research assistants also receive a tuition waiver and may purchase UConn-sponsored health insurance at a discounted rate.

Is financial assistance available for international students? Yes, all students receive the same consideration for departmental support.

The Community

Where is Storrs? What is it like? Storrs is in Northeastern Connecticut. Although it is in a picturesque rural setting, major urban areas are easily accessible. A good description of the area can be found at Living and Working in Northeastern Connecticut , provided by the School of Engineering.

Does the University have any housing for graduate students? What is the off-campus housing situation? The university has some graduate student housing, but most students live off-campus. See the Graduate School housing page for more information. There is a wide variety of housing options. Some students live in apartment complexes or shared houses near Storrs. The town of Willimantic, about seven miles away, also offers some affordable housing. Some students live in the Hartford area--Storrs is about 40 minutes drive from downtown Hartford.

Is there any public transportation? Public transportation is limited, although there is bus service from Willimantic and Hartford. If you do not have access to a car, you will probably want to live in on-campus graduate housing.

Admissions

What is the application deadline? The deadline is December 1st. All application materials, including GRE and TOEFL scores and letters of recommendation, must be received by the deadline to guarantee full consideration. You can check with Kathy Covey to see if your application is complete. Admissions and aid decisions will be made by mid-March.

What should I do if I want to visit the department? Contact the Director of Graduate Studies for help in arranging meetings with faculty and graduate students and for finding a place to stay.

Do you admit students for part-time study? No, the program is intended for full-time students.

Can I be admitted into your department if I was not a sociology major in college? Yes--many of our current students majored in other social science disciplines, and some majored in the humanities or natural sciences. However, students who did not take such sociology as undergraduates may be required to take additional courses to give them the necessary background. In particular, if you have not taken an undergraduate course in statistical methods, you should take Sociology 207 before taking Sociology 326.

Can I apply to the Ph.D. program if I have a master's degree in a field other than sociology? No, you must have a Master's degree in Sociology to be admitted to the Ph.D. program. However, you may get credit for any graduate level sociology courses that you have taken. Decisions will be made on an individual basis.

It's been a while since I graduated from college. Can I still be admitted to your program? Yes, many of our students have pursued other careers before entering the program.

Is the GRE required for admission? The general test is, but the sociology subject test is not.

Is a minimum GRE score required for admission? There is no minimum required--low GRE scores can be offset by high grades or strong recommendations.

I am not a native speaker of English--do I need to take the TOEFL? Yes, unless you have an undergraduate degree from a college or university in the United States.

What percent of applicants are admitted? Entering cohorts usually consist of between 6-12 students. The size of the application pool varies from year to year, but usually ranges between 60-90 applicants.

What is the most important factor in admissions decisions: GPA, GRE, letters of reference, personal statement, or something else? The admissions committee looks at the entire package when making decisions. We do not have any set formula for weighting different parts of the package. You should obtain letters of reference from people who know you well. Since we are trying to evaluate your academic potential, letters from faculty members have the most impact, although letters from employers will also be considered.