Sociology's Director of Graduate Studies welcomes contact from prospective applicants and will help you determine whether our program helps fit your interests and if so, help you develop and submit the strongest application possible.

Sociology’s Graduate Committee, which includes the Director of Graduate studies, reviews applicants’ materials, and forwards its recommendations to the Graduate School and the university’s Admissions Office.

The committee considers your academic background, grades, GRE scores, personal statement and reference letters. Here are some suggestions regarding each:

• Academic Background: Other things being equal, the committee prefers applicants with a substantial background in sociology or a related social science. However, this preference is not absolute, and it possible for applicants without such a background to gain admission. (See “What if I don’t have a sociology background?” below).
• Grades: Typical successful applicants have undergraduate GPAs in the range of 3.3 and above. We’re interested in grades in all courses, not just in Sociology. Because virtually all applicants present a good GPA in course work, that achievement alone will help but not necessarily distinguish your application.
• GRE Scores: We do not have a fixed GRE Score cutoff for admission. Nevertheless, GRE scores do matter to us as they are more comparable across applicants than are grades or reference letters. Furthermore, most applicants will have relatively high grades and complimentary reference letters, so GRE scores are one thing that can distinguish one applicant from another, either positively or negatively. We are interested in all three GRE Scores, not just any one of them.
• Statement of Professional Interests and Objectives: A good personal statement clearly tells us what parts of sociology most interest you which helps us understand how you think about sociology. It also gives us an idea of how your interests fit with what our program can offer. We also want to know what you would like to do professionally with a sociology degree. Of course, we fully understand that both of these things can change, but it helps us find out where your thinking is currently. Discussions of your personal biography and social values are helpful to us only if they clearly link to your academic work and your future professional interests in sociology.
• Reference Letters: Three reference letters from former professors, research supervisors, or other persons well-qualified to comment on your academic potential are required. During the application process, you will be asked for their contact information. CSU will contact them and arrange for their letters to be sent directly to CSU. 

Yes, you certainly could be. If admitted, you would need to take courses to make up the gaps in your background. Also, please understand that we usually don’t offer teaching assistantships to applicants with limited past education in sociology. One thing that can help your application in this circumstance is a personal statement in which you articulate academic interests that fall within the purview of sociology, or otherwise show that you understand something of the field you are trying to enter. Starting to take courses to fill in your background course gaps prior to admission, while not required, can certainly help your candidacy. Contact our Director of Graduate Studies.

Generally speaking, we presume that all students with good oral and written English competence, and who have a reasonable sociology background, will be capable to serve as GTAs. We choose GTAs primarily based on our judgment of their achievement and potential. Prior teaching experience is not a requirement, especially because most GTAs assist faculty, rather than teaching on their own. We do try to choose people who are capable, dependable, cooperative and hardworking.

Although letting us know that you are interested in a Ph.D. is certainly appropriate, you would apply for the M.A. program. While you are completing the M.A. program, you would apply for the Ph.D. program. Completion of the M.A. does not guarantee admission to the Ph.D. program, but students who perform well in our M.A. program usually gain admission when they apply to our Ph.D. program.

International student applicants are eligible on the same basis as other students for teaching and research assistantships. Excellent English fluency is necessary to be competitive for a teaching assistant position. We do not have any university-based fellowships or scholarships specially designed for international students, but we certainly do collaborate with those provided by outside foundations and agencies.