HOW TO APPLY

Thank You For Your Interest!

When To Apply For Admissions And Assistantships

All application materials for fall semester admission should be received no later than January 15 of the year of entry into the program. Incomplete applications have a reduced chance of success at that time. We do not usually consider admission for spring or summer. Please note that this schedule may differ from admission practices and schedules elsewhere in the university.

Skip the fee, apply for free! You may be eligible to skip the graduate school application fee and apply for free.

Graduate Assistantship Funding

We consider all applicants for assistantships. A separate application is not necessary.

During The Application Process You Will Be Asked To:

Submit a “Statement of Purpose.” It should make clear what areas or aspects of sociology most interest you, how your academic experience is relevant, your career goals, and the faculty in our department you see yourself working with. About 2-3 double-spaced pages is plenty.
Submit unofficial transcripts from each institution at which you took undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Provide names, email addresses, and office addresses for three persons who will write recommendation letters for you. These should be persons who are in a position to evaluate your academic and professional potential. These recommenders will receive a recommendation request directly from CSU and will be able to directly submit recommendations to CSU.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional, but encouraged. A good score can strengthen an application, but we also consider applicants without a GRE score. The GRE institution code for CSU is 4075.
A writing sample is also optional, but strongly encouraged. We are particularly interested in writing that shows your abilities as a scholar and researcher. You will be able to upload the writing sample on your Admissions Dashboard, after the application is submitted.
International students who are not native-English speakers: Supply evidence of proficiency in oral and written English by the TOEFL (minimum of 80) or the IELTS (6.5). Information regarding this examination is available from the Educational Testing Service.

Review this Graduate School webpage for deadlines, requirements, and more.

Start Here with The Graduate School

If you still have questions, please email Sociology's Graduate Program.

Email Us

When you are ready to begin the process, visit CSU's Online Graduate Application.

Interested in Applying?
FAQ

To whom should I talk about admission and your program?

Who decides about admission?

What kind of things does the graduate committee consider in choosing applicants for admission?

I don’t have a background in sociology or a related social science. Could I still be admitted?

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 Sociology's Graduate Program.

How do you choose who will get graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs)?

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.

I only have a bachelor’s degree, but I want to get a Ph.D. in sociology. Do I apply for the M.A. or Ph.D. program?

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.

I am an international student. Can you support me with a fellowship or assistantship?

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.