Guide to Sociology Graduate Programs 2013-2014 University of South Florida Department of Sociology 4202 E. Fowler Ave, CPR 107 Tampa, FL 33620
Page 2 This Reference Guide can be found at: [link forthcoming] Graduate Director: Graduate Programs Coordinator: Academic Year 2013-2014 Graduate Committee Members: Margarethe Kusenbach, Ph.D. Phone: (813) 974 2595 socgraddir@usf.edu Emelda Curry, Ph.D. Phone: (813) 974 1491 ecurry2@usf.edu Sara Crawley, Ph.D. (Fall 2013 only) Sara Green, Ph.D. (Spring 2014 only) Laurel Graham, Ph.D. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, Ph.D. Will Tyson, Ph.D. Elizabeth Vaquera, Ph.D. Maggie Cobb, M.A. (Student Representative)
The policies outlined in this reference guide were approved by the Graduate Committee and Department Chair in April 2013. Page 3
Table of Contents Page 4 Welcome from the Graduate Director 4 I. M.A. Program Master of Arts Program Overview 6 Applying to USF 7 Admission to the Sociology M.A. Program 9 Requirements for the M.A. Degree 11 Coursework for the M.A. Degree 13 M.A. Thesis 17 Graduate Assistantships for M.A. Students 20 M.A. Student Travel Funding 22 II. Ph.D. Program Doctoral Program Overview 25 Applying to USF 26 Admission to the Ph.D. Program 28 Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree 30 Coursework for the Ph.D. Degree 32 Order of Courses and Adequate Progress 37 Comprehensive Portfolio of Competencies 39 Dissertation 44 Graduate Assistantships for Ph.D. Students 49 Ph.D. Student Teaching Assignments (Regular Graduate Assistantships) 51 Ph.D. Student Summer Teaching 52 Annual Evaluation of Ph.D. Students 53 Ph.D. Student Travel Funding 55 Ph.D. Student Teaching Award 57 Ph.D. Student Research Grant 58 III. Appendices 1. USF Sociology Department Faculty 60 2. USF Sociology Department Affiliated Faculty 62 3. Graduate Student Roster 2012-2013 63 4. Graduate Programs Forms Overview 65 a) General Forms b) M.A. Program Forms c) Ph.D. Program Forms
Welcome from the Graduate Director Page 5 Welcome to the new Guide to Sociology Graduate Programs! Much information regarding the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in the Department of Sociology can be found on our website (http://sociology.usf.edu). The following pages include additional important information for students, faculty, and anyone interested, as well as all forms needed while being a sociology graduate student at USF. If you are here to learn about our two graduate programs, and about studying at USF and in Tampa, keep in mind that the best source of information are our current graduate students. Feel free to contact them to get the inside scoop from a student perspective. If you have any specific questions about our graduate programs after reading the Guide, please contact me or the Graduate Programs Coordinator, Danielle Schwied, and we will do our best to answer them. Once you are accepted into one of our graduate programs, these are the Department of Sociology rules and regulations, which you will need to know and abide by. Please read them carefully. Our guidelines regarding graduate study complement and expand those by the University of South Florida which you can find on the USF Graduate School website (www.usf.grad.usf.edu). It is your responsibility to also know and follow these more general USF rules and regulations. Overall, we want you to be an active and responsible participant in your academic journey and in our department, and this expectation includes that you communicate any problems, concerns, or questions that may arise as soon as possible. Good communication is a major ingredient of success!!! For instance, you need to notify Ms. Schwied immediately of any change in your address or contact information. This handbook is a living document, it is updated annually. We will do our best to keep you posted regarding any changes or additions to program rules and regulations during the year, and we appreciate your feedback and suggestions for improvements at any time. Lastly, I thoroughly hope that you enjoy your time as a graduate student at USF, and that we will be able to help you reach your professional and personal goals. Sincerely, Maggie Kusenbach
I. M.A. Program Page 6
Master of Arts Program Overview Page 7 The Sociology M.A. program provides a foundation in a broad range of sociological theories and research methods, and an opportunity for pursuing specialized interests in elective Sociology courses, courses in other departments, and thesis research. In addition to broad theoretical and methodological training, we offer specialized study in the following areas: identities and communities social inequalities and social justice social movements and globalization urban problems and culture immigration and migration race and ethnicity networks, health and wellbeing gender, sexualities, and families childhood, youth, and education The M.A. program requires completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours. Core requirements include courses in Research Methods, Sociological Theory, Statistics, a series of elective courses, and a thesis. None of the courses in the USF Sociology M.A. program are offered online; all require in person attendance, usually during the day. The program therefore cannot be completed by students who live out of state or far from the Tampa Bay area. Full time students typically earn their M.A. degree within two academic years.
Applying to USF Page 8 All graduate applications to USF must be submitted entirely online through the online application system by the USF Graduate School: https://secure.vzcollegeapp.com/usf/. There is no longer a need to send any documents by mail. Please consult the following USF Graduate School website for complete and binding information on general application procedures and requirements noted within the current USF graduate school catalog: http://www.grad.usf.edu/policies.asp. The following items must be included in a complete application to any USF graduate program, including the M.A. program in sociology. 1. Completed application form (online). 2. Application fee of $30.00 for each graduate program to which student is applying to. 3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning which students have attended beyond high school; sent in a sealed envelope by each school s Registrar s Office. (Applicants may provide unofficial copies to expedite the processing of their pending applications yet any admission granted will not be finalized until official transcripts are received.) All transcripts must be in English. Foreign transcripts must be accompanied by a certified English translation. For help, go to http://www.grad.usf.edu/graduate-admissions-checklist.php. 4. Test Scores. GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) scores earned within five (5) years of the desired date of entry. Official scores must be submitted to USF directly from the Educational Testing Service. Applicants may provide unofficial copies to expedite the processing of their applications, however any admission granted will not be finalized until official scores from ETS are received. The institution code for USF is 5828. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry. A minimum total score of 79 (on the internet based test, or equivalent) is required from all applicants who reside in countries whose official language is not English with no
Page 9 exception. International students who want to be considered for graduate assistantships that involve teaching need to score at least 26 on the spoken portion of the internet based TOEFL. 5. Completed Conduct Clearance Policy (Legal Disclosure Statement). 6. Completed Florida Residents section.
Admission to the Sociology M.A. Program Page 10 Application Checklist In addition to the above, successful students in the M.A. program generally demonstrate the following minimum requirements, and electronically submit the following items, for admission: Completed USF application Satisfaction of USF requirements for Graduate Study Completed B.A. Degree from an Accredited University, minimum GPA 3.0 GRE Scores: minimum of 153 verbal, 144 quantitative TOEFL score: minimum of 100 (if applicable) Statement of Interest (2-4 pages) Example of Written Work (single-authored, 10-20 pages) Résumé/CV three Letters of Recommendation (submitted electronically by recommender) If applying for a graduate assistantship, the following item is required in addition to the above: Statement Requesting and Explaining Need for Funding (1-2 pages) Important Admission Guidelines Generally, the deadline for applying to the USF Sociology M.A. program is February 15 for a fall semester start date. We do not admit any students (full-time or part-time) for a spring semester start date. All applicants wishing to be considered for graduate assistantships must submit their applications by the February 15 deadline. Students who apply after this deadline may be considered for admission at a later point, yet they will not be considered for graduate assistantships. No application received after July 1 will be considered for a fall semester start date (June 1 for international students).
Page 11 Upon request, applications received after July 1 can be considered at the beginning of the following year for the next available fall semester start date. All applications are subject to a competitive review by the members of the Sociology Department Graduate Committee. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. It is recommended that applicants establish contact with the Sociology Graduate Programs Coordinator (dls@usf.edu) early in the application process.
Requirements for the M.A. Degree Page 12 Successful completion of the program requires that students meet both Department and College requirements. The complete regulations covering graduate studies at the University of South Florida are found at: http://catalog.grad.usf.edu/. The following description of items is not exhaustive, it only explains those most commonly affecting students. It is the responsibility of students to be acquainted with, and meet, all regulations and deadlines required by USF. Grade Point Average (GPA) Graduate students must maintain an overall average of 3.0 ( B ) in all courses. No grade below C will be accepted toward credit hours for a graduate degree. The following additional guidelines and regulations apply to GPAs: All grades will be counted in computing the overall grade point average (GPA). Unless students complete and submit the missing work, Incomplete ( I ) grades are automatically converted to the grade otherwise earned by the end of the next semester (including summers). A cumulative grade point average (GPA) below a 3.0 automatically results in a status called probation. The cumulative average must be increased to at least a 3.0 by the end of the next semester or the student automatically will be dropped from the program. Enrollment Guidelines Students who have not successfully completed at least 6 units in any of three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer) are automatically dropped from their degree program. Students who have been dropped due to non-enrollment may reapply to the University and Department by submitting a new application. Such applicants will be subject to the admission criteria (University and Department) in effect at the time of their reapplication. Students who have not enrolled in five or more years may be asked to retake courses required for their particular degree program.
Page 13 Upon successful completion of all degree requirements except for thesis, students must enroll in a minimum of 2 credit hours each semester (except summers) until completion of degree. Students must be enrolled in at least 2 credit hours of thesis hours or directed reading during the semester in which they plan to graduate, including graduation in a summer session. All credits used to satisfy the requirements for the MA degree must be taken and completed within seven (7) academic years prior to the date of graduation.
Coursework for the M.A. Degree Page 14 Course Requirements The MA degree in Sociology requires 36 credit hours of graduate level coursework. Nine (9) of these hours are required core courses that include Sociological Theory, Research Methods, and Statistics. Twenty-one (21) hours are selected by the student from a variety of elective courses. Six (6) hours are thesis hours. I. Core Courses: 9 credit hours (3 hours per course) Sociological Theory (SYA 6126) Research Methods (SYA 6305) Statistics (SYA 6405) II. Elective Courses: 21 credit hours (3 hours per course) At least 12 elective credit hours (typically 4 courses) must be earned in graduate seminars in Sociology. These credits cannot include Teaching Sociology, Independent Studies, or Directed Research. Notes on Electives: No more than 6 credit hours can be transferred from another university. No more than 12 credit hours can be taken as a non-degree-seeking student. No more than 6 credit hours of SYA 6909 (Independent Study) or SYA 6912 (Directed Research) can be taken. No more than 9 hours of graduate-level credit from departments other than Sociology will be accepted. No graduate course that is cross-listed with an undergraduate course is an acceptable course choice. Any course taken outside of the USF sociology department requires approval by the Graduate Director prior to the beginning of the semester in which it is taught. All course transfers from other universities and credits taken as non-degree seeking students require approval by the Graduate Director and the completion of the Graduate Transfer Course Form (see appendices).
Page 15 III. Thesis Hours: 6 credit hours (SYA 6971) Notes on Thesis Hours: Thesis hours can only be taken only after successful defense of the M.A. thesis proposal. They can be taken all at once or distributed over two or more semesters. Thesis hours should always be taken with the chair of the M.A. thesis committee, which is usually also the student s mentor. Note that students have to be enrolled in at least 2 credit hours during the semester in which they defend and file their completed M.A. thesis. Tips for Choosing Courses The Graduate Director will distribute a list and short descriptions of Sociology Department graduate courses forthcoming in the next semester several weeks before enrollment opens to all students by email. It is strongly recommended that students meet with their mentor prior to the enrollment opening day to discuss their course options and choices for the upcoming semester. Students and mentors should ask the Graduate Director if there are questions about which courses are required at what time in the program. Due to the great demand for Sociology graduate courses by graduate students outside of the sociology department, it is strongly recommended that Sociology graduate students contact the instructor in advance to save a seat or provide a permit in advance, if possible, and that they enroll in all selected courses on the first day of enrollment. The Graduate Director will save seats (and may arrange automatic enrollment) in courses that are required for M.A. students during a particular semester or year. However, there is no guarantee that a sociology graduate student will be permitted into a sociology elective course after enrollment opened to all USF students. When in doubt, enroll! If a course is full, ask to be put on a waitlist and attend the first meeting. It happens that graduate students change their mind and drop a course before the beginning of the semester, and it sometimes happens that they do not attend the first day of classes which is mandatory to secure a seat.
Page 16 Have a backup plan, just in case your preferred courses fill up more quickly than expected; especially courses outside of Sociology. Always contact the instructor in advance if you really want to take their course. You want to make sure that (a) you are allowed to register some departments limit certain course to their own members, (b) you meet the formal and/or informal pre-requisites, and (c) the actual course content (topics, readings, requirements) is suitable and meets expectations. It is possible that an interdisciplinary course a student would like to take conflicts with another course that is a M.A. program requirement, a funded student s graduate assistantship duties, or the professional development seminar (attendance required for all funded M.A. students). In all of these cases, students must find another elective course that does not present a time conflict. USF requires departments to schedule courses up to one year in advance. Anyone can view the proposed class schedules through the OASIS website. Go to the public site you do not need to sign in. However, be aware that schedules are not written in stone. Expect changes, especially for the semester that is announced a full year in advance. Department members sometimes can estimate the likelihood that a particular course will be taught in the following year. If you need this information, don t hesitate to contact instructors or Graduate Directors. Order of Courses for Full-Time M.A. Students First Year, Fall Semester: Contemporary Sociological Theory, SYA 6126 Sociological Statistics, SYA 6405 (can be taken in second year if student does not plan to conduct quantitative research for M.A. thesis) Elective First Year, Spring Semester: Methods of Research, SYA 6305 (Part-time students should talk with the Graduate Director about whether to take this course in their first or second year of study.) Elective Elective
Second Year, Fall Semester: Page 17 Elective or Sociological Statistics, SYA 6405 Elective or Thesis Hours SYA 6971 Seminar in Teaching Sociology, SYG 6936 (only required for funded M.A. students, other students take Elective) Second Year, Spring Semester: Elective or Thesis Hours SYA 6971 Elective or Thesis Hours SYA 6971 Elective
M.A. Thesis Page 18 The thesis is a report of an original, empirical research project designed and carried out by a student. As the capstone experience of the M.A. program in Sociology, a thesis demonstrates the skills to independently conduct social research which is the defining characteristic of professional sociologists. A thesis is similar to an academic journal article. Both are characterized by high quality writing and argumentation, both are similar in terms of length, organization, and content. As with manuscripts published in academic journals, a thesis must add something new to what is already known in the field. M.A. Thesis Proposal When the student and the faculty mentor feel that the student s thesis plans have been sufficiently developed, typically at the beginning of Spring semester of the first year, the student will draft a formal proposal, in consultation with all members of the M.A. thesis committee (see below). M.A. Thesis Committee A thesis committee in Sociology has at least three members. The Chair must be a regular (i.e. voting) faculty member in the Department of Sociology. At least two of the three members must have their Ph.D. degrees in sociology. All committee members must have Ph.D. degrees. All committee members must be regular faculty members of university departments (not lecturers or Postdoc scholars). It is strongly recommended that students will select committee members after they have identified the committee chair, an in consultation with her or him. All committee members offer guidance throughout the process of planning and conducting the research as well as in writing the final document. The student must complete and file the M.A. Supervisory Committee Appointment Form (see appendices) before the scheduled date of the M.A. thesis proposal defense. It is recommended that students form the M.A. thesis committee as soon as possible in the spring semester. Any subsequent changes to the M.A. thesis committee must be recorded on the M.A. Supervisory Committee Change Form which also has to be filed according to instructions (see appendices). M.A. Thesis Proposal Defense Ideally, the M.A. thesis proposal defense is scheduled only when all committee members agree that the proposal meets expectations. The M.A. thesis committee chair schedules a 1-2 hour oral defense of the proposal. The student or the committee chair
Page 19 will create a flyer and advertise the scheduled proposal defense to all members of the department at least a week in advance. All are invited to attend. The flyermust be sent to the Graduate Programs Coordinator to be placed in the student s file. All M.A. thesis committee members must attend the proposal defense. After the defense, committee members complete the M.A. Thesis Proposal Defense form and indicate whether the defense has been successful. M.A. thesis proposal defenses can be rescheduled only once. If the student s proposal is still not considered adequate at the second defense, the student will be dismissed from the program. After the student has completed the final draft of the proposal, each committee member must complete the first page of a separate copy of the Thesis Assessment form (see appendices) which pertains to students thesis proposals. This form is anonymous and does not require a signature. It must, however, be filed with the Graduate Programs Coordinator. Important Note: Funded M.A. Students In order to be considered for department Graduate Assistant funding in the second year, first year funded students must officially appoint a thesis committee by April 15, and they must successfully defend their M.A. thesis proposals by May 31 of their first year in the program. Funding will likely be revoked for the second year if the student does not reach these benchmarks. M.A. Thesis Defense Members of the student s thesis committee will supervise the student s work during preparation of the thesis, with the committee chair taking major responsibility in this regard However, it is the student s responsibility to maintain in close contact with the thesis committee, especially the committee chair, and to keep everyone informed on the progress and direction of the thesis. The student must file an application for graduation with the USF Graduate School by the appropriate deadline (announced at the beginning of the semester by the Graduate Director). The M.A. thesis defense is scheduled when all committee members agree that the thesis meets expectations. The M.A. thesis committee chair schedules a 1-2 hour oral defense of the thesis. The student or the committee chair will create a flyer and advertise the scheduled thesis defense to all members of the department at least one week in advance. All are invited to attend. The flyer must be sent to the Graduate Programs Coordinator to be placed in the student s file. All M.A. thesis committee members must attend the thesis defense.
Page 20 After the defense, each committee members must complete the second and third page of a separate copy of the Thesis Assessment form (see appendices) which pertains to students theses. This form is anonymous and does not require a signature. It must however be filed with the Graduate Programs Coordinator and it is due no later than two weeks after the official submission deadline for M.A. thesis. In addition, the student, all committee members, and the Graduate Director must sign the Thesis and Dissertation Certificate of Approval form. This form officially certifies the committee s approval of the student s M.A. final draft of the thesis. After submission to the Graduate School, this form triggers the conferral of the M.A. degree. This form and a certified final draft of the thesis must be submitted before or on the university s final thesis submission deadline. This exact date will be announced at the beginning of the semester by the Graduate Director and is also available on the USF Graduate School website. Details on submission procedures can also be found here. Students are also reminded to submit all required paperwork with the USF Internal Review Board and to close out their projects by filing a final report. Note that submission requirements have changed repeatedly over the last several years. It is the student s responsibility to know and follow the university s current thesis submission procedures. Note that all students have to be enrolled in at least two (2) credit hours for the semester during which they file their M.A. thesis.
Graduate Assistantships for M.A. Students Page 21 Typically, nine M.A. graduate student assistantships are awarded each year. Four or five typically are continued funding opportunities for current students. In almost all cases, graduate assistantships are teaching assistantships, yet circumstances may arise under which funded students in their second year will be asked to work as a research assistant for one semester. Because this is rare, the following guidelines only describe teaching assistantships. Each assistantship carries a stipend of approximately $10,000 per year (two semesters) and a tuition waiver (not including student fees) for 9 hours each semester. Applying for a Graduate Assistantship If applying for a graduate assistantship, the following item is required in addition to the application items listed above: Statement Requesting and Explaining Need for Funding (1-2 pages) Expectations of Students with Assistantships All students receiving teaching assistantships: must enroll in nine hours of course work (full time) for each semester of the assistantship. should expect to work up to 18 hours each week (typically during daytime hours) as teaching assistants for a larger undergraduate course during fall and spring semester. must attend TA workshops and other orientations generally scheduled in the week prior to the beginning of fall semester, as offered by the sociology department as well as the USF Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE). must be active members of the Sociology department graduate student community for the entire duration of their funding. This includes, but is not limited to, participating in all meetings of the Professional Development seminar, colloquia, and workshops sponsored by the department. must enroll in our annual Teaching Sociology course the fall semester of their second year. provided adequate academic progress and job performance, can expect to be funded for up to two (2) years.
Page 22 Criteria for Awarding Continuing Assistantships Members of the Sociology Department Graduate Committee make decisions about renewing graduate assistantships for a second year via a review of all M.A. students held during the end of Spring of each year, in consultation with the students mentors. Barring budgetary shortfalls, continuing assistantships will be awarded providing there is: adequate academic success. This includes achieving a B or higher as a final grade average in all required courses. adequate academic progress. This is indicated by the official appointment of a student s M.A. Thesis Committee, on file by April 15, and clear evidence that the M.A. proposal has been defended, or will be ready to be defended successfully before March 31 of the first year of support. evidence of responsibility and success in the current year by meeting the specified expectations of graduate assistants. This will be determined via Graduate Student Teaching Performance Evaluations which will be completed by the student s teaching supervisor at the end of each semester. evidence of active involvement in Department events and affairs pertaining to graduate students, as well as evidence of sufficient and adequate communication with mentors, faculty members, and Department staff. Teaching Assignments 1. All first year M.A. students will generally serve as teaching assistants in large lower-division sociology courses taught by department faculty, either face to face or online. 2. Second year M.A. students will receive one of several kinds of teaching assignments including, but not limited to (a) continued work in large lowerdivision Sociology courses while taking over additional teaching duties, which may include supervisory responsibility for weekly break-out sessions, or (b) work with individual faculty members who are teaching higher level Sociology classes of above average size. 3. M.A. students will enroll in the Teaching Sociology Seminar in the fall semester of their second year. This course is required in addition to the ones specified above and it will not count as a sociology elective. Please note that considerations of the Department s teaching needs and student demand for undergraduate courses may over-ride the aforementioned general principles.
M.A. Student Travel Funding Page 23 Graduate Student participation at professional conferences is an important part of graduate education in the USF Department of Sociology. As the availability and amount of funding to support graduate student travel vary from year to year, the following guidelines are intended to assist the Department Chair in awarding funding for graduate student travel to present their research at professional conferences. All M.A. Sociology students seeking travel funding must discuss their conference participation with their advisors prior to submitting a conference paper or abstract and receive approval. Students must submit a completed copy of the Graduate Student Travel Authorization Request (TAR) (see appendices) to the Office Manager, at least 2 months prior to the conference (retroactive applications cannot be considered). The student must provide written evidence of submission and acceptance of a conference presentation at this time. Applications are accepted at any time throughout the academic year (prior to end of Spring semester). All authorized travel funding will be issued after the trip has been completed and the required documentation has been received and approved. All receipts must be submitted no later than 7 business days after returning from the trip in order to get reimbursement. Delay in submission of these receipts may affect your ability to be reimbursed. Suitable conferences include regional, national and international sociology or interdisciplinary meetings. In order to apply for and receive support, students must be scheduled to present a paper or a flyer (single authored, co-authored with another student, or as a first author if co-authored with a faculty member) at the upcoming meeting. No support will be provided for simply attending a conference. Funding will not be approved for the presentation of a paper that was already given at another meeting, regardless of whether prior funding was issued or not. Conference support may be used toward cost of travel, accommodation, per diem, or conference registration. It cannot be used toward the cost of association membership, research, supplies, or other unrelated expenses. The maximum amount of support per academic year a student is allowed to receive is $300 for M.A. students, applicable toward the cost of delivering one presentation per academic year. However, it is possible that the Department, in order to support as many graduate students as possible, will decide to make smaller awards in any given year.
Page 24 In case of limited availability of funding that does not allow to fund all applications, priority is given based on the importance (e.g. being on the job market) or prestige (e.g. national and international conferences, paper award) of the presentation in the development of the student s career regardless of their status as M.A. or Ph.D. students. The following criteria will also be used in deciding the distribution of department funds to support graduate student travel: Type of Conference e.g. local, regional, national, or international meeting Type of Presentation paper presentations, particularly peer reviewed, are given more weight compared with other forms such as roundtables or flyers, Program Expectations students must be in good standing regarding academic progress and work performance in order to be considered for an award, Fit with Student s Focus the research being presented at the conference should be compatible with the students academic areas of interest and expertise, Time toward successful completion of M.A. or Ph.D. degree. Further, all students seeking Department travel support are required to participate in a Department organized practice session prior to their conference presentation, or set up an individual practice presentation session with the Graduate Director. The Graduate Committee will review all application and make recommendations as needed. However, final decisions regarding student travel funding rest with the Department Chair.
Page 25 II. Ph.D. Program
Doctoral Program Overview Page 26 The Ph.D. program provides a foundation in a broad range of sociological theories and research methods, and an opportunity for pursuing specialized interests in elective Sociology courses, courses in other departments, and thesis research. In addition to broad theoretical and methodological training, we offer specialized study in the following areas: identities and communities social inequalities and social justice social movements and globalization urban problems and culture immigration and migration race and ethnicity networks, health and wellbeing gender, sexualities, and families childhood, youth, and education The Ph.D. program requires completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours. Core requirements include courses in Advanced Research Methods and Study Design, Advanced Sociological Theory, Interdisciplinary Pro-Seminar and Capstone, Specialty Methods, a series of elective courses, a Comprehensive Portfolio or Competencies, and a dissertation. No courses in the USF Sociology Ph.D. program are offered online; all require in person attendance. This program therefore cannot be completed by students who live out of state or far from the Tampa Bay Area. Note that completing a Ph.D. program requires a full-time effort and cannot be combined with any other full-time employment. Furthermore, we strongly discourage part-time employment by funded students in addition to their work as a Graduate Assistant. Students typically can expect to complete their Ph.D. degree within four to five academic years.
Applying to USF Page 27 All graduate applications to USF must be submitted entirely online through the online application system by the USF Graduate School: https://secure.vzcollegeapp.com/usf/. There is no longer a need to send any personal documents by mail. Please consult the following USF Graduate School website for complete and binding information on general application procedures and requirements noted within the current USF graduate school catalog: http://www.grad.usf.edu/policies.asp. The following items must be included in a complete application to any USF graduate program, including the M.A. program in sociology. 7. Completed application form. 8. Application fee of $30.00 for each graduate program to which student is applying to. 9. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning which students have attended beyond high school; sent in a sealed envelope by each school s Registrar s Office. (Applicants may provide unofficial copies to expedite the processing of their pending applications yet any admission granted will not be finalized until official transcripts are received.) All transcripts must be in English. Foreign transcripts must be accompanied by a certified English translation. For help, go to http://www.grad.usf.edu/graduate-admissions-checklist.php. 10. Test Scores. GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) scores earned within five (5) years of the desired date of entry. Official scores must be submitted to USF directly from the Educational Testing Service. Applicants may provide unofficial copies to expedite the processing of their applications, however any admission granted will not be finalized until official scores from ETS are received. The institution code for USF is 5828. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry. A minimum total score of 79 (on the internet based test, or equivalent) is required from all applicants who reside in countries whose official language is not English with no
Page 28 exception. International students who want to be considered for graduate assistantships that involve teaching need to score at least 26 on the spoken portion of the internet based TOEFL. 11. Completed Conduct Clearance Policy (Legal Disclosure Statement). 12. Completed Florida Residents section.
Admission to the Sociology Ph.D. Program Page 29 Application Items In addition to the above, successful students in the Ph.D. program generally demonstrate the following minimum requirements, and electronically submit the following items, for admission: Completed USF application Satisfaction of USF Requirements for Graduate Study Completion of M.A. Degree in Sociology from an Accredited University, (for exceptions, see admission guidelines below), minimum GPA 3.0 GRE Scores: minimum of 160 verbal, 144 quantitative TOEFL score: minimum of 100 (if applicable) Statement of Interest Example of Written Work (single-authored, at least 10 pages) CV/Résumé Three Letters of Recommendation (submitted online by recommender) Optional: Evidence of Experience/Interest in Undergraduate Teaching
Page 30 Important Admission Guidelines The deadline for applying to the USF Sociology M.A. program is January 15 for a fall semester start date. We do not admit any Ph.D. students for a spring semester start date. Applicants who apply after the above deadline may be considered for admission at a later point based on availability. No application received after July 1 will be considered for a fall semester start date (June 1 for international students). Upon request, applications received after July 1 can be considered at the beginning of the following year for the next available fall semester start date. All applicants should be adequately prepared to begin Ph.D. work in Sociology. Ordinarily, an M.A. degree in Sociology with coursework in Sociological Theory and Sociological Research Methods provides such preparation. However, in some cases, including ones where the applicant does not have an M.A. in Sociology, additional documentation (such as syllabi of completed or ongoing courses) may be required to determine if the applicant s preparation is sufficient. An outcome of this evaluation may be a requirement of additional coursework before formal admission to the Ph.D. program. Such additional courses will not count towards the required coursework for the Ph.D. degree. Although admission decisions typically are made in February, final decisions for students who have not yet completed their M.A. degree are contingent upon providing written evidence of completion of their degree by August 1 of the ongoing year. All applications are subject to a competitive review by the members of the Sociology Department Graduate Committee. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. It is highly recommend that applicants establish contact with the Sociology Graduate Director early in the application process: socgraddirector@usf.edu.
Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree Page 31 Successful completion of the program requires that students meet both Department and College requirements. The complete regulations covering graduate studies at the University of South Florida are found at: http://catalog.grad.usf.edu/. The following description of items is not exhaustive, it only explains those most commonly affecting students. It is the responsibility of students to be acquainted with, and meet, all regulations and deadlines required by USF. Grade Point Average (GPA) Graduate students must maintain an overall average of 3.0 ( B ) in all courses. No grade below C will be accepted toward credit hours for a graduate degree. The following additional guidelines and regulations apply to GPAs: All grades will be counted in computing the overall grade point average (GPA). Unless students complete and submit the missing work, Incomplete ( I ) grades are automatically converted to the grade otherwise earned by the end of the next semester (including summers). A cumulative grade point average (GPA) below a 3.0 automatically results in a status called probation. The cumulative average must be increased to at least a 3.0 by the end of the next semester or the student automatically will be dropped from the program. Enrollment Guidelines Students who have not successfully completed at least 6 units in any of three consecutive terms (fall, spring, summer) are automatically dropped from their degree program. Students who have been dropped due to non-enrollment may reapply to the University and Department by submitting a new application. Such applicants will be subject to the admission criteria (University and Department) in effect at the time of their reapplication. Students who have not enrolled in five or more years may be asked to retake courses required for their particular degree program.
Page 32 Upon successful completion of all degree requirements except for thesis, students must enroll in a minimum of 2 credit hours each semester (except summers) until completion of degree. Students must be enrolled in at least 2 credit hours of thesis hours or directed reading during the semester in which they plan to graduate, including graduation in a summer session. All credits used to satisfy the requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be taken and completed within seven (7) academic years prior to the date of graduation.
Coursework for the Ph.D. Degree Page 33 The Ph.D. degree in Sociology requires 60 credit hours of graduate level coursework after completion of the M.A. degree. Six (6) of these credit hours are required disciplinary courses, and another six (6) are required interdisciplinary courses. Next, nine (9) credit hours are required to come from disciplinary electives, twelve (12) credit hours from interdisciplinary electives and three (3) credit hours from a specialty methods course. Lastly, six (6) hours of dissertation proposal preparation are required, as well as 18 credit hours of dissertation research (which will require at least two semesters to complete). I. Disciplinary Requirements (15 credit hours) Advanced Theory (SYA 7019) Advanced Research Methods and Study Design (SYA 7515) Sociology Electives (9 credit hours) Notes about Disciplinary Electives: Up to six (6) credit hours of independent studies or directed reading courses supervised by faculty of the sociology department may be credited toward the disciplinary electives requirement. No 4000 level courses, or 6000 or 7000 level courses that are cross-listed with 4000 level courses, are acceptable courses for Ph.D. students. As a rule, the USF Sociology Department does not cross-list any of its graduate courses with undergraduate courses. II. Interdisciplinary Requirements (18 credit hours) Interdisciplinary Pro-seminar (SYA 7939) Interdisciplinary Capstone Experience (SYA 7939) Interdisciplinary Electives (12 credit hours) Notes about Interdisciplinary Electives: Interdisciplinary electives have to be taken in at least two different disciplines outside sociology. You may want to consider courses in the following departments in the College of Arts and Sciences: GIA (Government and International Affairs), History, Anthropology,
Page 34 Communication, Geography, Philosophy, English, American Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Africana Studies, Geography, Architecture, Criminology and others. Courses offered in other Colleges, such as Public Health, Education, School of Social Work, School of Aging Studies, Medical School or others might also be acceptable. Note that you will earn as many credit hours as the course provides. Some departments offer four (4) credit hour courses. If students can find and take three four (4) credit hour courses in at least two departments other than sociology, this will meet the independent electives requirement. No more than three (3) credit hours of independent studies or directed readings supervised by a graduate faculty member of another department will count towards the interdisciplinary electives requirement. No service learning or internship graduate courses are acceptable as interdisciplinary elective credits. However, scholarly graduate courses which include a service learning component shall be accepted (request approval before enrolling). If in any doubt, seek prior approval. No 4000 level courses, and no 6000 or 7000 level courses that are crosslisted with 4000 level courses in another department s course schedule, are acceptable credit hours for Ph.D. students, regardless of how much additional course work will be required. Courses taught by sociology faculty which are cross-listed at the same level with other departments will count as interdisciplinary electives only if you enroll by using the other department s course prefix and number. They will count as disciplinary electives if you enroll with the sociology department prefix and number. III. Specialty Methods Course (3 credit hours) Any methods class offered in the Department of Sociology will meet this requirement. These may include: Ethnography, Qualitative Methods, Social Network Analysis, Narrative: Topic and Method, and others. Specialty methods courses taken outside of the Sociology Department need to be approved by the Graduate Director in advance, before the beginning of the semester. If advance notice is not given, and a completed specialty methods course is not considered suitable for Sociology Ph.D. students, the Graduate Director can request that the student take another methods course that will meet the program s expectations.
IV. Dissertation Proposal (6 credit hours) (SYA 7939) Page 35 Dissertation Proposal credit hours cannot be taken in the first year. The required 6 credit hours can be taken during one semester or spread out over two or more semesters. Dissertation Proposal credit hours must be taken with the anticipated chair of the dissertation committee. All Dissertation Proposal credit hours must be completed during the semester in which students successfully defend their dissertation proposal. In other words, they cannot be taken after the dissertation proposal has been defended. V. Dissertation Research (18 credit hours) (SYA 7980) Dissertation Research credit hours can only be taken during the semesters following the student s successful defense of his or her dissertation proposal and formal Advancement to Candidacy. This means that a full year of dissertation research (9 credit hours per semester, for two semesters) is required following the dissertation proposal defense. The completed dissertation can be defended during the second semester of this year. Dissertation Research credit hours can be taken over two semesters or spread out over more than two semesters. Dissertation Research credit hours must be taken with the chair of the dissertation committee. Notes on Transferring Graduate Courses No graduate credit hours completed before the completion of the M.A. thesis, at USF or any other university, can be transferred into the Ph.D. program. These credits are already used up. Students seeking to transfer course credits taken as Ph.D. students in other disciplines or at other universities into the USF Sociology Ph.D. program need to file a petition with the Graduate Committee before the beginning of their second semester in the program. Even though it is very unlikely that any such credits will be accepted, each petition will be considered.
Tips for Choosing Courses Page 36 The Graduate Director will distribute a list and short descriptions of Sociology Department graduate courses forthcoming in the next semester several weeks before enrollment opens to all students by email. The Graduate Director will also solicit and distribute received lists of graduate courses forthcoming in a range of other USF departments (typically including Government and International Affairs, History, Anthropology, Communications, Architecture, and possibly others). All forwarded courses are pre-approved as interdisciplinary electives, however they are not automatically approved as acceptable specialty methods courses (see above). It is strongly recommended that students meet with their mentor prior to the enrollment opening day to discuss their course options and choices for the upcoming semester. Students and mentors should ask the Graduate Director if there are questions about which courses are required at what time in the program. Due to the great demand for Sociology graduate courses by graduate students outside of the sociology department, it is strongly recommended that Sociology Ph.D. students contact the instructor in advance to save a seat or provide a permit in advance, if possible, and that they enroll in all selected courses on the first day of enrollment. The Graduate Director will save seats (and may arrange automatic enrollment) in courses that are required for Ph.D. students during a particular semester or year. However, there is no guarantee that a sociology graduate student will be permitted into a sociology elective course after enrollment opened to all USF students. When in doubt, enroll! If a course is full, ask to be put on a waitlist and attend the first meeting. It happens that graduate students change their mind and drop a course before the beginning of the semester, and it sometimes happens that they do not attend the first day of classes which is mandatory to secure a seat. Have a backup plan, just in case your preferred courses fill up more quickly than expected; especially courses outside of Sociology. Always contact the instructor in advance if you really want to take their course. You want to make sure that (a) you are allowed to register some