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Sociology Ph.D.
Doctoral Degree
Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
2-4 years
Credit Hours:
42 (with master's) or 72 (with bachelor's)
Go beyond theories, facts and figures to become an independent critical thinker and
innovative researcher.
Pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology at the University of North Texas
prepares you to be an independent researcher or instructor in higher education. You'll
learn to apply social science perspectives and tools to problems and improve quality
of life. You can concentrate your studies in the areas of comparative and global sociology,
social stratification, or health, illness and aging.
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Request More InfoWhy Earn a Sociology Ph.D.?
The objective of the Sociology program is to produce intellectually well-rounded graduates capable of functioning effectively in either an academic or a sociological practice setting, analyzing social groups and relationships between groups, and evaluating the influence of social and cultural factors on important social outcomes.
While enrolled in our doctoral program, you’ll have opportunities to work closely with faculty members in educational and research activities focusing on:
- Comparative and global sociology
- Demography
- Development and social change
- Environmental sociology
- Marriage and family
- Religion
- Health, illness and aging
- Race and ethnicity
- Social inequality and stratification
- Social media
- Sustainable societies
- Work and organizations
Marketable Skills
- Advanced oral and written communication
- Advanced quantitative/qualitative research design
- Advanced statistical analysis/interpretation
- Advanced analytical reasoning
- Conducting advanced research literature reviews
Sociology Ph.D. Highlights
You can concentrate your studies in the areas of comparative and global sociology,
social stratification, or health, illness and aging.
We offer flexible scheduling with classes available in the late afternoon or evening
to accommodate work schedules and other personal commitments.
Our students often present their work at national and regional conferences and earn
other recognition for their research and teaching.
UNT's Sociology program is ranked 3rd in Texas, 13th in the South and 49th in the
nation by Sociology-Schools.com.
Our faculty members have published books, articles and research reports; presented
research at national conferences; and received research grants from the National Science
Foundation, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Commonwealth Fund.
They’ve also conducted research in Ghana, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico,
Malawi, Sweden and Togo.
Emphasis is placed on research experience and attaining a thorough knowledge of sociological
theory, methods and statistics, as well as major and minor substantive fields in sociology.
What Can You Do With a Sociology Ph.D.?
We train graduate students in the latest sociological theories, methods, and research in preparation for careers in higher education, marketing, social services, government, data science, health care and many other fields.
Sociology Ph.D. Courses You Could Take
Research Methods and Design (3 hrs)
Research designs; techniques of sampling and scaling; problems of reliability and
validity; consideration of appropriate tests of association and significance.
Introduction to Social Statistics (3hrs)
Probability theory, descriptive statistics, nonparametric statistics and the general
linear model, including multiple regression analysis, and their application in sociological
research.
Seminar on Race and Ethnicity (3 hrs)
Historical and institutional theories of race relations; contemporary forms of racism;
and exploration into possible social, institutional and policy solutions to the social
problems linked to racism.
Criminological Theory (3 hrs)
Examination of the major theoretical explanations of criminality, the distribution
of crime and the behavior of justice agencies.
Sociology of Education (3 hrs)
Interrelationships of schools and communities in American society; application of
sociological concepts to the study of schools as social systems.
Sociological Theory (3 hrs)
Overview of the evolution, forms, and relations of classical and contemporary sociological
theory. Focuses on the most influential classical and contemporary macro- and micro-sociological
theories from the founding of sociology to the present day.
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