Overview
Our Ph.D. program in Sociology, with a specialization in social justice, responds to current social changes in workplace restructuring, the declining welfare state, privatization, processes of globalization, gender relations, sexuality, governance, security, and migration and immigration practices and policies.
It offers resources for analyzing the social, cultural, and political implications of these many changes, and examines how various groups challenge existing forms of marginalization and social injustice.
With innovative course offerings and faculty engaged in diverse research projects on issues of social justice, our program provides a unique opportunity to pursue research on critical issues of our era. It is primarily designed for students who are interested in pursuing academic, research, and social policy careers. Students have the opportunity to specialize in many diverse fields of study, and the program is accompanied by a grounding in social theories and proficiency in a wide range of research methods.
2023-2024 Handbook - PhD in Sociology
PhD in Sociology Graduate Calendar
Application & Admission
The next available opening for our Ph.D. Program in Sociology is September (Fall) 2024.
For admission to the Ph.D. program in Sociology, applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Sociology (or equivalent) from a recognized university. The minimum cumulative average in the final two years of study (full-time equivalent) of the 4-year undergraduate degree must be 77%.
Possession of the minimum academic requirements does not ensure acceptance. Applicants will be assessed with respect to their academic qualifications, letters of recommendation, and career-related achievements. The specifics of the application process are outlined below.
All applications must be received by February 1st for consideration for the following September admission. Applications to these programs will be accepted after this deadline, however, these applicants will only be considered if space and funding allows.
All supporting documents and reference letters must be submitted for the application to be considered complete and ready for review.
Applications and supporting documents are completed online through the new electronic Graduate Application System (eGAS).
Application information can be found on the Graduate Studies website.
Applications must include (all documents are submitted online through eGAS):
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (unofficial transcripts in PDF format will be uploaded to your application in eGAS however official transcripts sent directly from the institution(s) will be required upon acceptance into the program);
- Letter from the applicant including a statement of their area for dissertation research (this statement of interest is not binding on the applicant) Students are encouraged to identify one (1) or more members of the department's graduate faculty with whom they would like to work;
- A sample of written work (e.g. a term paper, thesis proposal, published work);
- A personal statement (maximum 500 words) that answers both of the following questions:
1. How have you been involved in social justice issues through research, work, or community activity?
2. How do you envision your research contributing to social justice? - Three Referee Assessment Forms (referees will receive an automatic email notification to complete the forms electronically once the applicant submits the application) (one should be from the M.A. supervisor, one can be from a non-academic referee who has worked with you in a social justice area);
- A resume or CV;
- English language proficiency score, if applicable.
The Graduate Committee will review all applications. Review of applicants will include:
- A review of each applicant’s grades, written work, statement of areas of interest, personal statement regarding social justice, and letters of reference.
- Ranking of all applicants will be based on the committee’s assessment of the quality of their application and the availability of graduate faculty to advise, supervise and provide funding/research training in conjunction with their own research projects, and the diversity of subject areas represented in the applicant pool.
Successful applicants will receive an official letter of admission from the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
For more detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures please see the Faculty of Graduate Studies Future Students website.
