Sociology, Ph.D. - COLA, UNH

Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, the Sociology Ph.D. is pausing admissions to the program. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.

Our department has strengths in crime and conflict, sociology of the family, social stratification, health and illness, and community and the environment. Students in the doctoral program in sociology may select one of these areas of specialization for intensive study, or they may pursue a different area if two sociology faculty have appropriate expertise.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of three years in residence and take a minimum of fourteen courses in sociology (at least eight as seminars) other than dissertation research.

Students must pass a written examination in the major area of sociological specialization and write and defend the doctoral dissertation.

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing the Ph.D. program, students should be able to:

• Transition from knowledge consumers to knowledge producers.
• Interpret and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data.
• Synthesize primary theoretical debates in the discipline of sociology.
• Conduct original research using advanced quantitative analyses.
• Demonstrate depth of knowledge in a substantive field in sociology.
• Design and conduct sociological research that makes an original contribution to the discipline.
• Write a professional publication that communicates research results.
• Deliver effective oral presentations about their research.

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Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: Currently suspended for admissions
• Spring: N/A
• Summer: N/A
• Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Durham

New England Regional: RI VT ME

Accelerated Masters Eligible: No

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Test Scores: GRE Required

GRE required. Request official test scores to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service. Test scores more than five years old are not acceptable. Student copies and photo copies of scores are not considered official. Our CEEB code is 3918.

For general information about test scores, including waiver requests and current COVID related impacts, please visit our Test Scores webpage.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

1. Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
2. Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

Additional Department Requirements

Applicants to the Sociology Ph.D. program must provide a copy of either their Master's thesis or, if their Master's program did not require a thesis, a piece of original, empirical, substantive research. All students entering the program must complete the M.A. before admission to the Ph.D. program.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.