Graduate

We invite you to learn more about Baylor’s PhD program in Sociology, where students receive hands-on mentorship and are part of a highly productive academic community.

Our faculty are accomplished scholars, regularly publishing in leading academic journals and receiving funding from top public and private sources. Recent achievements include Dr. Laura Upenieks winning the Early Career Award in the Sociology of Religion from the American Sociological Association, and Dr. Matthew Andersson earning the ASA’s Best Book Award from the Section on Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity. Additionally, Drs. Jerry Park and Kevin Dougherty currently serve as presidents of the two leading scholarly societies of the sociology of religion.

Beyond academia, we’re making a broader impact. Our faculty’s research has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today. And our “Values and Beliefs of the American Public Survey” is uncovering novel trends in religion, politics, family life, and more, influencing public conversations on these critical topics.

At Baylor, you’ll receive personalized mentorship. From day one, you’ll be paired with faculty for training and guidance. We offer 5 years of guaranteed funding, including financial support for conference travel and workshops. For those interested in practical, community-based research or teaching, we provide hands-on training, including a two-semester teaching mentorship.

Our graduates have gone on to excel in academia, securing positions at institutions like Penn State, LSU, and Rice. Others have earned prestigious postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard and Seoul National University, or moved into industry roles at top firms like Amazon, Meta, and AstraZeneca.

Baylor is located in central Texas, one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. With our university’s growth and momentum, we are committed to producing top-tier sociologists who are passionate about doing research with a purpose.