About the Sociology Ph.D. Program
What can I expect from the Sociology Ph.D. Program?
The Ph.D. program in sociology at Baylor University is collegial, rigorous, and supportive. A defining feature of the program is mentorship. Faculty and students work closely together in research and teaching. The program is structured around three core areas of specialization, reflecting faculty expertise: Sociology of Religion, Sociology of Health, and Social Inequality and Stratification. Most graduate courses fall within these areas, and preliminary exams require students to demonstrate mastery in one of them. Students are encouraged to pursue research interests that intersect with or extend these broad specializations.
The first three years of the program focus on coursework. By the end of the second year, students complete research resulting in a journal article or its equivalent, culminating in a master’s thesis. Upon completing preliminary exams after the third year, students are admitted to PhD candidacy and spend the remaining years writing their dissertation. Most students complete the program in five years.
All students complete a two-semester teaching-in-training sequence. In the second semester of this training, students lead their own course under the supervision of a faculty instructor.
What about an M.A. Degree?
The Sociology Department offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Students admitted into the Ph.D. program also earn an M.A., typically by the end of their second year. The M.A. in sociology is only available to students admitted to the Ph.D. program. For students entering the program with previous graduate experience, the admissions committee will evaluate the applicant's background and may accept up to nine hours of previous graduate coursework toward Ph.D. requirements at Baylor University.
What Resources are Available?
Baylor University offers graduate assistantships and full tuition remission to all students accepted into the program. This support enables students to pursue independent research in a focused, well-resourced environment. We admit a small cohort of students each Fall to ensure dedicated mentorship and individualized attention. Assuming satisfactory progress, Ph.D. funding is renewed for five years. Each student has their own workspace and desktop computer, with access to a wide array of data analysis software (e.g., STATA, SAS, SPSS, GIS, Geoda, HLM, R, NVivo).
The department provides funding for graduate students to attend and present research papers at annual meetings for field-related associations, such as the American Sociological Association and the Population Association of America. Students can expect support from the department and from Baylor Graduate School to attend two meetings per year.
In addition to producing cutting-edge sociological research, the Baylor sociology department is known for its commitment to pedagogical excellence. Typically, students serve as the primary instructor for at least one undergraduate course during their graduate training, following guided training in course design, implementation, and evaluation.
The department is also the home to the nationally recognized Baylor Religion Survey (BRS), developed in collaboration with the Gallup Organization. The BRS is an ongoing effort to measure the religious beliefs and values of the American population. Past waves of the BRS have facilitated original research on topics such as trust and civic engagement, politics, belief in the paranormal, image of God, consumption patterns, race, gender, family, health, and work.
What are the Department's Areas of Specialization?
Sociology of Religion examines the role of religion in shaping social life, identities, and social institutions. It investigates how religious beliefs, practices, and communities influence societal norms, values, and behavior, with particular attention to the ways religion intersects with power, inequality, and social change.
Sociology of Health focuses on understanding of how social forces and structures are linked to human well-being. This specialization integrates sociological theories with disciplines like public health, epidemiology, and gerontology, focusing on social mechanisms that explain the roles of biology, genetics, and stress in shaping mental and physical well-being over the life course.
Social Inequality and Stratification considers how diverse forms of inequality—including socioeconomic, racial, and gender—are maintained and reproduced, as well as their implications for individuals, groups, and societies. Students and faculty in this area pursue multiple levels of analysis, using approaches ranging from social psychology to demography. Their work addresses a variety of institutions, including the family, education, the criminal justice system, and the welfare state.
Are there Opportunities for Applied Training?
Students gain hands-on experience in applied research through the Baylor Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD). The CCRD is a multi-disciplinary laboratory in which sociologists lead most of the research, supported by experts from various fields. CCRD researchers employ a wide range of social science methods, partnering with clients from Baylor, the Waco area, and beyond. As part of a current project, students are working with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. The CCRD encourages Baylor faculty and students to pursue projects that bring out positive change in organizations and communities. Through this work, students also gain practical skills in grant writing and in communicating research findings to diverse audiences.
How Do I Apply?
Please make your application via Graduate School Online Application.
Have Additional Questions?
Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator or the Graduate Program Director.