I am interested in a specific area (or areas) of study. Is NYU's Sociology program an appropriate place for me? NYU's Department of Sociology emphasizes both theoretical scholarship and substantive empirical research. It encourages a range of different analytic perspectives and is strong in both quantitative and qualitative methods. The graduate program complements contemporary American research -- including that focused on New York City -- with international and historical studies. Among its areas of strength are gender studies; political sociology, including social movements and social policy; crime, law and deviance; organizations and economy; culture; urban sociology; education; and social inequality. If your primary areas of interest fall within these broad categories, NYU would be an excellent place for you to do graduate work in sociology. Another way you might examine this issue is by looking at the written work and areas of interest listed by our faculty on the webpage.
Is it feasible for me to apply directly to the Ph.D. program with my B.A.? Yes. This is the situation of most applicants. We do not require that you have previously earned a Master's Degree or even that you have a background in sociology. We are interested in finding the most talented candidates who fit well with our strengths as a department and will excel here.
Do you offer a Master's Degree? The NYU Department of Sociology does not offer an M.A. program. We accept only applicants for Ph.D.
I have not taken any courses in sociology. Are my qualifications enough to meet the requirements of your program? It is not particularly important whether you have taken sociology courses before applying. We evaluate each student's application according to their (1) GRE scores, (2) grades, (3) letters of recommendation, (4) statement of purpose, and, if applicable, (5) any work or research experiences that seem like a good preparation for graduate training in sociology. If you are strong in most of these categories and IF we think there is a strong fit between your interests and our strengths as a department, then your application will be competitive.
Will my application be automatically rejected if my GRE scores fall below a certain level? No. We have no "cut off" level for GRE scores. We weigh the merits of each application on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the factors noted in the answer to the previous question. Obviously, strong GRE scores will make your application more competitive, but they alone do not guarantee admission, nor does any particular GRE score result in an automatic denial of admission.
I definitely need financial assistance. How is financial aid awarded? The NYU department of Sociology only accepts students who we can fully fund for a minimum of five years. The funding generally covers full tuition plus a stipend, which varies from year to year. This is accomplished through a combination of fellowships and teaching assistantships.
I am a foreign student, am I still eligible for financial aid? All students who are accepted to the sociology department receive financial aid, regardless of nationality.
How many students are admitted to the program each year? The amount of students admitted every year varies, but, typically, we offer admission to about 15-20 students in an effort to have an entering cohort of approximately 8-10 students.
How many people apply? We typically receive approximately 400 applications.
How do I schedule an interview? We do not schedule interviews for prospective graduate students. Students are welcome, however to contact any faculty members with whom they share an area of interest. Please see the Faculty section of our website to view faculty areas of interest and email addresses.
What is the school code for application to NYU's sociology department? The school code is 2596.
What is the application deadline? The deadline is January 4th.
When can I expect to hear back about my application? The graduate admissions department expects to mail out decisions by mid-March.
What are the program-specific requirements for sociology? GRE and TOEFL: GRE general test required. TOEFL required of all applicants who are not native English speakers (see Test Score Requirements on page 1).
Writing Sample: A writing sample is required. It should demonstrate the applicant's ability to construct a coherent argument and could be either a paper for an undergraduate class or a publication. It is preferable that the sample be 5-20 pages long and double-spaced.
What is the average
GPA and GRE score of students admitted to the Sociology PhD program? We do not keep track of the average GPA or GRE score of
admitted students. GPAs and GREs are one of several factors we consider when
making admission decisions. We also consider research experiences, statement of
research interests, fit with the graduate program, and other factors.
Can I schedule a visit
to the department before admissions decisions are made? We have too many applicants for the graduate director to
arrange formal visits for everyone who requests one. Applicants interested in
visiting the department are welcome to contact individual faculty members with
whom they are interested in working, and asking for a meeting. Faculty generally
welcome applicants to visit during their regular office hours.
I have a fellowship (such as a Fulbright)
that will fund my graduate studies. Does this guarantee that I will be
admitted? No. You should indicate that you have a fellowship on your
application. But all applicants are reviewed on the basis of their academic
qualifications and their fit for the program, and having a fellowship does not
guarantee admission.
If I am not offered a
fellowship, can I pay my own way into the program? No. All students admitted into the PhD program are offered
full funding from NYU. We do not offer additional slots for students who are able
to pay for tuition on their own.
Am I a good fit for
NYU? This is always a hard question for us to answer. We are a
relatively large department with faculty and graduate students working in many areas
of sociology, but not all. You should look at the department website to see if
there are faculty members who are working on subjects that interest you or
using methods that you would like to learn. If you find them, then you are
probably a good fit.
