Ph.D. in Sociology: Program Requirements

Develop a plan of study including all elective courses (disciplinary, interdisciplinary, specialty methods) that will lead to a coherent program of study and research. Courses should be chosen in consultation with faculty advisors. Appropriate courses (1) are listed at the 6000 or 7000 level; (2) have solely or at least primarily a graduate student, rather than an undergraduate student, enrollment; and (3) cover a content relevant to interests and research plans. The plan of study should be updated annually.

During the second semester of the second year constitute a dissertation committee consisting of at least four faculty members: (1) At least one committee member must hold a Ph.D. in other than Sociology. (2) At least two members, including the committee chair, must be Ph.D. Sociologists. (3) The committee chair also must be a member of the Department of Sociology.

Compile a portfolio demonstrating competencies in : (1) Being a participant in the ongoing scholarly dialogue; (2) reviewing and evaluating the work of others; (3) teaching. (see http://sociology.usf.edu/phd/portfolio/ for details). The portfolio must be evaluated by the members of the dissertation committee as adequately demonstrating: (1) Professional level proficiency; (2) substantive knowledge not limited to the particular topic of the dissertation; (3) theoretical and methodological knowledge sufficient to understand the inter-disciplinary nature of the Sociology Ph.D.

Pass a dissertation proposal defense. Students are advanced to candidacy after a successful proposal defense.

Complete and defend a dissertation approved by the dissertation committee.

To remain in good standing, students must (a) adhere to the requirements of the Graduate Division and meet their deadlines. The compete requirements are found at http://www.grad.usf.edu/catalog.asp These include, but are not limited to 1) maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0; (2) successfully complete at least 6 credit hours of coursework per year; (3) successfully complete at least 2 credit hours per semester while working on dissertation research after coursework is completed; (4) Students with assistantships must successfully complete 9 credit hours per semester; (5) all requirements must be completed within the university-mandated seven-year time frame after admission to the Ph.D. program.

Course requirements (60 credit hours minimum beyond the M.A. degree)

Credits Requirement

3          Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar (PROSEM).
6          Disciplinary Core Requirements
9          Disciplinary Electives
3          Specialty Methods course
12         Interdisciplinary Electives (in at least two disciplines)
3          Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar.
6          Dissertation Proposal Preparation
18         Dissertation
60        Total

Coursework toward the Ph.D. in Sociology

Required courses:

Interdisciplinary Core:
Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar (PROSEM). Required as the first course for all students
An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of sustainable communities. Examination of relevant epistemologies, methodologies and theories that will inform studies. Taught by an interdisciplinary team of faculty members from participating departments.

Capstone Interdisciplinary Seminar- Taken as a final course
Exploration of how innovative multidisciplinary strategies can produce communities that are environmentally sound, economically prosperous and socially equitable. Issues will be addressed in a multidisciplinary environment of inquiry where communication across disciplines is promoted. Taught by an interdisciplinary team of faculty members from participating departments.

Disciplinary Core:
Advanced Research Methods and Study Design in Sociology (SYA 7515)
A focus on developing practical skills to design and evaluate academic research in the social sciences. Issues of reliability, validity, generalizability, fit between epistemological and methodological frameworks, significance and importance of questions and findings. Prerequisites: SYA 6305 (Methods of Research) and SYA 6405 (Statistics) or their equivalents.

Advanced Sociological Theory (SYA 7019)
Alternative approaches to exploring continuing and recent issues and controversies in Sociological theory. Implications of different theoretical positions for the conduct and interpretation of empirical research. The particular theoretical issues and controversies examined will be determined, in part, by student interest and linked to the development of their dissertation proposals. Prerequisite: SYA 6126 (Sociological Theory) or its equivalent.

Disciplinary Electives (9 credit hours):
Any 6000-level Sociology course might be approved.

Specialty Methods course (3 credit hours): courses include, but are not limited to:
Africana Studies: African American Community Research
Anthropology: Field Methods;Advanced Statistics
Communications: Qualitative Methods
History: Analysis of Historical Knowledge
Political Science: Logic and Method of Social Inquiry; Political Research Methods
Sociology: Ethnography; Social Network Analysis
Women’s Studies: Feminist Research Methods

Interdisciplinary Electives (12 credit hours in at least two disciplines):courses include, but are not limited to:
Africana Studies: African Historiography
Anthropology: Contemporary Applied Anthropology; Reproductive Health
Communication: Communication of Grief, Loss and Illness; Performance Theory; Performing Social Resistence
Education: Poststructural Theory and Identity
Environmental Science and Policy: Seminar in National Environments; Environmental
Management
Geography: Weather, Climate, and Society
Gerontology: Health and Aging; Ethnic Health and Aging
Philosophy: Philosophy of Culture; History of Philosophy; Continental Philosophy
Political Science: Seminar in Comparative Politics, Seminar in International
Relations; Globalization, Democracy and Citizenship in Latin America