PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Sociology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• The normal requirement is completion of the University of Toronto MA, with at least an A– standing. All students must demonstrate that their master's degree program included coursework equivalent to Classical Social Theory, Social Statistics, and Qualitative Methods I. Some students may be required to take prescribed additional courses.

• Admission decisions are based on grades and indications of superior qualifications such as letters of recommendation and a sample of the applicant's work.

• In addition to the School of Graduate Studies' online application form, applicants must submit:

  • Two letters of reference from instructors or research supervisors.

  • A paper, including summary, which the student feels represents his or her best work.

  • A one-page, single-spaced typed statement of interest indicating research interests, research experience, and reasons for applying to study sociology at the University of Toronto.

  • Proficiency in the English language, demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English. See General Regulations section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency for minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language and TWE (Test of Written English) scores required.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • SOC6101H Contemporary Sociological Theory

  • SOC6707H Intermediate Data Analysis

  • SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I

  • SOC6711Y Research Practicum

  • If a student has already taken these courses at the graduate level, other courses will be substituted to obtain the 4.5 FCEs total.

  • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in reading courses may be counted towards the degree requirements.

  • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in elective courses taken outside the department may be counted towards the degree requirements unless approval of the Graduate Coordinator is obtained.

• An average of at least B+ is required in order to be eligible to continue in the following year of any program. Failure in any course (that is, less than a B–) will require a review of the student's total program by the department.

• Doctoral students must complete SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I. This seminar consists of a series of workshops designed to guide students in their graduate school career and beyond. SOC6511H must be completed in the Fall session of Year 1.

• Two comprehensive examinations, which must be completed by the end of Year 2.

  • Comprehensive exams are offered in each of the 12 areas of study: Computational and Quantitative Methods; Gender; Global Migration; Health and Mental Health; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Race, Ethnicity, Indigeneity; Social Networks; Sociology of Crime and Law; Sociology of Culture; Theory; and Work, Stratification, and Markets.

  • If a student fails a comprehensive exam, the student has one attempt to rewrite the exam. The rewrite must occur in the next available exam session.

• Submission of a written thesis proposal and its successful oral defence before a supervisory committee consisting of three faculty members. If a student should fail, the student is permitted one additional opportunity to defend a revised thesis proposal.

• University policy requires that students complete all their non-thesis requirements (coursework, comprehensive examinations, thesis proposal, and language requirement if applicable) by the end of Year 3.

• Preparation of an original PhD thesis, which must be defended at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

• Candidates must have an adequate knowledge of a language other than English if an additional language is deemed essential for satisfactory completion of research for the thesis.

• Two years of residence, whereby students must be on campus and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Sociology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• The department may recommend admission directly after completion of an appropriate bachelor's degree. Direct entry of this kind will only be recommended for outstanding students who have provided a clear and detailed plan for thesis research.

• Admission decisions are based on grades and indications of superior qualifications such as letters of recommendation and a sample of the applicant's work.

• In addition to the School of Graduate Studies' online application form, applicants must submit:

  • Two letters of reference from instructors or research supervisors.

  • A paper, including summary, which the student feels represents his or her best work.

  • A one-page, single-spaced typed statement of interest indicating research interests, research experience, and reasons for applying to study sociology at the University of Toronto.

  • Proficiency in the English language, demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English. See General Regulations section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency for minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language and TWE (Test of Written English) scores required.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • SOC6001H Classical Sociological Theory I

  • SOC6101H Contemporary Sociological Theory

  • SOC6302H Statistics for Sociologists

  • SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I

  • SOC6707H Intermediate Data Analysis

  • SOC6711Y Research Practicum

  • SOC6712H Qualitative Methods I.

  • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in reading courses and 0.5 FCE in elective courses taken outside the department may be counted towards the degree requirements.

• An average of at least B+ is required in order to be eligible to continue in the following year of any program. Failure in any course (that is, less than a B–) will require a review of the student's total program by the department.

• Doctoral students must complete SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I. This seminar consists of a series of workshops designed to guide students in their graduate school career and beyond. SOC6511H must be completed in the Fall session of Year 1.

• Two comprehensive examinations, which must be completed by the end of Year 2.

  • Comprehensive exams are offered in each of the 12 areas of study: Computational and Quantitative Methods; Gender; Global Migration; Health and Mental Health; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Race, Ethnicity, Indigeneity; Social Networks; Sociology of Crime and Law; Sociology of Culture; Theory; and Work, Stratification, and Markets.

  • If a student fails a comprehensive exam, the student has one attempt to rewrite the exam. The rewrite must occur in the next available exam session.

• Submission of a written thesis proposal and its successful oral defence before a supervisory committee consisting of three faculty members. If a student should fail, the student is permitted one additional opportunity to defend a revised thesis proposal.

• University policy requires that students complete all their non-thesis requirements (coursework, comprehensive examinations, thesis proposal, and language requirement if applicable) by the end of Year 3.

• Preparation of an original PhD thesis, which must be defended at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

• Candidates must have an adequate knowledge of a language other than English if an additional language is deemed essential for satisfactory completion of research for the thesis.

• Two years of residence, whereby students must be on campus and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time