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Progress Through the Program

Students enter the program with and without a master's degree, and their rate of progress is expected to vary. In order to expedite progress through the program for doctoral students, the Department of Sociology has streamlined the demography and non-demography Ph.D. programs of work. The shift in emphasis from coursework to research and publishing is reflected in the table shown below.

Expected Rate of Progress through the Program

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Years 5-6

  • Complete MA thesis
  • Present at professional meetings
  • Submit an article to a journal
  • Complete coursework
  • Take comprehensive exams
  • Present at professional meetings
  • Submit an article to a journal
  • Defend Ph.D. dissertation proposal
  • Present at professional meetings
  • Submit an article to a journal
  • Complete and defend dissertation
  • Present at professional meetings
  • Submit an article to a journal

Funding is contingent on making adequate progress and maintaining excellent academic standing. Please use the detailed Timeline of Activities and Support document here to know if you are making required progress. Additionally, graduate students generally apply for fellowships and outside sources of funding to supplement their initial multi-year offers of support. Those whose work is considered outstanding are eligible and encouraged to compete for University and Departmental fellowships. Students have been awarded many prestigious fellowships as a result of their excellent research and publications. For additional information about completing the MA and the Ph.D. programs of work, please visit the links and pages below.

Please contact the graduate program administrator with any questions.