Applicants—whether for an M.A. or Ph.D. program—should ideally have a bachelor's degree with a standing equivalent to a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0. The degree may be in sociology or another relevant social science. In the latter case, applicants may be required to take additional sociology courses to fill gaps in their background.
The strength of an applicant's academic record is of key importance in considering their application for admission. The Graduate Admissions Committee assesses applications to both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs on the basis of the following required materials: (1) transcripts for all coursework pursued at the post-secondary level (including those involving transfer credits); (2) two reference letters; (3) proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL) only in certain cases; (4) a personal statement (maximum of 1,000 words, double-spaced); (5) a writing sample (maximum 30 pages); and (6) a CV. Please note that the GRE is no longer required for admission to the Sociology program.
The department's acceptance rate (approximately 10% of the applicant pool) means that admission to our program is quite competitive.
All applicants are required to submit a personal statement (maximum 1,000 words, double-spaced). That statement should: (1) outline the applicant's areas of academic interest (e.g., proposed research topic); (2) identify faculty members of interest (e.g., possible supervisors) and with whom the applicant's research interests align; and (3) discuss future academic and/or career plans. All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members with whom they may wish to work—in advance of applying—to ascertain their availability (e.g., ensure they will not be on leave, are available to take on more students).
Applicants whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed a degree from a recognized institution where English is the main language of instruction are required to provide proof of English language proficiency. For further information, see ºÚÁÏÉç's requirements on English language proficiency. International students may also contact ºÚÁÏÉç's International Student Services at 514-398-4349 for more information.
Applicants who are missing most of the prerequisite courses can be admitted to a Qualifying semester or year, during which they can take the prerequisite courses. During the Qualifying period, students must take a minimum of 12 credits (4 courses) per semester. No more than one Qualifying year is permitted. Each course must be passed with a grade of B+ or higher to be considered for admission to the M.A. program. Admission to the Qualifying semester or year does not mean automatic admission to the graduate program afterwards. Applicants admitted for a Qualifying semester or year must reapply for the M.A. program; chances for admission depend on performance during the Qualifying period and the quality of the overall application compared with other applicants at that time. No funding is available for students taking a Qualifying semester or year.
Applicants are expected to have taken courses in statistics, research methods, and sociological theory at the undergraduate level.
The program of study aims to provide students with an in-depth comprehension of a major field in sociology, current sociological research methodologies, and some of the fundamental theoretical issues in the discipline. Three terms of residence study is the minimum requirement for a master's degree. For the doctoral program, three years is the minimum residency requirement for students entering at the Ph.D. 1 level (those students without an M.A.) and two years for students entering at the Ph.D. 2 level (those with an M.A.).