Graduate Programs in Sociology
Overview
From its founding, Brandeis University's Sociology Department has been a distinguished small department with a distinct culture. Our culture links the key normative questions of democracy, social justice, and the good life to the critical traditions of European and American social thought and Chicago School methods of rich ethnographic fieldwork in communities and institutions. The graduate program's goal has been to oblige students to formulate questions of social and analytical importance in "big picture" terms and submit these questions to the test of rigorous qualitative research. Read more about our programs on the department's website. Application instructions can be found below.
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How to Apply
Application Deadlines
PhD: December 15
Joint PhD in Social Policy and Sociology: April 1 (The PhD in Social Policy and Sociology degree program is available to students only after completion of at least one year of graduate study in either the Heller School or the Department of Sociology's PhD program. Applications require a letter of support from the director of the home department).
MA in Sociology and Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies: February 1
Application Requirements
To apply for the program, you need to submit:
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Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended must be uploaded to your application; do not send official transcripts to our office. Official transcripts sent prior to an offer of admission will be destroyed. For more information, visit Frequently Asked Questions page.
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Letters of recommendation, submitted online. Four letters of recommendation are required for the Joint PhD in Sociology and Social Policy (one of which must be from the student's current program director). Three letters are required for all other programs.
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A curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé, which should include your educational history, employment experience, and other relevant information.
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A statement of purpose indicating your reasons for undertaking graduate study. In addition, please describe your qualifications for the sociology program and your objectives in undertaking this program. Doctoral applicants should clearly outline their research interests and how they would complement those of the faculty. Master's applicants should discuss their plans for their academic and professional career and how the degree will help them attain their goals.
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An academic writing sample not to exceed 35 double-spaced pages; the 35-page maximum may consist of a single academic essay or two shorter essays of approximately equal length.
- Our Sociology programs, including the joint master's program with Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, will no longer be accepting Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Please do not send your scores to Brandeis. Those that are sent will not be included in the application materials for review.
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International applicants should visit our International Students page to determine if official results from an English language proficiency exam are also required.
For a more comprehensive description of application requirements, please visit Frequently Asked Questions.