Sociology (Ph.D.)
Program Overview
Virginia Tech’s Sociology graduate program offers ideal training for academic, applied, and research careers. The doctoral program requires 48 graded credits and is both stimulating and rigorous, with faculty academic advisors that are open and supportive.
Doctoral students will receive advanced methodological training, gain experience teaching and develop a teaching portfolio, have opportunities to collaborate with faculty and other students on research projects, and explore a range of topics in and beyond the discipline. Students who are granted funding through an assistantship program receive a 9-month assistantship, subsidized health insurance (88%), tuition remission, office space, and some travel support.
Program alumni go on to academic positions at research, comprehensive, and teaching focused universities as well as applied positions outside the academy, including research positions in private industry or government, in nonprofit organizations, and in many other careers.
Curriculum and Courses
The core course series consists of theory, research methods (qualitative and quantitative), research design, and a foundations course on inequalities. Click here for a full list of the required coursework. In addition, students take 15 credits of within-discipline electives and 9 credits of open electives, along with 3 credits of advanced methods that they may take from inside or outside the department. Professional development courses include a class on pedagogy and academic writing (if not taken already).
Students may use their free electives to concentrate in Women and Gender Studies (WGS) or Africana Studies (AFST).
Program Milestones
Students that enter without a written master’s thesis or without a sociology background are typically admitted to the M.S. program first. All students in good standing that complete an M.S. in the Virginia Tech Sociology department have the option of applying to continue in the Ph.D. program.
Beyond the M.S., students take additional coursework (graded credits taken in support of the M.S. apply to the Ph.D.) and a Qualifying Exam in both a primary and secondary substantive area of the discipline. They then develop a dissertation proposal under direction of their academic advisor and schedule a defense with their committee. Finally, they defend their dissertation research before their committee.
Students entering with a master’s degree in sociology can complete these requirements in about four years. Doctoral students who receive funding typically are granted support for four years, depending on an assessment of satisfactory progress each year.
Admission and Application Information
Students are admitted on a full-time basis in the fall of each academic year. In addition to the admission standards prescribed by the Graduate School, students applying for an advanced degree program in sociology must also meet the following requirements:
- A master's degree from an accredited institution
- Three letters of recommendation, preferably from former professors
- A written statement describing research goals, relevant experience, and motivations for pursuing a doctoral degree in sociology
- An academic writing sample
- A 3.0 minimum GPA (on a 4 point scale) in previous undergraduate and graduate coursework
- The GRE is no longer required but is still recommended. If you elect to take the GRE, please have the testing agency send your official scores to the Virginia Tech Graduate School, code 5859
The graduate school requires that international students show that they were taught in English during their previous education, or take a language test. A minimum IETLS score of 6.5 is needed for admission. A TOEFL score of 4.5 (IBT) or greater in Listening, Writing, Speaking, and Reading subsections are required. For TOEFL tests taken prior to January 21, 2026, a minimum overall score of 90 and 20 on each subsection score is required. Click here to learn more about testing requirements.
Up to 24 credit hours of previous coursework may be transferred in to meet doctoral program requirements and electives. The department also allows for certain requirements to be bypassed if previous coursework indicates a student’s command of applicable topics. Students must apply prior to having previous coursework evaluated for transfer or considered for bypassing program requirements.
Degree-seeking students must include a $75 fee with their application, though you can check to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.
Applicants will need to include a scanned copy of their college transcripts with the online application and then arrange for an official copy to be sent to the Graduate School upon an offer of admission. Official transcripts should be sent directly from your institution(s) to Virginia Tech Graduate Admissions. Click HERE to apply now!
To apply to the graduate program, students must submit the Virginia Tech Graduate School online application.
Submission Deadline for full consideration for funding: January 15
Submission Deadline for Domestic Application: April 15
Submission Deadline for International Application: April 1
On the online application, please select the following options when prompted:
- Application Type: First Time Graduate Study or Readmission
- Program: Sociology
- Degree Type: Ph.D.
- Campus: Blacksburg (Main Campus)
- Term: Fall
Each year the department awards assistantships on a competitive basis that include a stipend for the academic year and full tuition remission. For admitted students to the PhD program who receive funding, the typical practice is to award such funding for the standard time to completion for their degree (4 years for Ph.D.). However, funding may also be awarded on a provisional basis at the discretion of the Sociology Graduate Committee.
Students can apply for such funding as part of their admissions application; no separate application is required.
The University also provides a health insurance subsidy for graduate students. Click here to learn more about the health insurance benefit.
Contact Us
Toni Calasanti, Director of Graduate Studies
Sociology Department
648 McBryde Hall
540-231-8961
toni@vt.edu