Prospective Students
Thank you for your interest in the sociology graduate program at USU! This page includes a collection of resources that will help you learn more about our program and how to apply. If you still have questions about the graduate program, please reach out to Erin Hofmann, Interim Director of Graduate Studies. If you have questions about the research projects of specific faculty members, please reach out to the faculty member directly – we are generally very happy to talk to prospective students!
How to Apply
To access USU’s application for graduate programs, go to the application portal.
Deadline
To be considered for funding, applicants must submit the application and all supporting material by December 20. Late applications will not be considered. All students normally start the program in the Fall semester (late August). Spring semester starts may be possible in special cases.
Application Procedures
Applications for the MS and PhD programs are processed by the School of Graduate Studies. Please do not send any application materials, including letters of recommendation, directly to the Sociology program. Applicants are responsible to make sure that all application materials are received prior to the deadline.
View Detailed Admission Requirements and/or Start an Application
Please note that there is an application fee that must be paid before any supplemental admissions materials can be uploaded.
The supplemental materials required by the sociology program are as follows:
- Official transcripts from all previous institutions of higher education that you have attended.
- A statement of purpose. This statement is a key piece of your application. It should indicate your reasons for pursuing graduate school training, why you think USU is a good fit for your interests and goals, any specific faculty members or projects that you are particularly interested in, and any other relevant information about your skills, interests, and background that might help us make a decision on your application. There is no specific length requirement for the statement of purpose but please aim for no more than 2 double-spaced pages.
- Letters of Reference. The online application form will ask you for the names and email addresses of three recommenders, who will then be contacted and sked to provide letters.
- Writing sample. This should be something you have already written (for example a course paper), not a new piece of writing that you produce just for the application. There are no requirements as to length, but please limit yourself to one writing sample. Co-authored pieces are acceptable, but please submit a brief addendum explaining your role in creating the piece of writing.
- GRE scores. These are neither required nor recommended. However, if you believe that your GRE scores can show some aspect of your background and qualifications for the program that is not clear from other parts of your application, you are welcome to submit your scores, and the admissions committee will take them into consideration.
- International students have additional admissions requirements.
Admissions Criteria
We look for solid grades in prior educational training (generally a minimum 3.0 GPA is required); highly supportive letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic performance and potential; evidence of strong writing and communication skills; evidence of adequate background in sociology or a related social science, including evidence of solid quantitative skills; a clear commitment to a graduate education in sociology; and areas of interest that fit the specific areas of strength in our graduate program (environment/community, demography, and/or inequality).
The School of Graduate Studies offers detailed instructions on how to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
All of our graduate courses are offered in the Connect modality, meaning there are students in the classroom and students online (zoom). This is our only online option at the moment, online but synchronous.
Yes!
Please note: International students must attend classes in-person at the USU main campus in Logan, UT.
Most Sociology graduate courses are now scheduled at 4:30 p.m. offering greater availability to professionals who want to earn a graduate degree in Sociology.
We do not offer graduate summer courses due to the volume of work required in each course. However, independent study is available during the summer months. Some faculty are willing to work with students during the summer to complete independent studies but this also varies as most faculty have 9-month contracts.
Yes! We currently have a number of full-time professionals enrolled in our graduate program. We aim to make our program as accessible as possible to individuals from various backgrounds.
Yes. Requirements for international students are set by either the University or the U.S. Department of State and cannot be waived. For the most updated policies, see the USU graduate admissions policies.
Logan is surrounded by National Forest lands providing a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities (hiking, skiing, fishing, camping, etc.), and many of our students are actively engaged in those types of activities. But, there are also opportunities to take advantage of a variety of other recreational and entertainment events and activities provided both on-campus and off-campus, including theatre productions, musical entertainment, etc.
We encourage all graduate students to participate actively in the Sociology Graduate Student Association, which provides opportunities to meet and interact with other students and also provides students with a voice in various departmental activities and decision-making processes.
Logan is a growing but still relatively small urban area, at the center of the Cache-Franklin Metropolitan Area. As such, there are a variety of entertainment and dining options (including a good variety of international and ethnic restaurants) and a broad range of major national chain retail outlets. The local public transportation system provides easy (and free) access throughout Logan and adjoining communities. At the same time, Logan maintains a “small town feel” in many ways, due in part to its location immediately adjacent to extensive National Forest land areas that provide easy access to many outdoor recreation opportunities.
Faculty as well as graduate students are drawn from throughout North America and also from several international backgrounds; overall the majority are not originally from Utah or from the Intermountain West.