Frequently Asked Questions by Prospective Graduate Students

Questions asked by prospective applicants


1)  What application materials should I submit besides those required in the online application?  
None

2)  Do you require a writing sample?
No, a writing sample is not required but a sample is accepted.

3)  Are the applications reviewed as they come in, or are they considered all at once after the application deadline? 
Applications are reviewed as they come in.  Most decisions are made  after the January 15 deadline.

4) Do you have a terminal MA program?
No, our program does NOT admit students who are only seeking an MA. The MA program is nested with the Ph.D program.

5) What happens if I already have an MA in sociology, or some other field?
Students who enter the program with an MA degree can ask to have the thesis requirements waived. They may also receive waivers and/or credit for prior coursework associated with an MA degree. Details are spelled out in the department's "Guide to Graduate Studies."
However, these decisions are made on a cases-by-case basis by the Director of Graduate Studies, in accordance with what s/he thinks is in the student's best interests.

6) Is the GRE required?
GRE scores ARE required. Test results more than five years old will not be accepted. The subject test in Sociology is neither required, nor recommended.

7) What are the preferred scores for the GRE?
The department does not impose minimum standards for GRE scores.  The Graduate Admissions Committee looks at all of the information in each applicants' file, and judges a students' GRE scores accordingly.  Based on data from recent cohorts, students who are admitted to our program generally score in the 600s for Verbal, 700 for Math, and 5.0 for Writing.  Again, these are not "cut-offs," and the range of scores among admitted students falls both above and  below these averages. 

8) Can I send my application materials without the GRE score?  Where do I send the GRE scores?
Yes, please send in the application materials that you have as well as your GRE scores to Notre Dame Graduate Admissions Office, 502 Main Building, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN  46556.

9) What is the school code for the GRE? 
School Code: 1841, Dept. code:  2102

10) What is the median GPA for admission to the Sociology graduate program?
Most students who are admitted to our program have GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Students with GPAs below 3.0 are rarely admitted.

11) Do you have a form for the Letters of Recommendation?
No form for the letters of recommendation.  Letters should be on letterhead from the recommenders university.  How many letters of recommendation is required?  Three letters of recommendation is requested.

12) Could I schedule a visit sometime soon to talk with someone in the Sociology Department?
We strongly discourage visits by applicants before they have been admitted to the program. If you are admitted to our program, we will invite you to visit our campus and meet with faculty and graduate students in our department.

13) Do you admit part time graduate students? 
No, our program is a full time program.

14)  How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in Sociology?
On average, students take six years to complete our program. Some students with prior experience in graduate school finish in four or five years as a full time student.

15) Can I take any or all of the Ph.D. Sociology program on-line as part of a distance learning program? 
No, we do not (and will not) have an on-line program.