Admission Information

Applicants must submit a University Graduate Application. (PhD in Sociology Code: 14B8.)

Required application materials:

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended.
  
• Statement of purpose describing reasons for enrolling in the program. In particular, the Department is interested in your fields of interest in sociology, research questions you hope to pursue and how these fit with faculty interests and expertise.
  
• A short sample of your academic writing.
  
• Three letters of recommendation from people who have direct knowledge of your academic performance and potential for graduate study.
  
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
  
• International students for who English is not the native language are required by the University to submit the Test of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL). WVU accepts either the TOEFL or the IELTS for this purpose. Please see English Language Proficiency Requirements for more information.

• Identify a faculty member (or faculty members) whose research interests you

Deadline for Graduate Applications 

The application deadline is February 1. Initial offers to students will occur on March 15. Most materials will need to be received by January 15th to be uploaded for evaluation by the February 1st deadline. We do not accept students at mid-year.

Graduate Assistantships 

The department currently supports twelve Graduate Teaching Assistantships (9 months) and six Graduate Research Assistantships (9 or 12 months). Stipends are accompanied by a tuition wavier and health insurance. There is space on the University application to indicate your interest in an assistantship position; no additional information is required to apply for the funded position. 

Graduate Fellowships and Scholarships