Graduate Admission

• Our program is primarily designed for students intending to earn a Ph.D.; it includes a master's along the way.
• You may be admitted with either a bachelor's or master's degree.
• If you enter the program with a master's degree with a thesis in sociology or a closely related field, you may apply directly to the Ph.D. level of the program, which allows you to bypass master's level requirements if admitted.
  • Select "Sociology (PhD)" for the program when submitting the online application.
• If you only have a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree in another field, you should select "Sociology (MA/PhD)" on the application. Once admitted, you will have the option to continue with the Ph.D. after completing the MA thesis, or to finish with a terminal MA and leave the program. 

• a baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 grade-point average
• 15 hours of college credit in sociology, including:
  • a course in sociological theory
  • a course in statistics

Students who have not met one or more of the prerequisites above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

• A completed online application form
  • On the Program Information page, Sociology is listed under "Social and Behavioral Sciences" in the Academic Area of Interest menu.
• A current resume/curriculum vitae.
• A one-two page statement (single-spaced) of academic interests and professional goals.
• Three recommendation forms and letters focused on academic performance.
• One complete set of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants may upload a scanned version of an official transcript to the online application. A printout from a student portal is not considered an official copy.
  • For institutions outside of the U.S., a copy of the diploma or degree certificate is also required.
  • Official transcripts may be submitted directly to KU, but this is not required at the time of application.
  • Official electronic transcripts can be sent to graduateadm@ku.edu; hard copy transcripts can be sent to Graduate Admissions, KU Visitor Center, 1502 Iowa St., Lawrence, KS 66045.

Exception: Applicants who have attended KU are not required to upload a copy of a KU transcript to the application.  

• A writing sample of your best academic work or thesis.
• An application fee.
  • Please note all application fees are non-refundable and subject to change.
• Non-native English speakers must also provide proof of English proficiency. Please refer to KU Graduate Studies English Proficiency Requirements for specific score requirements. 

GRE scores are optional but strongly encouraged for the Fall 2025 admission cycle. Applicants who wish to have their GRE scores considered should request that ETS submit their score report to KU using institution code 6871.

Domestic $65

International $85

If you are a current McNair Scholar, you are eligible for an application fee waiver and can indicate as such on the application. The waiver will be applied to your application once you have indicated your status. 

A limited number of application fee waivers may available for other students. To request a fee waiver, please contact Graduate Coordinator Corinne Butler  no later than Nov. 22, 2024. 

Applications for fall admission are due on January 5. (If January 5 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the next business day.)

Late applications will not be accepted.

Accepted applicants will be invited to visit KU Sociology faculty, staff, and graduate students during our annual Graduate Student Visit Day in late February or early March! More details will be communicated in the admission letter.

• Completed application files received by January 5 will be considered for all forms of financial assistance including nomination by the department for university awards and graduate teaching assistantships for the coming academic year.
• Most graduate students are funded through a multi-year funding package comprised of graduate teaching assistantships.
• If eligible, students may also be funded through a combination of graduate teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, and fellowships.
• Please see our funding & scholarships page for more details on types of funding available.  
  • Non-native English speakers must also provide proof of English proficiency in order to be eligible for funding as graduate teaching assistant. For more information, see KU Graduate Studies English Proficiency Requirements under the Employment heading.

We accept applications for graduate non-degree seeking status.

Typically, non-degree seeking applicants do not intend to work toward an advanced degree.

Applicants interested in applying for graduate non-degree seeking status must identify the courses in which they wish to enroll prior to completing the online application.

The deadlines for non-degree seeing applications are July 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring admission.

Required Application Materials:

1. A completed application, along with a non-refundable application fee, submitted online through the Office of Graduate Studies.
2. A statement of academic objectives and professional goals.
3. Transcripts from each college and post-secondary institution you have attended.
4. The Office of Graduate Studies requires all applicants, international or domestic, whose native language is not English to demonstrate English proficiency. Please review Graduate Studies' English Proficiency Requirements webpage for additional information.