The Department of Sociology at the University of Southern California offers the Doctor of Philosophy. Our Ph.D. students receive the Master of Arts (M.A. degree) after successfully completing the qualifying examinations. The general goals of the Ph.D. program include:

• to provide students with a thorough grounding in the core areas of theory, statistics, and research methods;
• to develop proficiency in the process of sociological inquiry through substantive foci in two of the several sub-areas areas of sociology;
• to allow for student participation in research as a means of learning to formulate, implement, and report the results of social inquiry;
• to provide opportunities to participate in such other professional activities as teaching, the presentation of professional research papers, scholarly criticism, journal publication, and the administration of educational and research programs;
• to provide guidance and assistance in seeking employment and otherwise pursuing the professional career, both during the program and after its completion; and
• to provide assistance with travel funding for graduate students.