Frquently Asked Questions

How do I apply to the Sociology MA or Ph.D. program?

Applications are online and can be found on the Graduate Studies website. Please consult the graduate catalog for specific admission requirements and deadlines.

Do I need to take the GRE?

Yes. In order to have a complete application on file with UCF you must take the GRE. You should also allow for enough time for your scores to get from Educational Testing Services to us.

What is the difference between the thesis and non-thesis option for the MA degree?

Our MA degree is 30 hours regardless of whether or not you complete a thesis. If you chose to complete a thesis, you will use 6 of the 30 hours to conduct the research for your thesis, if you choose the non-thesis option you will take elective coursework for those 6 hours and need to pass a comprehensive exam. The other difference is that with the non-thesis track there is an additional required core course, bringing the total to five.

Do you have funding available for graduate students?

Yes, the department has some funding in the form of Graduate Assistantships for both MA and PhD students. Master's students who receive assistantships work as either a teaching or research assistant for Sociology faculty. Ph.D. students on assistantships may assist faculty and may also teach their own course. If you are interested in an assistantship, your completed application must be received by the priority deadline. Students may also be eligible for college and university fellowships. Please contact the graduate director for more information on this type of funding.

How do I register for courses?

Once you have been admitted to the program you will be able to access the MyUCF website. You can search for courses for our department by selecting the Department of Sociology & Anthropology and then graduate courses. Please note that because there are two disciplines in our department Anthropology graduate courses will also show up here. Registration for courses is all online through this portal.

What are the areas of concentration in which I can study if I choose to attend the UCF Sociology doctoral program?

Our PhD program has 4 main areas of concentration: crim/deviance, domestic violence, inequalities, and urban/environment. There are a number of courses that you can select from in each of these areas so that you may tailor your educational experience.

Can I participate in a research practicum?

Yes - Our program has an applied focus and we encourage you to use the methodological skills you will learn out in the Central Florida Community. We have many contacts with agencies such as domestic violence and homeless shelters.

How many faculty participate in the graduate program.

There are currently 18 Sociology faculty in our department and active in the graduate program. You can visit our web page to see a description of some of their areas of interest.

Do you offer any graduate degrees at the regional campuses?

Yes. We offer the MA in Applied Sociology at the Cocoa campus as well as the Orlando campus.