Overview

Education

The Sociology program at Northwestern University has particular strength in several substantive specialties – the sociology of culture; social organization, institutions, and social movements; sexualities; social inequality, labor markets, race, and gender; comparative and historical sociology; law and society; economic sociology – and we welcome research that falls outside of these areas as well.

The second year of the program revolves around seminars, workshops and independent research leading to completion of a required second year paper. By the end of the third year, students are required to write a special field paper to show command of the literature in their chosen subfield. Work beyond the third year is directed toward the dissertation, research seminars, and workshops.

There is virtually no area of sociological inquiry that students cannot pursue at Northwestern. A look at faculty interests and recent dissertations attests to the variety of topics members of our community have investigated. The Department has particular strength in four substantive areas: culture; law, economy, and organizations; social inequality; and comparative-historical sociology.

Culture consists of three areas of inquiry: the study of how systems of ideas interact with, reproduce, and transform other social structures and social identities; the study of cultural products, such as art, literature, music; and ethnographic analysis of the patterns of social interaction of groups of people. Northwestern offers special strengths in cultural theory, political culture, sociology of the arts, and cultural aspects of gender, class, and ethnic relations.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Statistical Analysis of Social Data: Applied Regression Methods

Classical Theory in Sociological Analysis

Field Methods

Race, Racism, and Resistance

Sociology of Race & Racism

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

20 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Evanston, United States

Disciplines

Sociology View 139 other PhDs in Sociology in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

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IELTS

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Other requirements

General requirements

Admitted students must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree — or an equivalent non-U.S. degree — from a regionally accredited institution.

TGS will accept applications from international students with 3-year bachelor's degrees.

You may be considered for admission before you finish your undergraduate degree, but you must complete that degree before you enroll at Northwestern.

In general, to apply to The Graduate School (TGS), you will be required to:

Submit an application online.

Pay an online application fee by credit card.

Submit your Statement of Purpose.

Upload your transcript or academic record.

Submit your test scores (if required by your admitting program).

Upload two to three Letters of Recommendation.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year
Out-of-State

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year

Living costs

Evanston

United States

1100 - 1500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Sociology.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Education

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Evanston

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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