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Our Sociology of Education PhD program provides a strong disciplinary foundation in sociology and offers an opportunity for multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary study. Our sociological approach to education understands schools as cultural, social, and political institutions. Our program is 48 credits for students with a related MA and 65 credits for students with a BA or an unrelated graduate degree. We welcome both full- and part-time students. Full-time students typically complete the program in 5 to 6 years. Most of our graduates go on to pursue academic careers and/or careers in higher education administration. Others seek out careers in education research and policy. 

Core Course Sequence

You will take coursework in sociological theory, sociology of education, and a range of sociological methods across the school, the university, and even other universities around the city, with lots of flexibility in your choice of coursework. We also believe strongly in the disciplinary grounding in sociology, and we aim to give you a strong foundation on which you can build your future research and professional work. You will learn to understand schools as social institutions, and to ask and answer your own sociological questions about schooling using a broad methodological toolkit. There is a lot of opportunity for independent work, but that work is always well-supported by our accessible and engaged faculty.

Specialization Sequence

Our program provides a common grounding in the field of sociology of education with opportunities for specialization through your coursework, advising, and dissertation research. Students who join our program tend to be interested in education for social change, in various capacities, and in understanding the way that schools both have the capacity to reproduce and to interrupt inequality. For instance, you could study the sociology of higher education, suburban schooling, or youth identities in schools – among many other specialization options.

Sample Elective Courses

We encourage our students to take elective courses both in and outside of our Sociology of Education program. Inside the program, your studies could include higher education, race and education, social theory, and gender and education. Outside the program, among many other options, you could study education policy, international education, and educational leadership. Our program is proud to provide a lot of flexibility here, both in coursework and advising, and we will work with you to develop a plan of study that best fits your needs, interests, and commitments.

Culminating Experience

The culmination of our program is a substantial, publishable-quality dissertation, based on original research and analysis, which can take the form of a book-length manuscript or a compilation of three journal articles. You will identify your own dissertation chair and committee and work closely with them to develop and complete this project. There are a number of steps along the way to the dissertation. While completing your coursework, you will be studying for an oral comprehensive exam based on a common, preset reading list and a list that our students compile themselves. Once you pass this exam, you are advanced to candidacy and complete your dissertation proposal. You then launch your dissertation research, which may involve approximately one to two years of data collection and analysis, followed by a write-up and an oral dissertation examination. 

Program Requirements

Upon acceptance to the Sociology of Education PhD program, you will be notified if you are expected to complete 48 or 65 credits. 

48-Credit Program

Course Title Credits
ASH-GE 3011Department Seminar I3
Foundations Requirements in Sociology of Education 6
SOED-GE 2002
Sociology of Education
SOED-GE 2325
Social and Cultural Studies in Education
SOED-GE 3030
Classical Social Theory
SOED-GE 2372
Critical Social Theory and Education
Sociology of Education Electives6
SOED-GE 2374
Race and Racism
SOED-GE 2163
Soc of Higher Ed
SOED-GE 2373
Gender and Inequality: The Role of Schools
Research Methods Courses18
APSTA-GE 2001
Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences I
APSTA-GE 2002
Statistics for Behav and Social Sciences II
APSTA-GE 2139
Survey Research Methods
INTE-GE 2007
Qualitative Methods in International Education
INTE-GE 2008
Quantitative Methods in International Education
PADM-GP 2902
Multiple Regression and Introduction to Econometrics
RESCH-GE 2140
Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry
RESCH-GE 2142
Interview & Observation
RESCH-GE 2143
Participatory Action Research
RESCH-GE 2147
Fieldwork Data Collection
RESCH-GE 2148
Fldwrk: Data Analysis
RESCH-GE 3040
The Listening Guide Method of Psychological Inquiry
RESCH-GE 3045
Advanced Seminar on the Listening Guide
Non-SOED Specialized Courses12
Dissertation Proposal Seminar3
Total Credits48

65-Credit Program

Students who matriculate with a BA only, or an unrelated graduate degree, must follow the course list above, as well as take an additional 17 credits in consultation with an academic adviser. 

Course Title Credits
ASH-GE 3011Department Seminar I3
Foundations Requirements in Sociology of Education 6
Sociology of Education Electives6
Research Methods Courses18
Non-SOED Specialized Courses12
Dissertation Proposal Seminar3
Other Elective Credits 117
Total Credits65
1

Students who matriculate with a BA only, or an unrelated graduate degree, must take an additional 17 credits from foundations, electives, research methods, or non-SOED specialized courses in consultation with an academic adviser.

Additional Program Requirements

Comprehensive Examination

After completing most of their coursework, and generally by the fall of their third year for full-time students, students take an oral comprehensive examination. The oral examination focuses on two areas: a list of core books and articles that our program considers to be foundational to the field of Sociology of Education and a list of readings in the area of the student's specialization as they begin to work towards their dissertation project.

Dissertation Proposal

Once a student has passed the comprehensive exam, they advance to candidacy. At this point, they focus on preparing a dissertation proposal, which is approved by the student's dissertation committee and then by two outside readers during an oral dissertation proposal defense. Generally, the proposal is written and approved by the end of the third year of full-time doctoral study.

At this point, if the student has an approved dissertation proposal and has completed all coursework, they are eligible for MPhil degree conferral on the way to completing the PhD.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

During this stage the candidate will collect and analyze the data required for the dissertation, complete the writing of the dissertation, and pass a final oral examination. This stage typically takes one to two years when attendance is full-time.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
ASH-GE 3011 Department Seminar I 3
SOED-GE 2002 Sociology of Education 3
SOED-GE 2325 Social and Cultural Studies in Education 3
Research Methods Course 3
 Credits12
2nd Semester/Term
SOED-GE 2372 Critical Social Theory and Education 3
Sociology of Education Elective 3
Research Methods Course 3
Non-SOED Specialized Courses 3
 Credits12
3rd Semester/Term
Research Methods Course 6
Sociology of Education Elective 6
 Credits12
4th Semester/Term
Research Methods Course 3
Sociology of Education Elective 6
Non-SOED Specialization Courses 3
 Credits12
5th Semester/Term
Research Methods Course 3
Non-SOED Specialization Courses 6
Dissertation Proposal Seminar 3
 Credits12
6th Semester/Term
Research Methods or Sociology of Education Electives 5
 Credits5
 Total Credits65

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.