Curriculum

Stage I. Substantive Course Work

Students are expected to become thoroughly familiar with the most central and current sociological perspectives, concepts, and theories. They are also required to develop substantial awareness, through coursework, of the problems investigated by sociologists of education and the major empirical debates and findings in these areas.

Program Requirements

The Sociology of Education Ph.D. program requires 48 credits of coursework for students who matriculate with a master’s degree in a related field, and 65 credits for students who matriculate with a bachelor’s degree only or an unrelated graduate degree. The coursework stage typically takes two to three years for full-time students.

All doctoral students in Sociology of Education must complete the following:

48 credits total

(students who matriculate with a master’s in a related field)

• Departmental Seminar (3 credits): All doctoral students in the Department of Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities (ASH) must complete ASH-GE 3011 Department Seminar in their first or second year.
• Foundations Requirements in Sociology of Education (6 credits): Typically students take two of the following courses: SOED-GE 2002 Sociology of Education, SOED-GE 2325 Social and Cultural Studies in Education, SOED-GE 2372 Critical Social Theory and Education, and SOED-GE 3030 Classical Social Theory.
• Sociology of Education Electives (6 credits): All Ph.D. students are required to also take two elective courses in Sociology of Education. These may include, but are not limited to: SOED-GE 2374 Race and Racism, SOED-GE 2163 Sociology of Higher Education, and SOED-GE 2373 Gender and Inequality: The Role of Schools.
• Research Methods Courses (18 credits): In Sociology of Education, these should include at least one each of foundational qualitative and quantitative methods classes. Any prerequisites that are needed for students to fulfill their specialized research methodology course requirement can and should be applied here. Research electives should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Additionally, research classes can be found outside of Steinhardt or NYU through the IUDC. Typically, our students choose from the following research courses:
  • APSTA-GE 2002 Statistics for Behavioral and Social Sciences II (2 credits)
  • APSTA-GE 2110 Large Databases in Education Research (3-4 credits)
  • APSTA-GE 2139 Survey Research Design (3 credits)
  • INTE-GE 2007 Qualitative Methods in International Education (4 credits)
  • INTE-GE 2008 Quantitative Methods in International Education (4 credits)
  • PADM-GP 2902 Regression and Introduction to Econometrics (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 2140 Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 2142 Interview and Observation (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 2143 Participatory Action Research (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 2147 Fieldwork: Data Collection (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 2148 Fieldwork: Data Analysis (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 3040 The Listening Guide Method (3 credits)
  • RESCH-GE 3045 The Advanced Listening Guide (3 credits)
• Non-SOED Specialization Courses (12 credits): These courses will be selected by the student with approval of their advisor. Typically students take at least two courses outside of the ASH Department but within Steinhardt and then two courses outside of Steinhardt, either within or outside of NYU (GSAS, Wagner, IUDC, etc.). 
• Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 credits): Students will take a dissertation proposal seminar either in ASH or in a program that is most relevant to the student’s field of study. 

65 credit total requirements (in addition to what is above)

(Students who matriculate with a B.A. only or a graduate degree in an unrelated field)

Students who matriculate with a B.A. only, or an unrelated graduate degree, must take an additional 17 credits from the categories 2-5 above in consultation with their advisor. 

Optional: Independent Study (0-6 units): An independent study (SOED-GE 2300) provides students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty member on a particular topic or creative project. The course SOED-GE 2300 may count towards a student's research course requirements or towards content-related requirements, depending on scope of the project.

The special section, SOED-GE 2301 Independent Study, supports Sociology of Education students pairing an internship or fieldwork experience with coursework for course credit. Through course meetings and assignments, along with working in a professional setting, students develop the necessary skills for their career. Students complete at least 45 hours of work per credit.

Stage II. Department 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. 

Stage III. 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 Ph.D. 

Stage IV. Dissertation and Final Oral

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.