About Sociology in Pennsylvania State University Park Campus
The graduate program in Sociology offers advanced education for students who intend to pursue academic careers in sociology or who aspire to nonacademic research positions.
The M.A. and Ph.D. programs provide training in general social theory, research methodology, statistics, and a number of traditional and developing substantive specialties. In consultation with faculty advisers, students select specialties that are among the department's strengths, such as demography (including health and immigration); families, relationships and interpersonal networks; quantitative methods; social networks; social institutions and culture; social inequality; urban, community, and spatial sociology; immigration and incorporation; and health and life course.
Alternate specialty areas not listed above may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Director and the student's dissertation committee. Students may also elect to pursue a dual-title M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology and Demography; a dual-title Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Data Analytics; and a minor in Social Thought. A separate Ph.D. program in Criminology is also housed within the department.
All students who intend to pursue doctoral work are expected to earn (or have earned) an M.A. degree in their normal progress to the Ph.D.
Course work outside the department is encouraged. Areas of study related to sociology, such as rural sociology, geography, economics, business administration, statistics, anthropology, political science, labor and employment relations, women's studies, social thought, biobehavioral health, and human development and family studies are available at the University.
Special department-related research and training facilities include on-site computer laboratories and the Population Research Institute, the Criminal Justice Research Center, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.
Academic qualification equivalents
English language requirements
- IELTS : 6.5
- TOEFL IBT: 80
Pennsylvania State University Park Campus Highlights
| College Type |
Public |
| Campus Setting |
Rural |
| Annual Endowment |
3.64 billion USD |
| Student Retention Rate |
93% |
| Work-study program |
Yes |
| Mode of Program |
Full time; Part time; online |
| Capus Housing Capacity |
35% |
| Annual cost of Attendance |
66,348 USD approx |
| Admission Helpdesk |
admissions@psu.edu | 814-865-5471 |
Pennsylvania State University Park Campus Annual Cost to Attend
| Fee |
Cost |
| Pennsylvania Resident Tuition |
$17,416 |
| Books and Supplies |
$1,840 |
| Other Fees |
$1,034 |
| Room and Board |
$11,884 |
| Budget for Other Expenses |
$4,788 |
| Total One Year Cost |
$36,962 |
| Fee |
Cost |
| Out of State Resident Tuition |
$34,480 |
| Books and Supplies |
$1,840 |
| Other Fees |
$1,034 |
| Room and Board |
$11,884 |
| Budget for Other Expenses |
$4,788 |
| Total One Year Cost |
$54,026 |
