Serve the city and your community with a graduate degree in sociology. Portland State's graduate programs in sociology will challenge you to improve people's daily lives and society more broadly through community engagement and policy-relevant research.
We offer two graduate programs: 1) A Non-Thesis M.S. program for students seeking to work in applied research or other positions requiring M.S.-level qualifications and a 2) A Ph.D. program for students seeking careers in academia or applied research requiring Ph.D.-level qualifications (students earn an M.S. on the way to the Ph.D. in this program).
Our programs provide opportunities to explore the most important issues in society, gain expertise in the theoretical and practical skills you need to conduct meaningful research and prepare for a career where you can help improve the world we live in. Our department has five primary areas of concentration: health and medicine; environmental sociology; sociology of education; sociology of gender; and law, criminology, and deviance.
Our small classes and cohort sizes will ensure you have the support you need to succeed, from your first term to graduation and on into rewarding careers in the field.
Our graduates have found work in research and service positions in government, nonprofits, private industry, and academia.
PhD in Sociology at Portland State University
Study Sociology at Portland State University, a PhD degree offered at its main campus in Aberdeen, United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 4 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for September 26, 2027.
About PhD in Sociology
Disciplines
Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Sociology at Portland State University
Entry Requirements
- Copies of official degree certificate/diploma
- Certified translation of transcripts
- Financial documentation demonstrating adequate financial support for at least the first year of study
English Requirements
- PTEMin 60
- IELTSMin 6.5
- TOEFLMin 80
Career Opportunities after Completing PhD in Sociology
Our graduates have gone on to teach at colleges and universities or work in applied research.
Graduates with Sociology MS degrees find positions in applied research or other positions requiring M.S.-level qualifications. Students graduating with a Ph.D. from our program find positions as faculty members at colleges and universities or take research focused jobs in the public or private sectors.
Our graduates are helping create meaningful change as researchers in the private and public sectors, including Research Into Action, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Veterans Affairs, OHSU, the State of Oregon, and Multnomah County's Division of Community Justice. Graduates of our Ph.D. program hold faculty positions at Western Oregon University, Lewis and Clark, Western New Mexico University, Pacific University, and Escuela de Salud Pública de la Universidad del Valle.
Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Sociology at Portland State University
How to Apply for PhD in Sociology at Portland State University
- Complete the graduate application
- Send the Graduate School’s Admissions office your official academic transcripts
- Submit evidence of English language proficiency
- Provide financial documentation demonstrating adequate financial support for at least the first year of study
- Depending on the individual graduate program that you are applying for, additional department requirements may include:
- Personal essay or statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- Standardized test scores, e.g., GRE (not required by all programs)
- Resume
- Writing samples
- Portfolio
United States of America, Aberdeen