Applying to the Ph.D. Program
Prospective students must apply using the online application.
Every year we welcome a diverse cohort of students to the doctoral program in sociology. Our students come from all walks of life and from many different parts of the world.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have (or plan to have) an undergraduate degree by the start of the program. A master's degree is not required. We accept students with extensive experience in the social sciences as well as students with backgrounds in the humanities and hard sciences. A degree in sociology is not required.
Admitted cohorts include recent graduates from undergraduate programs and others who have previously completed graduate degrees. We also welcome applicants from the private sector and/or those who have spent a number of years pursuing careers outside of academia.
- A statement of academic purpose
- The statement of academic purpose (maximum of 1,000 words) should describe your past academic work and preparation related to your intended field of study, and your plans for graduate study at Columbia. If you intend to transfer from a graduate program at another university, please explain why you wish to do so. If you are not currently pursuing an academic program, please describe your activities since you last enrolled in an academic institution. If there has been a break in your educational experience, please include a brief explanation.
- A personal statement
- The personal statement (maximum of 1,000 words) should describe how your personal experiences and history will allow you to contribute to the wealth of perspectives in the entering class of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and in the Columbia community at large.
- A sample of scholarly writing
- The sample should be 15-20 pages in length, exclusive of the bibliography or references, and should demonstrate your academic writing ability. It need not be a sociological study or document, although we prefer to see your social scientific writing.
- Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources
- At least two letters must be from academic sources.
- Transcripts of all previous post-secondary education
- A curriculum vitae or résumé
- GRE scores
- The GRE General Test is required for the doctoral program application; GRE Subject Tests are not required.
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores
- These scores are only required for international applicants who need to fulfill the English Proficiency Requirement.
- Payment of the application fee
- Requests for application fee waivers should go directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
The deadline for applying to the Ph.D. program is 11:59pm ET on Thursday January 4, 2024.
For additional information about application components and policies, please see the GSAS website.