To obtain specific admissions requirements on how to apply to Graduate School, prospective students should visit this page:

http://www.uab.edu/cas/sociology/graduate-programs

Grad Degree Offered Info

Degree Offered:	M.A. in Sociology, Ph.D. in Medical Sociology
Director:	Magdalena Szaflarski, Ph.D.
Phone:	(205) 934-0825
E-mail:	szaflam@uab.edu
Website:	http://www.uab.edu/cas/sociology
Director: Online M.A.	Cullen Clark, Ph.D.
Phone:	(205) 934-3322
E-mail	culclark@uab.edu

Sociology M.A. Program

Prospective students should use website below to obtain specific admissions requirements on how to apply to Graduate School:

http://www.uab.edu/cas/sociology/graduate-programs/online-professional-ma/online-ma-admissions

The Department of Sociology offers two plans (Plan I and Plan II) for the M.A. Degree

Master of Arts in Sociology 

The online Applied Sociology M.A. degree (Plan II) provides strong disciplinary training, along with professional and research experience, to prepare students for careers in business, non-profits, government agencies and the continued professional development of teaching careers. It also offers courses that enable students to apply a sociological perspective to data analytics. To be admitted in good standing, candidates must meet all Graduate School admission requirements.

The Plan II degree is not a step toward obtaining a PhD in Medical Sociology. Students deciding to move into the Medical Sociology Ph.D. Program will need to meet the core requirements from Plan I (refer to Medical Sociology PhD requirements.)

Requirements		Hours
SOC 613	Intro to Applied Sociology Research Methods	3
SOC 623	Applied Sociological Theory	3
SOC 626	Applied Sociology	3
SOC 627	Applied Social Psychology	3
SOC 676	Capstone Project	6
Electives (12 hours):		12
SOC 620	Public Sociology
SOC 628	Teaching Sociology
SOC 629	Sociology of the South
SOC 637	Practicum in Innovation, Creativity, and Applied Sociology
SOC 645	Sociological Practice
SOC 698	MR Level Non-Thesis Research.
SOC 714	Survey Research Methods
SOC 715	Program Evaluation
SOC 716	Social Stratification
SOC 718	Social Capital and Social Networks
SOC 729	Consumer Culture
SOC 730	Sociology of Education
SOC 740	Deviant Behavior
SOC 760	Sociology of Death and Dying
SOC 783	Health Care Delivery Systems
SOC 786	Health Disparities
SOC 792	Seminar in Substantive Sociological Areas
SOC 794	Special Topics
Total Hours		30

Medical Sociology Ph.D. Program

Prospective students should use website below to obtain specific admissions requirements on how to apply to Graduate School:

http://www.uab.edu/cas/sociology/graduate-programs

Medical Sociology Ph.D. Program

This program is designed to provide students with the coursework and research experiences to become leading researchers, professors, and practitioners in medical sociology. Doctoral training in medical sociology exposes students to the central issues of the field through a variety of methodological techniques encompassing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Graduate students study the social and cultural bases of health beliefs and behaviors, organizational structures of health care delivery, and health disparities, to name a few examples. Students acquire expertise in theory formulation and data analysis.

There are abundant opportunities for graduate students to work with faculty on research projects in medical and health science settings across the campus.

Admission

Admission to the Ph.D. program in Medical Sociology requires the approval of the Sociology Graduate Committee and the Graduate School. This administrative body is responsible for recruiting the most qualified graduate students and for balancing the interests of the Medical Sociology program with the available financial resources. The committee reviews and makes recommendations for admission.

 Minimum admission requirements are as follows:

• A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution in sociology or a related field with a minimum of 18 hours of social science coursework, preferably including social theory, statistics, and research methodology;

• An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, based on a 4.0 system, or a 3.2 GPA for the last 60 semester hours in a BA/BS program;

• A 3.0 GPA in all previous graduate coursework;

• For international students, a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or other exam aligning with UAB Graduate School minimum admission requirements. The Graduate School exempts students from some countries where education is in English (see Graduate School website for current list of countries)

Furthermore, the following criteria are also required in the admissions process:

• Evidence of Scholarship (e.g., Writing Sample);
• Evidence of Quantitative Preparation or Ability (e.g., statistics or math coursework; GRE test results)

• Statement of Purpose, with emphasis on Research and Scholarship;

• Three Letters of Recommendation; 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Exceptional students who fail to meet the above requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Program Tracks

Students admitted to the Medical Sociology PhD Program will follow one of three tracks:

• Track 1 Students who enter with a BA (90 credit hours needed for PhD)
• Track 2 Students who enter with a MA (or equivalent) and their prior thesis is accepted by our program (75 credit hours needed for PhD)
• Track 3 Students who enter with a MA (or equivalent) and a thesis is required to be completed in the program (81 credit hours needed for PhD)

For students entering with a Master’s Degree or equivalent, the Graduate Program will review the student’s application packet, evaluate course transfers (previous courses can only be used if the class was never used for a degree), and designate the student to a track. Students entering the program with a master's degree are granted waivers for a maximum of 16 semester hours of graduate work, upon approval of the Graduate Program Director. Only electives can be waived; required courses, including two medical sociology core courses, must be taken in the program. Students transferring from another graduate program without having received a graduate degree may be granted waivers for a maximum of 12 semester hours of graduate work, upon approval of the Graduate Program Director and the professors in charge of the respective coursework in question. The latter hours are considered transfer credits, and their allowance is governed by the Graduate School.

If the student completed a master’s thesis in another program, they must also submit a copy to the Graduate Program Director for evaluation before the final track designation. Students who have a Master’s Degree or equivalent but have not written a thesis will be required to write a Master’s Thesis (Track 3) before they proceed to the dissertation. Students who enter the program with a master’s degree are not required to make an oral defense of their thesis approved by another accredited institution; however, the program reserves the right to not accept their previous thesis and place the student on Track 3. Students in Track 3 have an option of applying for the M.A. in Sociology degree if they desire.

Students who enter with a master’s degree and have taken comprehensive exams at their prior institution can petition the Graduate Committee to possibly waive the exam at UAB. Otherwise, all students entering, whether they have a master’s degree or not, must take comprehensive exams at UAB.

Advising

The Graduate Director and/or the student's faculty advisor/mentor will provide continuous advisement on academic progress during the student's graduate study, including assistance with course selection and recommendations for research experiences that are consistent with the student's developing interests and abilities. In addition, each year the student will be formally evaluated by the Graduate Committee and will be provided with performance feedback.

Research supervision is provided by faculty whom students select to chair the master's thesis and doctoral dissertation committees. Typically, the student will select persons with whom a close, supportive relationship develops. Entering graduate students are assigned a temporary faculty advisor that is randomly chosen and are expected to secure a research mentor by Fall of the second year in the program.

Financial Aid and Assistantships

Support is available for students through fellowships and graduate teaching and research assistantships (per Graduate School definitions). Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) are typically the main form of graduate student support. Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) may be available if individual faculty have research funding with allocation for GRA positions, with approval by individual faculty member. In addition, GRA positions are sometimes available through partnerships with other UAB departments. The placement of Ph.D. students in research sites within the Department and/or in areas across campus is an important part of the Medical Sociology Program. Such placements usually involve assisting faculty on funded research projects. Such experiences provide students with invaluable real-life exposure to medical sociology "in action."

The department will make every effort to pay for tuition when possible. Graduate assistants who do not already have insurance on their own may also receive health insurance coverage (check with the Department and the Graduate School for up-to-date details).

Assistantships are awarded based on student merit, departmental need, and available funding. Students are evaluated by the Graduate Program Committee with recommendations submitted to faculty members for funding on an annual basis. A student may usually receive departmental funding up to and no longer than four years entering with a BA degree, or up to three years entering the program with a master’s degree.

Additional Information

Grad Additional Info

Deadline for Entry Term(s):	Fall, Spring.Note: New students typically start in the Fall Semester. Spring admission must be approved by the Graduate Director.
Deadline for All Application Materials to be in the Graduate School Office:	Fall: August 1 (regular), January 15 (for funding consideration and international students); Spring: December 1 (regular), June 15 (for international students)
Number of Evaluation/recommendation	Three
Entrance Tests:	GRE is optional, (TOEFL, IELTS, PTEA or another accepted English proficiency test is required for international applicants whose native language is not English - see the Graduate School website), https://www.uab.edu/gradadmissions/apply/international-applicants
Ph.D. Program in Medical Sociology	http://www.uab.edu/sociology/

For detailed information, contact Dr. Magdalena Szaflarski, UAB Department of Sociology, HHB 460Q, 1401 University Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-1152.

Telephone 205-934-0825

E-mail   szaflam@uab.edu

Web http://www.uab.edu/sociology/

Curriculum

The components of the Ph.D. program are as follows:

Requirements		Hours
Medical Sociology Core		9
SOC 780	Medical Sociology
Core Medical Sociology Electives (Select two)		6
SOC 724	Body and Health
SOC 734	Global Health
SOC 755	Race/Ethnicity and Health
SOC 756	Gender and Health
SOC 775	Place and Health
SOC 781	Sociology of Health and Illness
SOC 783	Health Care Delivery Systems
SOC 785	Family and Health
SOC 787	Sociology of Mental Health
Theory Coursework		6
SOC 720	Sociological Thought
SOC 722	Contemporary Sociological Theory
Statistics Core and Research		15
SOC 601	Data Management and Analysis
SOC 703	Regression Analysis
SOC 704	Categorical Data Analysis
SOC 705	Advanced Research Methods
SOC 711	Qualitative Methods
Sociology/Health/Methods Electives 1, 2, 3, 4		9-24
Research Hours
GRD 717	Principles of Scientific Integrity 1	3
SOC 699	Thesis Research 2	6
SOC 799	Dissertation Research 3	12
SOC 798	Non-Dissertation Research 3	12
or SOC 799	Dissertation Research
Graduate Proseminar		3
SOC 702	Proseminar: The Profession of Sociology 1
Total Hours		81-96

Sociology/Health/Methods Electives or Transfer Credit

¹

Entering with a Bachelor's degree (Track 1) requires 24 hours of Sociology/Health Methods Electives

²

Entering with a Master's Degree (Track 2) 15 hours of Sociology/Health/Methods Electives required

³

Entering with a Master's degree, thesis required (Track 3): 9 hours Sociology/Health/Methods electives required if not seeking a Master's in Sociology degree; 15 hours Sociology/Health/Methods if seeking a Master's in Sociology degree on the way to PhD

⁴

Sociology/Health/Methods electives: SOC 706, SOC 707, SOC 714, SOC 715, SOC 716, , SOC 718, SOC 724:SOC 778, SOC 781: SOC 794, GRD 776, PY 704, PY 716 (incl. PY 716L), PY 718, PY 719 (incl. PY 719L), PY 727, PY 729, PY 731, PY 737, PY 746, HB 701, HB 703, HB 707, HB 712, HB 715, HB 716, HB 724, HB 730, HB 733,  HB 736, HB 737, HB 741, HB 742, HPO 703, HPO 704, HPO 717, HPO 728, HPO 777, HPO 787, HPO 792, PUH 703 (seek approval of other elective courses)

*Students may take up to 3 SOC 790-792 independent study courses for credit as electives per agreement with the instructor and approval of the Graduate Program Director.

*Students may take up to two online courses towards their degree. Additional Sociology online course may be approved if they are research methods courses.

*Students may take up to 2 approved external (non-sociology) electives towards their degree.

Research Hours

¹

GRD 717 Principles of Scientific Integrity is required by the UAB Graduate School.

²

Master's Thesis Research Hours: 6 hours (may be waived if no master's degree is desired, but two approved courses must be taken instead

³

Doctoral Dissertation Research Hours: 24 hours (12 hours must be SOC 799 and remaining 12 hours hours can be SOC 799, SOC 798, or approved research methods courses)

Proseminars

The graduate proseminar series (SOC 702) is required of all entering doctoral graduate students for their initial three terms in the graduate program. These classes familiarize new students with departmental policies and procedures, faculty's research, as well as various facets of the profession of sociology. This series should not only help students become situated within the graduate program, but also give them an opportunity to become better acquainted with the faculty and graduate student body and current research in the department. Students should also gain experience with basic professional skills such as identifying appropriate journals, creating a curriculum vitae, identifying one's own research interests, developing basic classroom skills, and addressing ethical issues associated with the profession of sociology.

¹

Proseminar, SOC 702 - 1 hour, Fall: Research

Proseminar, SOC 702 - 1 hour, Spring: Professionalization

Proseminar, SOC 702 - 1 hour, Summer: Teaching

The Master's Thesis

Students pursuing the doctoral degree must follow Plan I (Thesis Plan) of the existing graduate degree program by producing a research-based thesis.

Students pursuing the Medical Sociology doctoral degree in Track 1 or Track 3 must produce a research-based thesis before proceeding to comprehensive exams and dissertation.

This thesis is in the standard form of an American Sociological Association (ASA) journal article with appended materials. Specifically, this journal article thesis will consist of:

1. a journal article manuscript with approximately 10,000 words, including references, in line with ASA journal requirements, plus tables and figures;
2. additional appendices which include necessary research documentation such as human subject review approval forms from the Institutional Review Board (IRB), survey instruments, supplementary tables and figures, and extended methodologies.

 The master's thesis process involves:

1. securing a thesis chair (see Thesis/Dissertation Chair section) and completing the Thesis/Dissertation Chair Checklist (see Graduate Forms on the Department website);
2. forming the thesis committee;
3. writing a thesis research proposal under the mentorship of the thesis chair and committee;
4. receiving approval from the IRB (see Graduate School requirements);
5. defending the thesis proposal in a closed oral defense;
6. submitting paperwork with the Graduate School;
7. completing research for the thesis and writing the complete thesis under the mentorship of the thesis chair and committee;
8. completing Graduate School paperwork scheduling the defense and following Graduate School protocol to advertise the defense (see Graduate School website);
9. defending the thesis through a public oral defense; and
10. submitting the completed manuscript to the Graduate School following Graduate School guidelines. Current AI policies regarding theses and dissertations from the UAB Graduate School and he Department of Sociology will apply (see Graduate School website and Department website).

In addition to meeting general M.A. degree requirements, before being admitted to candidacy for the M.A. degree, a student in the Ph.D. program in Medical Sociology must have completed the master's level core course in theory (SOC 722) and the core methods courses (including SOC 601  or SOC 703 and SOC 704 and SOC 705 or SOC 711), completed two courses in the medical sociology core, and made a successful oral defense of the thesis proposal.

Thesis Committee

The thesis committee consists of a minimum of three full-time graduate faculty members, including the thesis chair and one member from outside the the Department of Sociology. The Thesis Chair must approve all members of the committee, and committee members must agree to serve on the student’s committee. Committee members must have UAB Graduate School faculty status. UAB faculty members external to the Department of Sociology must seek UAB Graduate School faculty status through their home department. The Thesis Chair must approve all committee members, and committee members must agree to serve.

Thesis Proposal

Students are strongly encouraged to choose a thesis topic and data in their first year of the program. A document with suggested thesis data is included in the Graduate Forms on the Department website (see Thesis Recommendations). The thesis proposal must include:

1. a clear statement of the research aims and hypotheses;
2. a discussion of the primary theories and previous research ifnormaing the study design and hypotheses;
3. a discussion of the significance and innovation of the project;
4. a detailed description of the proposed data, measures, and methods;
5. expected limitations of the study; and
6. projected timeline for each component of the study.

The oral proposal defense includes only the student and the thesis committee members. The student will present for 10-15 minutes, covering each of the major components of other proposal discussed above, then will answer questions from the committee regarding the proposal. After the student leaves the room, the committee will determine whether the student can proceed with the thesis as proposed, whether they need to make changes, or whether they need to repeat the proposal defense with a different proposal because of fundamental concerns regarding the project. The thesis chair will oversee the changes throughout the remainder of the thesis period, with the student also meeting with the additional committee members throughout the process.

Announcing the Thesis Defense

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their thesis defense’s date, time and location is sufficiently advertised to the public. Per Graduate School rules, at least two weeks prior to a defense, a student must submit a form requesting approval of the scheduled date and time. When the approval form request is received, the time and location of the defense is added to the Graduate School Calendar of Events. Students are responsible for checking the Graduate School’s online calendar to ensure that information has been entered. The student must also announce the date and time of a thesis or dissertation defense to the department (faculty and graduate students) via e-mail at least one week prior to the date of the defense.

Final Thesis

As discussed above, the final thesis is expected to conform to the standard form of an ASA journal article, as well as be formatted according to Graduate School requirements. The thesis is an independent project, but students will work with their thesis chair and committee members to receive guidance as they conduct their thesis research and draft their final thesis. In addition to the thesis proposal components discussed above, the thesis also includes a detailed results section, a discussion, and a conclusion, as well as any appendices with additional study information. Students also must update their introduction, methods, and limitations from what was presented in their proposal. The final thesis defense is a public defense that must be advertised according to Graduate School guidelines. Students will present for 15-20 minutes, covering each of the major components of the thesis discussed above, then will first answer questions from the committee and next answer questions from additional audience members. After the student and non-committee members leave the room, the committee will determine whether the student has passed the thesis defense and what—if any—edits are required. The student must then follow Graduate School procedures for final formatting and submission of the thesis.

Comprehensive Examination Policy

The comprehensive exam is an in-person written exam that requires the student to answer four out of six questions related to major theoretical, methodological and substantive issues in medical sociology.

Timeline for Comprehensive Examination

All students are required to take a comprehensive examination no later than the 3rd week of the 4th fall semester after being admitted to the Ph.D. program. The exam is expected to be taken near the completion of all substantive coursework. The exam will be offered two times a year.  The third week of the fall and the third week of the spring semesters. Students are expected to notify the Comprehensive Exam Committee of their intent to take the exam at least six months prior to the exam date they select at which time the Comprehensive Exam Committee Chair will confirm the student has the current reading list.

1. Fall Exam
   1. Notify the committee six months in advance (spring term).
   2. Study for the exam in summer.
   3. Take the exam 3rd week of fall term.
2. Spring Exam
   1. Notify the committee six months in advance (summer term).
   2. Study for the exam in fall.
   3. Take the exam 3rd week of spring term.

Reading List

The reading list is based on the major theoretical, methodological, and substantive issues in medical sociology. The comprehensive exam committee will update the reading list on an annual basis and finalize the reading list for the following two administrations by the fourth week of the Spring Semester.

Exam Preparation

Preparation is absolutely critical to passing the exam. All students are expected to take initiative and use the resources provided by the department to prepare for the exam.

Scheduling the Exam

The student is required to schedule the exact date, time, and location of the exam with the Comprehensive Exam Committee four weeks prior to the exam. Students must select two four-hour time slots during the exam week, as made available by the Comprehensive Exam Committee.

Taking the Exam

The student will answer four of six questions as an in-person written exam during two four-hour time slots. The student will receive three unique questions in each time slot and is required to answer two of those three questions in each time slot. While taking the exam, students may access any notes and materials (e.g., PDFs of articles, previously written practice questions, reading notes) they bring with them as printed or offline digital files. Access to the internet will be strictly prohibited. While taking the exam, students may not discuss exam content with anyone other than the Comprehensive Exam Committee or Department of Sociology Administrative Staff, or their designates. Current AI policies from the UAB Graduate School and the Department of Sociology will apply (see Graduate School website and Department website).

Comprehensive Exam Committee

The Comprehensive Exam Committee will consist of three faculty members selected by the Department Chair. One faculty member will head the committee (serving as Comprehensive Exam Committee Chair) and ensure questions are distributed and answers are received. The Comprehensive Exam Committee Chair will also notify the Graduate Program Director of the exam outcome. The Graduate Program Director is not a member of the Comprehensive Exam Committee.

Exam Grades

Members of the Comprehensive Exam Committee will assign the exam a grade of:

1. Pass with Honors: The exam received the department’s highest distinction. The exam is well-written and provides exceptional responses to all questions.
2. Pass: The exam received a passing grade. The exam is written clearly and provides adequate responses to questions.
3. Pass with Revision: The exam has some limitations in writing and/or response to the questions. If a student receives a grade of “pass with revision,” they have 30 days to both meet with the exam committee and address the committee’s concerns. If revisions are approved, the exam will receive a grade of Pass. If revisions are rejected, the student will have one and only one opportunity to retake the exam at its next administration. If the student is required to revise more than two individual exam questions, the exam will be graded as a fail.
4. Fail: The exam is inadequate in terms of writing and/or response to the questions. This can occur when the committee determines that more than two individual exam questions require revision. Students who fail the examination but wish to continue in the program must re-take the exam at its next administration. Students who fail the comprehensive exam a second time will be dismissed from the Medical Sociology Graduate Program.

The Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation process is as follows:

1. securing a dissertation chair (see prior section) and completing the Thesis/Dissertation Chair Checklist (see Graduate Forms on the Department website);
2. forming the dissertation committee;
3. developing a dissertation aims page;
4. having a dissertation committee meeting with all members from within the Department to discuss dissertation aims page;
5. writing a dissertation proposal under the mentorship of the dissertation chair and committee;
6. receiving approval from the IRB (see Graduate School requirements);
7. defending the dissertation proposal in a closed oral defense;
8. submitting paperwork for entering candidacy with the Graduate School;
9. completing research for the dissertation and writing the complete dissertation under the mentorship of the thesis chair and committee;
10. determining a preliminary dissertation defense date and following the Defense Timeline (see below);
11. completing Graduate School paperwork for scheduling the defense and following Graduate School protocol to advertise the defense (see Graduate School website);
12. defending the dissertation through a public oral defense; and
13. submitting the completed manuscript to the Graduate School following Graduate School guidelines. Current AI policies regarding theses and dissertations from the UAB Graduate School and the Department of Sociology will apply (see Graduate School website and Department website).

More on the dissertation committee, dissertation aims page, the dissertation proposal, candidacy, the Defense Timeline, announcing the dissertation defense, and the final dissertation defense is below. 

Dissertation Committee

In consultation with faculty, and near the completion of all substantive coursework, a student forms a dissertation committee consisting of at least five members holding UAB Graduate Faculty Status. The committee includes a minimum of three faculty members (including the Dissertation Chair) in the Department of Sociology and at least one member from a UAB department external to the Department of Sociology. The fifth committee member can be a faculty member from Sociology or another UAB department. All committee members must have UAB Graduate School Faculty Status. UAB faculty members external to the Department of Sociology must seek UAB Graduate School faculty status through their home department. The Dissertation Chair must approve all committee members, and committee members must agree to serve.

Dissertation Aims Page and Committee Meeting

Prior to writing the dissertation proposal, the student, in consultation with their Dissertation Chair, will develop a two-to-three-page summary of their proposed dissertation aims, major theory and literature informing their proposed dissertation, the significance and innovation of their proposed dissertation, proposed data and methods, and projected timeline. The student will then distribute the aims page to all committee members from the Department of Sociology and schedule a committee meeting with this same group to discuss. Comments from this meeting will then inform the student’s development of their full dissertation proposal.

The Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal must include:

1. a clear statement of the research aims and hypotheses;
2. a discussion of the primary theories and previous research informing the study design and hypotheses;
3. a discussion of the significance and innovation of the project;
4. a detailed description of the proposed data and methods;
5. expected limitations of the study; and
6. projected timeline for each component of the study.

The oral proposal defense includes only the student and the dissertation committee members. The student will present for 10-15 minutes, covering each of the major components of the proposal discussed above, then will answer questions from the committee regarding the proposal. After the student leaves the room, the committee will determine whether the student can proceed with the dissertation as proposed, whether they need to make changes, or whether they need to repeat the proposal defense with a different proposal because of fundamental concerns regarding the project. The dissertation chair will oversee the changes throughout the remainder of the dissertation period, with the student also meeting with the additional committee members throughout the process. 

Candidacy

A student is admitted to candidacy by the UAB Graduate School after successful completion of coursework, passing of comprehensive exams, and oral defense of the dissertation proposal. Candidacy is granted no earlier than the term in which the required substantive coursework is completed.

The Defense Timeline

(Dissertation Defense Timeline Checklist required; see Dept Website)

Students are expected to be aware of dissertation defense and submission deadlines published by the Graduate School. Keeping these dates in mind,

1. During the semester prior to the semester in which the student plans to defend their dissertation, the student is expected to meet with their dissertation chair to discuss their proposed defense date, as well as an updated timeline for completion of their dissertation. If the dissertation chair approves the preliminary date, the student then consults with the full dissertation committee regarding their availability and secures a preliminary defense date on the calendar. At this time, the student must fill in specific dates on the Dissertation Defense Timeline Checklist (see Department website) and distribute to all committee members and the Graduate Program Director.
2. A minimum of 9 weeks before the date of the student’s planned dissertation defense, the student is required to submit a complete draft of their dissertation to their dissertation chair for review and feedback. The dissertation chair will review the draft, return any revision or edit instructions, and direct the student whether they must have those revisions or edits approved before continuing to the next step. When the dissertation chair approves the draft as presented, students may continue to step 3. 
3. A minimum of 5 weeks before the date of the student’s planned dissertation defense, the student is required to submit a complete draft of their dissertation to their entire dissertation committee for review and feedback. Members of the dissertation committee will review the draft, return any revision or edits instructions, and inform the student whether they must have those revisions or edits approved before continuing to the next step.
4. After receiving approval for moving forward to the defense stage from all members of the dissertation committee, the student will finalize their scheduled dissertation defense date and alert the Graduate School as required.  
5. A minimum of 2 weeks before the date of the student’s scheduled dissertation defense, the student is required to submit their complete dissertation to their entire dissertation committee. 

Announcing the Dissertation Defense

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their dissertation defense’s date, time and location is sufficiently advertised to the public. Per Graduate School rules, at least two weeks prior to a defense, the student must submit a form requesting approval of the scheduled date and time. When the approval form request is received, the time and location of the defense is added to the Graduate School Calendar of Events. Students are responsible for checking the Graduate School’s online calendar to ensure that information has been entered. The student must also announce the date and time of a thesis or dissertation defense to the department (faculty and graduate students) via e-mail at least one week prior to the date of the defense.

The Final Dissertation Defense

The final dissertation defense is a public defense that must be advertised according to Graduate School guidelines. Students will present about their dissertation project for 15-20 minutes, covering each of the major components of the dissertation, then will first answer questions from the committee and next answer questions from the additional audience members. After the student and non-committee members leave the room, the committee will determine whether the student has passed the dissertation defense and what—if any—edits are required. The student must then follow Graduate School procedures for final formatting and submission of the dissertation. 

Graduate Certificate in Social & Behavioral Statistics

The Graduate Certificate in Social & Behavioral Statistics is available to students currently enrolled in a Graduate Program who have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Requirements		Hours
SOC 707	Statistical Programming for Social Sciences	3
Advanced Statistics Courses 1		12
PY 719	Multivariate Statistical Methods
or PY 719L	Lab for Multivariate Statistical Methods
PY 727	Longitudinal Data Analysis Laboratory
or SOC 706	Advanced Longitudinal Data Analysis
PY 746	Structural Equation Modeling
SOC 704	Categorical Data Analysis
Total Hours		15

¹

Other advanced statistics electives may be approved by the Program Director

Contact

Grad Degree Offered Info

Program Director	Sylvie Mrug, Ph.D.
E-mail	smrug@uab.edu

Faculty

Biga, Chris F., Teaching Full Professor of Sociology, 2012, B.A. (Nebraska), M.A. (New Orleans), Ph.D. (Washington State)

Brooker, Megan E., Teaching Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2021, B.A. (Haverford College), M.P. A. (Washington State), Ph.D. (California Irvine)

Cain, Cindy L, Associate Professor of Sociology, 2018, B.A. (Indiana), M.A., Ph.D. (Arizona)

Cullen, Clark, Teaching Associate Professor of Sociology, 2009, B.A. (Mississippi); M.A., Ph.D. (UAB)

Drentea, Patricia, Professor of Sociology, 1999, B.A. (Wisconsin), M.A., Ph.D. (Ohio State)

Keith, Verna M, Professor and Chair of Sociology, 2018, B.A. (Central Arkansas), M.A., Ph.D. (Kentucky)

Miller, Gabe H., Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2022, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Texas A&M).

Moody, Myles, Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2020, B.A. (Morehouse), M.A. (Memphis), Ph.D. (Kentucky)

Szaflarski, Magdalena, Professor of Sociology, 2012, B.A., M.A. (Michigan), Ph.D. (Cincinnati)

Thomeer, Mieke B., Professor of Sociology, 2014, B.A. (Virginia), M.A., Ph.D. (Texas)

Warner, David F., Professor of Sociology, 2019, B.S. (Cornell), M.A., Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State)

Westenberger, Scott., Teaching Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2022, B.A. (Minnesota), M.A., Ph.D., (Stanford)

Wolfe, Joseph D., Associate Professor of Sociology, 2013, B.A. (Millsaps), M.A. (Indiana), M.S., Ph.D. (Indiana)