The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice sponsors two research centers. The Disaster Research Center conducts international and national studies of disasters and the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies conducts research on drug and alcohol abuse. Both receive federal funding and offer research assistantships to graduate students. 

Applicants should submit transcripts of all academic work, Graduate Record Examination scores, and three letters of recommendation. Applications for fall admission should be completed by March 1. Students applying for financial aid for fall admission must complete applications by February 1. 

Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths. The department admits new students only in the fall semster. 

Teaching assistantships and research assistantships are available to graduate students at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. Please refer to the chapter "Financial Aid" in this catalog for additional information. 

• SOCI 605 Data Collection (3 credits) 
• SOCI 612 Foundations of Sociological Theory (3 credits) 
• EDST 861 Introduction to Statistical Inference (3 credits) 
• In addition, one course must be taken from any two of the following three areas: deviance, social stratification, and organization. The remainder are selected in consultation with an advisor. 
• Students may satisfy the requirement by completing 30 credits of course work and preparation of written examination, by completing 24 credits of course work and preparation of a thesis (6 credits), or by completing 24 credits of course work and an internship. 

• SOCI 605 Data Collection (3 credits) 
• SOCI 612 Foundations of Sociological Theory (3 credits) 
• EDST 861 Introduction to Statistical Inference (3 credits) 
• SOCI 835 Criminal and Delinquent Behavior (3 credits) 
• In addition, three courses (9 credits) must be taken from offerings in the areas of Criminal and Delinquent Behavior and Criminal Justice and Legal Systems. 

• a minimum of 12 credit hours in substantive sociology courses
• one year in residence
• 9 dissertation hours
• the four courses required for the Master of Arts course requirement
• SOCI 813 Current Issues in Social Theory (3 credits) 
• EDST 845 Regression Models in Education (3 credits) 
• And one of the following: 
• SOCI 606 Advanced Data Collection (3 credits) 
• SOCI 611 Techniques of Demographic Analysis (3 credits) 
• SOCI 614 Data Analysis (3 Credits) 
• Students must also successfully complete written comprehensive examinations in two substantive areas and are expected to complete a dissertation representing an original contribution to the sociological literature. 

• SOCI 813 Current Issues in Social Theory (3 credits) 
• EDST 845 Regression Models in Education (3 credits) 
• SOCI 836 Seminar in Criminal and Delinquent Behavior (3 credits) 
• And one of the following: 
• SOCI 606 Qualitative Methods (3 credits) 
• SOCI 611 Techniques of Demographic Analysis (3 credits) 
• SOCI 614 Data Analysis (3 credits) 
• at least 15 credits from among the offerings in Criminal and Deviant Behavior, Criminal Justice and Legal Systems and related courses. 
• Students must also complete two written comprehensive examinations, one in Criminology and one in another standing area, and are expected to complete a dissertation.