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INTRODUCTION
The Graduate Policy Handbook
includes all policies and procedures pertinent to the graduate program in the
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. The interpretation of
these policies and procedures is the responsibility of the Graduate Policy
Committee. Petitions for waivers of any requirements are the
responsibility of, and must have the approval of, the Graduate Policy
Committee.
Students may appeal decisions of
the GPC following this procedure:
1. Petition the GPC for
reconsideration by adding additional information that the applicant feels may
be significant.
2. In the event the GPC does not change its decision, students may petition
the full faculty. A 3/4 vote is required to overrule the GPC.
Students who allege they have been
aggrieved because of perceived discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual
orientation, handicap or because a member of the University community fails
to follow published University or Departmental procedure should utilize the
Student Grievance Procedure stipulated by University policy.
Deletions or modifications to the
Graduate Policy Handbook become effective at the beginning of the following
academic year. Students are subject to rules existing at the time of
entrance into the program.
Students should also consult the
Graduate Catalog of the University of Delaware for University regulations
regarding graduate degrees.
This version of the Graduate
Handbook includes all revisions made since the publication of the original in
1991.
Important:
Requirements and other information are subject to change. Students are
responsible for maintaining up to date information.
I. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Department of Sociology and
Criminal Justice offers a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy degree
program in both Sociology and Criminology. The primary focus of the program
is the preparation of members of the next generation of sociologists and criminologists
by emphasizing systematic training in theory and research methodology as well
as teaching. These advanced education degrees are intended for persons
interested in careers in academia, public service, or private enterprise. The
Department has a large number of full-time distinguished faculty from the
disciplines of Sociology, Philosophy, Law, Political Science, Criminology,
History and Criminal Justice. This allows students to work closely with
faculty members while preserving a reasonable breadth of interests. Thus,
while both the Sociology and Criminology degrees rely on strong theoretical
and methodological foundations, they also allow students to tailor a program
that meets their individual needs.
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II. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
(International Students See:
http://www.udel.edu/ofs)
All admission and funding
decisions are made by the Graduate Policy Committee (GPC). Applicants are
evaluated on several criteria: GRE scores , undergraduate/graduate grade
point average, letters of recommendation (three), and applicant's statement
of objectives. Applicants are also encouraged to submit a short writing
sample. The GPC may also consider a limited number of other factors, including challenging social, economic, educational, cultural
or other life circumstances,
quality of undergraduate program, undergraduate major, relevant
work/field/research experience, publications and reports, presentations, or
other work demonstrating the ability to do graduate study in the field.
International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Admission to the
graduate program is selective and competitive based on the number of
well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities.
Those who meet 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. Completed applications
are due February 1. We offer Fall admission only.
III. FINANCIAL AID
A.
Procedures for Awarding Funding
Financial aid is available to
graduate students in the form of teaching assistantships, research
assistantships, tuition scholarships, and University fellowships. Assistantships
and fellowships consist of tuition and a stipend for the September-May
academic year. Awards are competitive and merit-based.
All funding decisions are made in
consultation with the Graduate Policy Committee, the Director of Graduate
Studies, and the Department Chair. Continuing students without funding may
petition the GPC to be considered for future funding. Letters of petition
should be sent to the Chair of the GPC by the end of the Fall semester in
order to be considered for funding for the following academic year.
B.
Procedures for Assigning Assistantships
Research Assistantships:
Appointments are made in consultation with the faculty member conducting the
research, the Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Chair. Faculty who
anticipate funding for a research assistantship for the following academic
year are encouraged to contact graduate students to inform them of possible
research assistantship opportunities and to identify qualified students who
wish to work on their projects. Research assistantships on funded projects may
be offered to students not currently funded by the University or Department.
Teaching Assistantship:
Appointments are made by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation
with the Chair each semester. Faculty are required to submit a request for a
teaching assistant form for each semester they are seeking an assistant
specifying their expectations of the assistant (e.g., facilitation of
classroom discussion, preparation and grading of examinations).
The assignment of graduate
students to faculty members should balance scholarly interests and
professional objectives of the student and the teaching and research needs of
the department. The Director of Graduate Studies may change assignments as
necessary and make additional assignments if new sources of funding become
available.
C.
Responsibilities of Funded Students
Assistantships carry the
expectation of twenty hours of work per week. University guidelines stipulate
that students holding assistantships are expected to give their full-time
attention to graduate study and their assigned assistantship work during the
fall and spring semesters. Students receiving University fellowships are
expected to devote their full time to graduate study and may not engage in
any remunerative employment while holding the fellowship. Students holding
tuition scholarships have no employment restrictions. All students receiving
financial aid must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Students
awarded assistantships must satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of their
assignments.
D.
Limits on Funding
Typically,
eligibility for student funding is limited to 2 years of funding for students
with a B.A. to earn the M.A. degree, and 3 additional years for these
students to earn the Ph.D; for students entering with an M.A. degree,
eligibility in typical cases ends after 4 years of funding. The GPC may
recommend extending these time frames based on a student’s progress toward
his/her degree and individual circumstances.
Funded students are not required
to apply for renewal of their financial aid. Student funding is renewed as
long as they remain in good standing in the program. "Good
standing" is defined as strong performance in coursework, satisfactory fulfillment
of their research/teaching assistantship duties, and timely progress toward
completion of the degree. The Director of Graduate Studies is in charge of
monitoring student progress, in consultation with the Graduate Policy
Committee.
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IV. TRANSFER OF CREDIT
A maximum of nine (9) hours of
graduate credit may be transferred toward the master's or Doctoral degree.
Petitions for graduate credit
transfer may be submitted only after six (6) hours of graduate work have been
completed at the University of Delaware. All petitions for transfer of
graduate credit require the approval of the Graduate Policy Committee.
Only credits earned with grades of
B- or higher are transferable.
V.ADVISEMENT
All students entering the program
are assigned a Faculty Advisor and Graduate Student Peer Mentor. Assignments
attempt to match the academic interests of students and faculty.
The academic advisor and student
should plan and periodically review a plan of study that fulfills
departmental requirement and provides comprehensive professional training.
This plan of study should take account of students' backgrounds and available
departmental resources.
Final responsibility for course
selection and the meeting of departmental requirements resides with the
student.
VI. REGULATIONS REGARDING GRADUATE STATUS
A. Definition
of Full-time Status
Students holding teaching or
research assistantships involving specific responsibilities are required to register
for a minimum of 6 graduate credits per semester. Please note, however, that
in order to make normal progress through the program, it is typically
necessary to take more than 6 credits per semester. Students holding a
fellowship or scholarship with no work assignment are required to register
for at least 9 credits of graduate level courses per semester.
Full time status is defined as 9
hours for unfunded students.
B. Normal
Progress and Time Limits for Completion of the Degrees
Normal Progress: Students are expected to make continuing progress toward
the completion of their graduate education. In order to assess their progress
and professional development, each graduate student is required to submit a
self-evaluation to the Director of Graduate Studies by April 15. The
self-evaluation should cover the student's activities involving completion of
required course work, area examinations, thesis or dissertation progress,
professional engagement (publications, conference presentations, involvement
in external funding activities, and participation in research projects other
than the thesis or dissertation), teaching, and other relevant items. In
addition, a letter from one faculty member of the student's choice should be
submitted. Under ordinary circumstances we define "normal progress"
in the following ways:
Full-time students entering the
master's program are expected to complete their master's degree by the end of
their second year in the program. Students continuing into the doctoral program
are expected to complete the doctorate by the end of their fifth year in the
program.
Full-time students entering the
Ph.D. program with a master's degree from another program or university are
expected to complete the doctorate by the end of their fourth year in the
program.
Time Limits: The statutes of limitations adopted by the Office of
Graduate and Professional Education are as follows: For students entering
into a master's program, ten consecutive semesters (5 years). Students
completing the requirements for the master's degree who are subsequently
granted admission into the doctoral program are given an additional 10
consecutive semesters (5 years). Students entering the doctoral program with
a master's degree are given 10 consecutive semesters (5 years).
Exceeding these limits may result
in dismissal from the program. Requests for extensions must be made in
writing by the student and approved by the Graduate Policy Committee before
they can be considered by the Office of Graduate and Professional Education.
C. Quality
of Graduate Work
Consistent with University
regulations, a minimum "B" average (3.00) is required for
certification of readiness to take comprehensive examinations and for
conferral of a graduate degree. Students should consult the University
catalog for further information regarding graduate standing.
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VII. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTER'S DEGREE
A. Course Requirements
All students at the master’s level
are required to take 30 hours of graduate credit, at least 21 of which must
be in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.
Students have two M.A. options:
Thesis Option (Sociology or Criminology)
Examination Option (Sociology or Criminology)
All new students are required to take a non-credit one-hour pro-seminar.
Courses Required for M.A. in Sociology
1)
M.A. in Sociology with Thesis Option
SOCI 605 – Data Collection
SOCI
612 – Development of Sociological
Theory
One course from the
following: SOCI 606 – Qualitative
Methodology OR
SOCI 614 – Advanced Data Analysis OR
SOCI 625 – Advanced Social
Statistics OR
PSYC 867 – Hierarchical Linear
Modeling OR (another course approved
by the department methods comprehensive exam committee)
5 elective courses - from
at least two different substantive areas to assure breadth in substantive
areas of sociology. Substantive areas include: Race, Gender, Collective
Behavior/Disasters/Social Movements, Criminology, Law and Society, Deviance,
Theory, and Research Methods.
SOCI
869 - M.A. Thesis (6 credits) cannot be taken pass/fail
2)
M.A. in Sociology with Master’s Examination Option
If a
student chooses not to pursue a thesis, he/she can complete the M.A. in
Sociology with a Master’s Examination Option. However, this is for a terminal
M.A. only.
SOCI 605- Data Collection
SOCI 612 - Development of
Sociological Theory
SOCI 621 - Deviance
One course from the following:
SOCI 606 - Qualitative
Methodology OR
SOCI 614 - Advanced Data Analysis OR
SOCI 625 – Advanced Social
Statistics OR
PSYC 867 – Hierarchical Linear
Modeling OR
(another course approved by
the department methods comprehensive exam committee)
6
elective courses - from at least two different substantive areas to assure
breadth in substantive areas of sociology. Substantive areas include: Race,
Gender, Collective Behavior/Disasters/Social Movements, Criminology, Law and
Society, Deviance, Theory, and Research Methods.
Courses
Required for M.A. in Criminology
1)
M.A. in Criminology with Thesis Option
SOCI 605 - Data Collection
SOCI 612 - Development of Sociological Theory
SOCI 835 – Theoretical
Criminology I
One course from the
following:
SOCI 606 – Qualitative
Methodology OR
SOCI 614 – Advanced Data Analysis OR
SOCI 625 – Advanced Social Statistics OR
PSYC 867 – Hierarchical Linear
Modeling OR
(another course approved by
the department methods comprehensive exam committee)
4 elective courses (12
credits) from Group A and B with at least one course from each group:
Group A: Criminal and Deviant Behavior
SOCI 621 - Social Deviance
SOCI 630 - Juvenile Justice
& Inequality
SOCI 836 - Application of Criminological Theory and Empirical Tests
SOCI 667 - When topic is crime or deviance
Group B: Criminal Justice and Legal Systems
SOCI 655 - Law and Society
SOCI 637 – Law and Society in Historical Perspective
SOCI 658 – Social Science,
Law, and the Legal Process
SOCI 667 – When topic is
law or justice system
SOCI 837 – Criminology and
Systems of Criminal Justice
6 thesis credits
2)
M.A. in Criminology with Master’s Examination Option
If a student chooses not to
pursue a thesis, he/she cancomplete the M.A. in Criminology with a Master’s
Examination Option. However, this is for a terminal M.A. only.
SOCI
605 - Data Collection
SOCI 612 - Development of Sociological Theory
One course from the
following:
SOCI 606 – Qualitative
Methodology OR
SOCI 614 – Advanced Data Analysis OR
SOCI 625 – Advanced Social Statistics OR
PSYC 867 – Hierarchical Linear
Modeling OR
(another course approved by
the department methods comprehensive exam committee)
SOCI 835 – Theoretical
Criminology I
6 elective courses (18
credits) from Group A and B with at least one course from each group:
Group A: Criminal and Deviant Behavior
SOCI 621 - Social Deviance
SOCI 630 - Juvenile Justice
& Inequality
SOCI 836 - Application of Criminological Theory and Empirical Tests
SOCI 667 - When topic is crime or deviance
Group B: Criminal Justice and Legal Systems
SOCI 655 - Law and Society
SOCI 637 – Law and Society in Historical Perspective
SOCI 658 – Social Science,
Law, and the Legal Process
SOCI 837 – Criminology and
Systems of Criminal Justice
SOCI 667 – When topic is
law or justice system
B. Master’s Thesis
The thesis will be in the form of
a scholarly journal article. With advice of the thesis committee each
student will select a journal most appropriate to his/her area of interest,
and write a paper of the type normally considered by that journal.
Each thesis will adhere to a
particular journal’s page limits, bibliographic format, manner of data
presentation, etc. Where appropriate, students are encouraged to
develop their thesis from research conducted for their course work, or from
faculty members’ data bases. [Adopted April 12, 1996].
Candidates without a thesis
committee may not accumulate more than three credits in SOCI 869.
1. Thesis Proposal
Procedures
It is the responsibility of the
student to form an M.A. thesis committee consisting of a Chairperson who is a
member of the faculty of the department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and
two additional members (one of whom may be from an outside department).
Upon obtaining the written consent
of all potential members, the student notifies the Graduate Policy Committee
and the Director of Graduate Studies by memo of the composition of the Thesis
Committee.
The M.A. proposal defense is
optional; the process for an M.A. proposal defense follows that of the Ph.D.
proposal defense (below). Upon subsequent approval of the M.A. Thesis
Proposal by the committee students provide one copy for their file (approved
and signed by all members of the committee). The chair of the Thesis
Committee shall notify the Graduate Policy Committee and the Director of
Graduate Studies and all members of the faculty by memo of the existence of
the signed proposal as well as the proposed thesis title.
2. Oral Defense of the
Master’s Thesis
All requirements for the Master’s
degree must be completed prior to defending the thesis.
The oral examination is administered by the Thesis Committee. The
thesis Chairperson shall be responsible for notifying the faculty ten (10)
days prior to the scheduled examination and to see that a copy of the thesis
is on file in the departmental office 10 days prior to the scheduled defense.
Any faculty member of the
department may attend and examine if desired, but the right of voting is
reserved to members of the thesis committee.
A majority vote of the committee
is required for any action. The thesis and oral defense will be evaluated as
a combined effort. There are two possible outcomes: Pass and Fail.
In the case of failure, the oral defense may be repeated within one semester
of the first attempt.
It is the responsibility of the
Chairperson of the Thesis Committee to notify the Director of Graduate
Studies in writing of the outcome.
Successful candidates need to
provide copies of the completed thesis to the Office of Graduate and
Professional Education, and one copy for the departmental archives and one
copy for the chair of the committee. Students should consult with the Office
of Graduate and Professional Education regarding regulation for graduate
theses.
C. Examination Option
Candidates for the Master’s degree
must take the Master’s examination prior to completion of their fourth
semester in the program. Students considering the examination option must
notify the Director of Graduate Studies to express the intent to take the
examination the semester prior to taking the exam.
Examinations are written, and a
maximum of three hours per exam is allowed. Successful completion of
the Master’s examination requires passing the exam in two areas. Upon
completion of the written examinations, an oral examination may be required at
the option of the Area Examination Committee.
Candidates for the master’s degree
are examined in:
I. Theory or methods,
II. One additional area from the standing areas of specialization offered in
the department.
The examination in theory will
cover the course content of SOCI 612 and a reading list provided by the area
committee. The examination in methods will cover the course content of
SOCI 605, SOCI 614 or Method equivalents and a reading list provided by the
area committee. Standing area committees are responsible for providing
reading lists and constructing and evaluating examinations. Reading
lists are to be provided at least one semester prior to the scheduled
examinations.
If the candidate wishes to be
examined in a specialized area for which there is no standing committee, the
student must obtain three faculty members willing to serve as examiners in
that area by providing reading lists and constructing and evaluating exams.
The Graduate Policy Committee must
review and approve the petition of the student and inform the Director of
Graduate Studies and the chairperson of the department and the committee of
the decision.
Grading - Possible outcomes are:
Pass and Fail. It is the responsibility of the Chairpersons of the
examinations committees to notify the Director of Graduate Studies in writing
of the action taken by the examination committee. Within one week of
notification of the grade on the master’s examination, students will receive
a detailed evaluation in writing from the chair of the examination
committees.
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VIII. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE
A. Admission to the Doctoral Program
for students with an M.A. in Sociology or Criminology from the University of
Delaware.
After successfully defending an
M.A. thesis or passing an M.A. examination, the student submits a dossier to
the GPC. The dossier includes:
1. A vita from the applicant describing: past academic achievement and
activities (including TA, RA, or fellowship awards),
2. A letter detailing the reasons for obtaining the Ph.D. in Sociology
or Criminology; and an outline of the intended course of study (including
both substance of course work as well as an expected schedule for completion
of course work, exams, proposals and dissertation defense).
3. Three letters of recommendation, one of which shall be a letter from
the Master’s thesis advisor evaluating past graduate performance and future
potential for doctoral work.
This dossier should be submitted by the end of the semester in which the
student completes the M.A. degree. If this occurs during the summer, or
during the beginning of the semester in which admission to the Ph.D. program
is being requested, the GPC will consider the request as soon as possible
during the fall semester. The student may register for Ph.D. courses while
awaiting a decision on acceptance into the program.
Normally, the minimum GPA in all
graduate course work should be a 3.5 but the Graduate Policy Committee may
evaluate the GPA in light of other criteria such as course difficulty.
Passage of the Master’s thesis is also required.
The application must be approved
by the GPC.
B. Course Requirements Regulations of the Office of Graduate and Professional
Education require one continuous academic year of full-time residency for the
Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Sociology
To permit maximum flexibility for
developing an individualized Ph.D. program, there are no minimum course hour
requirements. However, the following specific courses are required:
SOCI 605 - Data Collection
and Analysis
SOCI 614 - Data Analysis
SOCI 606 - Qualitative
Methodology
SOCI 612 - Development of Sociological Theory
SOCI 813 - Current Issues in Social Theory
SOCI 698 - Teaching Social
Science (1 credit)
One course from the
following:
SOCI 625 – Advanced Social
Statistics (Highly Recommended) OR
PSYC 867 – Hierarchical Linear
Modeling OR
(another course approved by
the department methods comprehensive exam committee)
4 elective courses (12
credits excluding independent studies)
Comprehensive Exams in two
areas
SOCI 969 - Dissertation (9
credits)
Ph.D. in Criminology
To permit maximum flexibility for
developing an individualized Ph.D. program, there are no minimum course hour
requirements. However, the following specific courses are required:
SOCI 605 - Data Collection
and Analysis
SOCI 614 - Data Analysis
SOCI 606
- Qualitative Methodology
SOCI 612 - Development of
Sociological Theory
SOCI 835 - Theoretical Criminology I
SOCI 836 - Application of Criminological Theory and Empirical Tests
SOCI 698- Teaching Social Science (1 credit)
One course from the
following:
SOCI 625 – Advanced Social
Statistics (Highly Recommended) OR
PSYC
867 – Hierarchical Linear Modeling OR
(another course approved by
the department methods comprehensive exam committee)
4 elective courses
(excluding independent studies) from the courses listed in Parts A and B of
the M.A.; HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: SOCI 837 - Criminology and Systems of Criminal
Justice
Comprehensive exam in
Criminology and one additional area, except Social Deviance
SOCI 969 - Dissertation (9
credits)
C. Ph.D. Comprehensive Exams
Candidates for the doctoral degree
must be certified in two specialized areas. The department currently
offers specialization in the following areas: Collective Behavior/Disaster
Studies, Criminology, Deviance, Gender, Law and Society,
Methodology/Statistics, Race, and Theory. NOTE: Students in Criminology
may not select deviance as their second area.
Students are required to take at
least one of their certified areas from the standing areas offered by the
department. If the candidate wishes to be certified in a specialized
area for which there is no standing area committee, she or he may petition to
do so after securing the agreement of three (3) faculty members willing to
serve as examiners in that area by providing reading lists, constructing and
evaluating examinations and other certification requirements. The
Graduate Policy Committee must review and approve the petition of the student
and inform the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chairperson of the
department of its decision.
1. Administration of Comprehensive
Exams
Two dates will be established for
comprehensive examinations, one at the beginning of the semester and one at
the end of the semester. A given area exam, e.g., deviance, will be offered
once per semester. The Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the
area committee chairs, is in charge of scheduling. Comprehensive examinations
will be administered to students in a common room with a maximum 6-hour time
allotment and proctored by a faculty member.
2. Area Committees
Area committees are responsible
for preparing reading lists, overseeing the respective curriculum in this
area, and providing students with written guidelines to aid them in the
selection of courses and preparation for examinations. Area committees
are responsible for designing the specific certification requirements for
their particular area, preparing examination questions, and reading and
evaluating exams.
Published guidelines and reading
lists are reviewed and revised as necessary, usually on a regular cycle of
every two (2) years.
Members of area committees and
their chairs are appointed by the Chair of the Department. Committees
are composed of at least three (3) members of the faculty, but committees may
consult other members of the faculty with competence in the area during the
preparation of exams and reading lists.
Chairs of the committees are
responsible for notifying students of their exam results. Committee Chairs
are also required to notify the Director of graduate Studies of the results
of examinations within one month of the exam.
3. Scope of the Examinations
Minimal preparation for written
examinations includes the review of reading lists provided by area
committees. However, reading lists are merely guidelines and should not
be considered as the sole basis for examinations. Committees are
responsible for clarification of the goals of reading lists, with specific
attention to the question of whether such lists represent “minimal” or
“exhaustive” definitions of the core literature. For each area of
certification the candidate is expected to be: up-to-date with the literature
in the field at the time of the exam, able to discuss the most important
controversies, issues and problems (in both theory and methodology) that
exist in the field, and capable of evaluating existing theory and methodology
and suggesting new direction of effort.
4. Pre-requisites and Schedule of
Examinations
Students are required to declare
their intent to take a comprehensive examination, in writing, within the first
two weeks of the previous semester to the Director of Graduate Studies who
will notify the relevant Area Committee. The Committee will schedule an
interview with the student to explore his or her level of preparedness.
Students are expected to provide Committee members with written documentation
of their preparedness in that area prior to the interview (e.g. courses
taken, etc.) IMPORTANT: All Ph.D. course requirements, including any
outstanding incomplete grades, must be completed before students are eligible
to take Ph.D. examinations.
Students are required to take both
comprehensive exams (and repeats thereof) in the same semester, or in
consecutive semesters.
5. Grading
The outcome of examinations is
determined by majority vote. There are four possible outcomes: Pass with
distinction, Pass, Conditional outcome, Fail.
Conditional Outcomes: Students
receiving this grade are required to complete additional work within two
months of formal notification of the committee’s decision. If the
committee is satisfied with the quality of the work, the student will receive
a grade of Pass. If the committee is not satisfied with the quality of
the work, the student will receive a grade of Fail.
Within one week of formal
notification of the grade, students will receive a detailed evaluation in
writing from the chair of the area committee.
Students who fail a written exam,
or any part thereof, may request a re-reading from the original area
examination committee. This request is to be submitted within 20 days
of the student receiving the detailed written evaluation.
6. Repeats of Examinations
- Only one repeat for
each area is permitted. Failure on a repeat examination is a
permanent failure for that area.
- Three failures of Ph.D.
comprehensive examinations in any combination shall result in dismissal
from the program.
D. ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
Formal Ph.D. candidacy follows the
approval of the dissertation proposal. Procedures for admission to Ph.D.
candidacy are as specified by the Office of Graduate and Professional
Education. Admission to candidacy must be obtained before the deadlines
specified in the academic calendar. Responsibility for seeing that admission
is secured at the proper time rests with the student, but must include the
recommendation of the student’s dissertation committee and the chairperson of
the department. Students must complete and submit the required form.
E. DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS
1. Dissertation Committees
It is the responsibility of the
student to form a four-person Ph.D. dissertation committee, consisting of a
chairperson, who must be a member of the department, and three additional
members, two from within the department and one from an outside department.
Faculty on joint appointments in the Department of Sociology and Criminal
Justice are considered to be inside members of the department for the
purposes of dissertation committees.
After obtaining the written
agreement of all members of the committee, the student must notify the Director
of Graduate Studies. Subsequent changes in the composition of the
dissertation committee also require the approval of the Graduate Policy
Committee. Overlap in membership between the Graduate Policy Committee and
the dissertation committee does not require those involved to disqualify themselves.
Candidates without an approved
dissertation committee may not enroll for more than three credits of
dissertation research (SOCI 969).
2. Dissertation Proposals
Dissertation proposals should be
worked out with the advice of the dissertation committee. It is strongly
suggested that the committee meets with the student to discuss the proposal. The
student makes a copy of the proposal available to the departmental faculty at
least 10 business days in advance of the scheduled dissertation proposal
defense date.
The Committee Chair communicates
final approval of the proposal to the faculty and the Director of Graduate
Studies. A signed copy of the proposal is placed in the student's permanent
file.
The student is responsible for
initiating the paperwork necessary for admission to formal candidacy by the
University Coordinator of Graduate Studies. (Please consult the graduate
catalog for specific time schedules).
3. The Ph.D. Dissertation
Students are expected to prepare
copies of the dissertation for the departmental archives, the chair of the
committee, and those required by the Office of Graduate and Professional
Education.
The bibliographic format and style of the dissertation must conform to the
standards of the Office of Graduate and Professional Education.
4. Oral Defense of Dissertation
An oral defense of the
dissertation is required. It is administered by the dissertation committee. The
dissertation Chairperson is responsible for notifying the faculty 10 days
prior to the scheduled examination and to see that a copy of the dissertation
is on file in the department office 10 days prior to the scheduled defense.
The oral defense is open to the public, though the right of voting is
reserved to the dissertation committee.
All other requirements for the
degree must be completed before the oral defense of dissertation can be
scheduled.
Grading is limited to Pass or
Fail, and a majority vote is required for any action. It is the
responsibility of the chairperson of the dissertation committee to notify the
Director of Graduate Studies of the decision of the dissertation committee.
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IX. INSTRUCTIONAL EDUCATION FOR TEACHING ASSISTANTS
The majority of graduate students
in Sociology and Criminology are pursuing Ph.D.’s in preparation for a career
in higher education. Therefore, we are committed to providing our
students with a broad and systematic set of instructional experiences as an
integral part of their graduate education.
This will normally include the
following elements:
A. CTE Conference:
All incoming students holding a
teaching assistantship are required to participate in the Annual Conference
for Graduate Teaching Assistant sponsored by the Center for Teaching
Effectiveness.
B. Mentoring Experiences:
All faculty have accumulated a
storehouse of knowledge and skills that they can and should share with
students as part of an “every faculty as mentor” approach to the teaching
enterprise. Therefore, faculty supervising TAs are expected to offer
students meaningful introductory instructional experiences commensurate with
students’ experience and ability. Included among the suggested
activities are preparing exams, handling review sessions, developing a
lecture or a seminar session. We envision a process of planning,
supervision and feedback for each of these activities.
C. Instruction in Teaching
Techniques:
All Ph.D. students are required to
enroll in a one-semester, one-credit Pass-Fail course in teaching techniques (SOCI
698: Teaching Social Science). It will focus on some of the central
elements in course preparation and instruction, vis., instructional
philosophy, textbook evaluation, selection of reading assignments, syllabus
preparation, managing large and small classes, developing lecture outlines
and student evaluation techniques.
D. Individual Courses:
Students having participated in
the courses on teaching and acted as a seminar leader will earn the privilege
of teaching their own sections. Students have the responsibility of
enlisting the cooperation of a faculty mentor of their choice to provide
advice and assist in assessing their effectiveness.
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X.
ADDENDUM
A. Independent Studies
Independent study courses are not
required. Rather, they are designed to provide students with the opportunity
to take a course in an area or on a topic that is not offered by the
Department but which is crucial to their area(s) of specialization.
B. Pre-candidacy Credits
Pre-candidacy credits are taken in
preparation for the dissertation. They are taken after all required
coursework has been completed but when students have not yet passed their
comprehensive examinations and have not yet had their proposal approved.
Students may enroll for anywhere from 3 to 12 credits. Pre-candidacy credits
are not required. According to the Office of Graduate and Professional
Education, pre-candidacy credits no longer count toward the degree after the
completion of 12. If the student registered in Pre-Candidacy is admitted to
candidacy before the end of the free drop/add period of the next semester,
the registration in Pre-Candidacy Study (964) for the preceding semester may
be changed to Doctoral dissertation (SOC 969). Once a student has passed his
or her comprehensive examinations and has an approved proposal on file,
Pre-Candidacy credits can be used as Doctoral Dissertation credits as
described in the previous sentence. In order to do so, the student must
contact the Assistant Provost in the Office of Graduate and Professional
Education. While these are not independent studies, a student must enroll
using a faculty member's supervised study number. It is typical that a
student will enroll with the faculty member who will be chairing his or her dissertation.
C. Dissertation Credits
Once a student has passed his or
her comprehensive examinations and has an approved proposal on file, he or
she enrolls for 9 dissertation credits. While these are not independent
studies, a student must enroll using a faculty member's supervised study
number with the faculty member who is chairing their dissertation. A student
may enroll for all nine credits in one semester. A student who wishes to
enroll in 6 one semester and 3 in another must augment those 3 dissertation
credits with 3 more credits from another source including: A course, an
independent study, or 3 additional dissertation credits in order to maintain
full-time status.
D. Doctoral Sustaining
Doctoral sustaining is for students
who are ABD. They will have passed their comprehensive examinations, have an
approved proposal on file, and have all 9 dissertation credits completed.
Enrolling for doctoral sustaining implies that a student is working full-time
on his or her dissertation and confers full-time status on that student.
E. Forms
Below is a list of the forms that
students must complete as they progress through the program.
Copies of the forms are available
in the Sociology office and online. Important: Students are responsible
for the submission of all forms. Dates and deadlines can be found on the Office
of Graduate and Professional Education homepage (udel.edu.gradoffice) under
"UD STUDENTS."
1. "Application for Advanced
Degree" form. Submitted in the semester you plan to graduate. Students
completing the M.A. degree who intend to continue in the Ph.D. program must
fill out and attach the "Change of Status" form. (To graduate as
M.A. and as Ph.D.)
2. “Supervisory Committee
Notification” form. Submitted to Department when members of the M.A. thesis
committee of Ph.D. dissertation committee have been formally selected and
agreed to serve.
3. "Confirmation of
Dissertation Committee" form. Submitted to the Office of Graduate and
Professional Education after successful completion of the comprehensive
examinations when members of the defense committee have been formally
selected and agreed to serve.
4. "Recommendation for
Candidacy for Doctoral Degree" form. Submitted after dissertation
proposal has been approved.
5. “Defense Notification” form. Submitted
prior to a defense.
6. "Ph.D. Defense
Certification" form. Submitted after the defense.
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F.
Resources
Several resources are available
for students who seek help with academic and personal needs, including:
·
Center
for Counseling and Student Development
·
Office
of Disability Support Services
·
LGBT
Community Office
·
Center
for Black Culture
·
Office
of Equity and Inclusion
·
University
Writing Center
·
Center
for Teaching and Learning
·
Research
Office
·
Office
of Professional and Graduate Education
Students
should also be aware of University policies on behavior, including academic
honesty, which can be found in the student guide to university policies. Note
that graduate students who supervise undergraduates through TA or RA
responsibilities may also be held to standards of the faculty handbook.
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