 
 
Department of Sociology 
 
Table of Contents 
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 2 
Department of Sociology Graduate Program Objectives & Learning Outcomes .............................. 3 
WSU Sociology Professional Expectations and Code of Conduct .................................................... 4 
New Student Information ...................................................................................................................... 6 
Arriving at WSU ............................................................................................................................... 6 
Campus Map ..................................................................................................................................... 6 
Graduate Program Administration ..................................................................................................... 6 
Continuous Enrollment Policy .......................................................................................................... 7 
Graduate Student Involvement .............................................................................................................. 7 
Peer Mentoring Program ................................................................................................................... 7 
Sociology Graduate Student Organization (SGSO) .......................................................................... 7 
Departmental
  Committees ................................................................................................................. 8 
Financial Support of Graduate Research and Teaching ......................................................................... 8 
Departmental
  Funding ........................................................................................................................... 9 
Annual Review of Graduate Students .................................................................................................. 10 
Annual Awards to Graduate Students .................................................................................................. 11 
Funds for Conference Travel........................................................................................................... 12 
The Role of Faculty Mentors and Advisors ......................................................................................... 13 
When Difficulties Arise .................................................................................................................. 14 
Exceptions to Policy ........................................................................................................................ 14 
Ethical Considerations ......................................................................................................................... 15 
Academic Integrity .......................................................................................................................... 15 
Sociology Department Computer Privacy Policy ............................................................................ 16 
Sociology Department’s Statement on Ethics ................................................................................. 16 
Institutional Review Board and Responsible Research ................................................................... 17 
Program of Study – the basis for your degree requirements, once approved ....................................... 17 
The Thesis ........................................................................................................................................... 18 
Overview of the Thesis Process ...................................................................................................... 18 
Creating Your Program ....................................................................................................................... 21 
Calculating Course Requirements for the MA Program .................................................................. 21 
Worksheet for MA Program ................................................................................................................ 24 
Entering the Program with a Master’s Degree from Elsewhere ........................................................... 25 
Preliminary Exams .............................................................................................................................. 26 
Component One: Portfolio Preparation ........................................................................................... 26 
Component Two:  Area Paper ......................................................................................................... 31 
The Dissertation .................................................................................................................................. 34 
Overview of the Dissertation Process .............................................................................................. 34 
Calculating Course Requirements for the PhD ................................................................................ 37 
Useful Websites and Form Links......................................................................................................... 44 
Useful Information for International Students ..................................................................................... 44 
Additional Services ............................................................................................................................. 47 

WELCOME

Congratulations on being part of a thriving, intellectually vibrant department! We are pleased

you have decided to join the Department of Sociology at Washington State University. At

WSU, you will experience a challenging curriculum, have the opportunity to engage with

undergraduate students in the classroom, all while interacting on a personal level with top level

sociologists. We anticipate that your experience in graduate school will be a positive one.

Introduction

The Sociology graduate program at Washington State University is designed to prepare students

for professional careers as sociologists in academic or nonacademic settings. The Department

offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Students are admitted to the program under the assumption they

will earn an M.A. degree on the way to the Ph.D. degree.

The design of our graduate program and the favorable faculty-to-student ratio facilitate close

collaboration between faculty and students. Nearly all graduate students obtain first-hand

research experience during their graduate study. Most take advantage of opportunities to present

papers at professional meetings and other venues and to publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Historically, our program has been one of the most productive in the nation in the proportion of

graduate students who have published articles while in graduate school. Graduate students also

have opportunities to gain teaching experience. Students assist faculty members with teaching

duties and, after a period of training and with faculty supervision, students may teach their own

courses.

This Department of Sociology Handbook was prepared to help incoming students navigate

through our graduate program in a way that is timely and contributes to intellectual and

professional development. While directed primarily at students already accepted into the

program, prospective students can use this handbook to get a clear vision of the procedures and

expectations of the program. Current students should refer to the online handbook for the

most up-to-date policies and procedures.

Both the Department of Sociology and The Graduate School have guidelines for obtaining each

type of degree. Visit the WSU Graduate School web page for more information:

http://www.gradschool.wsu.edu/. A few important links are listed below.

Students and the Department are bound by Graduate School policies and procedures:

https://gradschool.wsu.edu/policies-procedures/

Forms, guidelines, and deadlines to formally progress through the graduate program can be

found on-line:

http://gradschool.wsu.edu/facultystaff-resources/18-2/

The graduate student rights and responsibilities policy document can be located here:

http://gradschool.wsu.edu/chapter-twelve/

The Graduate School’s best practices recommendations are here:

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/170/2018/11/GuidelinesGoodPractices.pdf

Upon entering the first year of study, you will be assigned an Initial Faculty Advisor to assist

with academic decisions. By the end of your first year, if you are entering the program with a

B.A., you will select an M.A. Chair to guide thesis work; if you are entering with an M.A. you

will select a Chair of your Preliminary Examination Committee / Dissertation Committee. After

completing an acceptable Master’s thesis but prior to a dissertation, you must pass preliminary

exams (or prelims). You will complete course work in the fundamentals of sociological theory

and methods and the basics of research and teaching. You also will tailor your program of study

to pursue substantive interests that are aligned with department areas of expertise. Although not a

substitute for speaking with faculty advisors and fellow graduate students, this Handbook will

assist in the procedure for initiating and completing your graduate studies to meet your

professional goals.

Department of Sociology Graduate Program Objectives & Learning Outcomes

The objectives of our program are:

1: To enable students to conduct original, empirical research.

2: To prepare students to contribute to scholarly dialogue about their area of expertise.

3: To train students to communicate sociological knowledge to relevant audiences.

The student learning outcomes for each of the stated program objectives are:

1: To enable students to conduct original, empirical research the program aims to provide a

variety of experiences, inside and outside of the classroom, that help students to:

a. Formulate an important, viable sociological research question within their field of

expertise, including situating that research question within the relevant literature.

b. Collect or identify data from which to draw conclusions about the research question.

c. Apply appropriate research methods to sociological questions and describe the

research methods accurately.

d. Appropriately analyze research data and present results in a clear, concise manner

e. Draw conclusions about the research questions in a way that effectively locates the

conclusions in the larger body of knowledge.

f. Draw implications about sociological knowledge from research findings.

2: To prepare students to contribute to scholarly dialogue about their area of expertise, the

program aims to provide a variety of experiences that help students to:

a. Present their research at local, regional, national, and international professional

conferences and symposia.

b. Present research to broader audiences through publication in professional, peer-reviewed

journals.

c. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of past and current research in their field of

expertise and demonstrate that knowledge. (preliminary exams)

3: To train students to communicate sociological knowledge to relevant audiences, the program

aims to provide a variety of experiences that help students to:

a. Broaden their professional foundation through undergraduate teaching

b. Place students in positions in academia, government, and the private sector (job

placement statistics)

WSU Sociology Professional Expectations and Code of Conduct

The Sociology Department considers graduate students to be professionals in training. Training

involves coursework and skills development, but also learning how to thrive in a professional

environment. We anticipate that graduate students, like all members of the department, will

behave in ways that are professional, and will use their time in the program to develop concrete

professional skills. These include the specialized academic knowledge students learn in classes,

but also the social and interactional skills necessary in order to transition into professional

settings following degree completion. We encourage graduate students to act appropriately and

professionally upon arriving at WSU for graduate studies. Among our professional expectations

are the following:

1. That graduate students demonstrate efficiency and dependability to both professors

and fellow students. This includes:

o Responding in a timely manner to professional communications, including email.

o Students should be proactive about discussing potential deadline and other

conflicts with faculty ahead of time; on those occasions when students fail to

adhere to deadlines, they should take personal responsibility.

2. That graduate students build and maintain professional personas, and present themselves

professionally in speech, behavior, and comportment. This includes treating each other

and the larger professional community with respect throughout their time at WSU:

o Students should treat others professionally and work to promote collegial

relationships. Participation in idle gossip or excessive complaining serves to form

a negative view of the person engaging in this behavior, and can be damaging to

the larger department environment. Serious concerns should be brought to

attention of faculty and department administration in order for solutions to be

pursued.

o Students should recognize and respect each other's personal, emotional, and

physical boundaries. In graduate school, the lines of friend and colleague can be

blurred, but in the workplace, such undefined boundaries can elicit unintended

consequences.

o WSU Executive Policy 15 states that, “Discrimination in all its forms… destroys

mutual respect and a trusting environment, can bring substantial personal harm to

individuals, and violates individual rights.” In keeping with this policy, implicit or

explicit harassment, intimidation, unwanted inquiries, and/or unsolicited advances

on the basis of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, age, sexual orientation, and/or

gender identity or expression are considered unacceptable within professional

settings. Students should familiarize themselves with university policies,

including Executive Policy #15 (https://oeo.wsu.edu/executive-policy15/) and the

Standards of Conduct for Students

(http://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=504-26). Other university conduct

policies can be found here: https://oeo.wsu.edu/publications-and-policies/.

o Students should also try to recognize and respect other department members’

racial and gender identities by using correct language and pronouns.

3. That graduate students become active participants in the discipline, including through

engagement in activities that occur outside of class, including:

o Creating a professional CV early on, to keep track of progress and professional

careers. Students are encouraged to update their CVs regularly, both for their own

records and on the department website.

o Attending department colloquia and other professional talks, including job talks,

practice talks, and dissertation defenses.

o Attending lectures around the university, including those sponsored by other

departments and units.

o Presenting research at department colloquia, as well as regional, national, and

even international conferences when financially and logistically possible.

o When financially possible, joining professional organizations such as the

American Sociological Association, regional sociological associations, and other

associations consistent with professional interests, and graduate student

associations at WSU and beyond.

PART ONE. GENERAL INFORMATION

Graduate students are integral to the WSU Sociology Department. Students will welcome

incoming cohorts; participate in departmental governance; contribute to the department’s

intellectual environment via research and collaboration; and educate undergraduate students.

This section of the Handbook describes graduate student involvement in department affairs and

funding sources for graduate student, including research- and teaching- assistantships,

departmental awards, and travel grants. This section also describes how continued funding is

linked to making “satisfactory progress” through the program.

New Student Information

Arriving at WSU

In August, usually the week before fall semester begin, there will be several orientation sessions

for new graduate students. Both the Graduate School and the Department of Sociology offer

separate orientations. Through these orientation programs, you will acquire important

information about your teaching or research assignments and you will learn about registering for

classes and obtaining a WSU student ID. The Director(s) of Graduate Study will coordinate the

department orientation activities. The Director(s) of Graduate Study will also contact you in the

spring or summer before your arrival on campus with further details about the orientation and

information about things that you can do to prepare for graduate school.

You will also obtain essential resources, such as department keys and office assignments, in the

Department of Sociology main office located in Wilson-Short 204. Upon your arrival, the

administrative assistant/graduate coordinator will help you obtain your office assignments and

keys.

Campus Map

You can find a map of the Pullman campus here:

https://campusmap.wsu.edu/

Graduate Program Administration

The Graduate Coordinator is the person who will collect from you important documents

throughout your graduate career (exam scheduling forms, change of committee forms, your

graduate program of study). S/he is a great source of information about forms and procedures at

the Graduate School.

The Director(s) of Graduate Study help facilitate your graduate career. In addition to organizing

orientation activities, the director(s) can offer advice on coursework, committee membership,

and teach a required professional socialization course. You can also seek advice from the

director(s) on matters related to graduate student life.

Continuous Enrollment Policy

All degree-seeking graduate students must maintain continuous enrollment in the Graduate

School, registering for each semester, excluding summer sessions, from the time of first

enrollment until all requirements for the degree are completed. Continuous enrollment is

maintained by registering for a minimum of 2 graduate credits per semester (excluding the

summer). International students who enroll for fewer than 10 credits must be approved by OISS,

in consultation with the Graduate School, prior to part-time enrollment during the academic year.

For more information, visit:

https://gradschool.wsu.edu/chapter-five-a2/

Graduate Student Involvement

Peer Mentoring Program

Peer mentors are continuing graduate students who provide guidance to students in the first-year

cohort as they begin their graduate careers. The first-year cohort is comprised of first-year

graduate students, whether entering with a BA or an MA.

The Peer Mentoring Program, piloted with the 1995 cohort, is now an active component of the

graduate program in sociology. Peer mentors are a valuable resource in making the transition to

graduate life. Peer mentor relationships are established even before first-year students take up

residency in Pullman (e.g., during a campus visit; e-mail/phone conversations). Students

representing various areas of concentration are available to answer prospective graduate

students’ questions about the program and assist during departmental visits. Each incoming

graduate student has a peer mentor who answers questions and assists with housing, academic,

and other needs. Additionally, these mentors may help facilitate working relationships between

new students and the faculty in their areas.

Sociology Graduate Student Organization (SGSO)

The SGSO was formed to facilitate professional development and to ensure that graduate student

preferences or concerns are represented in departmental decisions. It strives to provide

Sociology Graduate Students with the opportunity to develop professional leadership skills

through active participation in decision-making and activities; to foster collegial peer and faculty

relations within the Department of Sociology, and to provide a venue to develop and share

professional and academic information and ideas. SGSO is self-governed. Meetings, announced

via e-mail, typically are held once a month. All sociology graduate students are encouraged to

attend and get involved.

Departmental

Committees

Graduate student representatives volunteer through SGSO to serve on Sociology Department

committees and participate in department meetings. Responsibilities associated with each

committee are described at the initial SGSO meeting to select volunteers. Department

Committees include: Awards, Faculty Meeting Representative(s), Graduate Studies,

Undergraduate Studies, and other ad hoc committees, such as Faculty Search.

OTHER Opportunities TO ENHANCE GRADUATE STUDENT TRAINING:

Vancouver Campus assignment – Interested graduate students may sometimes complete their

degree on the Vancouver campus when such an arrangement would benefit the student and fill a

need in Vancouver (e.g., student’s advisor location). Students must have completed all

coursework and preliminary exams. When available, notice of a Vancouver assistantship and

application will be made available to all graduate students.

SESRC Survey Design Clinic – There are opportunities for working a limited number of hours

per week as a Survey Research Consultant for the Social and Economic Sciences Research

Center. As a consultant graduate students work with stakeholders across the College and

University in designing and implementing surveys.

Residency: To qualify for resident tuition, state law requires you be a state resident for 12

months. If you are a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident and have come to WSU from out of

state, establish residency in order to avoid paying out-of-state tuition. To establish residency, as

applicable: obtain your Washington State Driver’s license within 30 days of arrival; register your

car; register to vote; establish a bank account; and live in-state for one year. https://wa.gov/how-

to-guides/become-resident

Annual Review of Graduate Students

Graduate School policies make continuance of financial support dependent upon available funds

from administration, adequate performance as a teaching assistant or research assistant, and

satisfactory progress in completing the degree requirements of the program. Graduate students

are evaluated yearly by the Sociology Department’s graduate faculty. This review is typically

conducted near the end of the Fall semester and students are informed of their progress by way

of a written letter sent to them in the Spring semester, which must be signed and returned.

Students are evaluated by faculty members using the following criteria: ability to understand and

interpret sociological literature, ability to formulate a research question, ability to answer

questions pertaining to understanding sociological problems and research, ability to formulate

and test hypotheses, ability to interpret and present results in oral and written formats, ability to

collect and analyze data, ability to import sociological ideas and research to a non-specialist

audience (teaching), demonstration of high level of organization and timeliness, demonstration

of enthusiasm for their work, frequency of interactions with faculty, taking of responsibility for

their progress, taking of responsibility for their professional development, and involvement in

the department.

An important component of the annual review is your self-assessment regarding progress over

the past year. The self assessment is required of all graduate students, regardless of year in

program, and future funding is partially contingent upon completion of this assessment. . The

annual review is meant to offer you constructive feedback and guidance about the trajectory of

your graduate work and to encourage timely completion of work.

Satisfactory Performance: Performance is assessed across several dimensions including graduate

course work, and professional activity and development. Indicators of professional development

include such activities as preparing a manuscript for peer-review, submitting a grant proposal,

presenting research, attending a professional conference, serving on

department committees, and attending department colloquia. Unusual teaching demands and

other known extenuating circumstances may be taken into account.

At minimum, you must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 throughout your graduate

career. If the GPA falls below 3.0, the Department must petition the Graduate School to allow

you to continue the program. https://gradschool.wsu.edu/chapter-six-c/

Incomplete grades, ethical breaches, and insufficient progress also are factors affecting

performance evaluations. An Incomplete (“I”) defers a grade for a student who, for reasons

beyond his/her control, is unable to complete the assigned work on time. Ordinarily, new or

renewed appointments will not be approved for students who have a grade of “I” on their record

for longer than one semester or summer session.

Satisfactory Progress: “Satisfactory progress” refers to timely goal attainment within the M.A.

and Ph.D. programs, as defined by the Graduate School and by the Department of Sociology in

this document. Student progress is confirmed through annual review by the faculty.

Once self-reported and faculty-reported assessments are collected, a summary and

recommendation is presented by the Director(s) of Graduate Studies to the Sociology Graduate

Faculty. The faculty examines each student’s performance and a collective recommendation is

rendered regarding satisfactory performance and progress. Recommendations for continuance of

funding are made at this time.

A letter will be sent to you regarding your progress over the past year as judged collectively by

the graduate faculty. Negative evaluations will be expressly explained. Evaluations should be

discussed with your advisory Committee or the Director(s) of Graduate Studies if further

clarification is needed, the evaluation was negative, or the basis of evaluation seems vague or

inappropriate.

Annual Awards to Graduate Students

The Department of Sociology grants more than ten Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards each

year to recognize or foster outstanding graduate student research, instruction, and other

achievements.

Graduate student research is funded by the Dissertation Award, the Morgan Fellowship, and the

Yoder Fellowship. The James F. Short Research Award recognizes exemplary graduate student

research. Excellence in graduate student instruction is conferred by the DeMartini Teaching

Award; teaching excellence is fostered by a DeMartini Grant for travel to attend teaching-related

workshops and conference sessions. Other awards encourage diversity of backgrounds and

interests, fund travel, and otherwise support graduate student scholarship.

Students are encouraged to apply for the General CAS Application, as you may be eligible for

awards outside of the department. Some awards do not require a general application but instead

are submitted to the Program Coordinator. Award information such as deadlines and award

criteria are available on our website: https://soc.wsu.edu/scholarships-fellowships/fellowships-

awards/

Students who win an award will receive an offer letter containing all relevant information for

the award. Awardees are recognized at the annual Spring Award Ceremony in April.

Funds for Conference Travel

The department understands the importance of student conference travel, especially as students advance in

their career and network for job opportunities. The Department tries to provide travel support for graduate

students, but travel support is not guaranteed.

The Department of Sociology requires Spend Authorizations in Workday for both in & out of state travel as

well as international travel. Spend Authorizations are required if you are representing WSU (for example,

going to a conference or workshop) at any time of the year and even if you are not receiving funds for this

travel. The intent of requiring Spend Authorizations under these conditions is to preserve your insurance and

other personal protections that WSU can only provide if you are approved for travel.

A Spend Authorization must be completed by Laura Berge & fully approved before the trip starts. Per

BPPM 95.01: “The University maintains a positive control over travel, which must be deemed appropriate

and result in a benefit to WSU. Prior approval by a University official or their designee is required for all

University travel in order for individuals to be eligible to:

• Travel on behalf of WSU; and

• Receive reimbursement for authorized and allowable expenses.”

Prior approval also acknowledges that employees are traveling in the capacity of their job duties and,

therefore, covered under WSU’s industrial insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.

If you do not contact Laura Berge two weeks prior to the beginning of your trip, you will be ineligible to

receive department reimbursement (funding) or WSU industrial and worker’s compensation insurance.

All WSU related travel requires that you fill out pre-travel paperwork.

Steps to follow when traveling as a representative of WSU:

1) Before you apply for a conference and/or seek travel money, talk to your advisor. They need to

approve your travel for you to use department travel funding.

2) When booking your travel, prioritize cost-effectiveness. People often stay at a hotel further away

from the conference, take public transportation, or an Uber/Lyft to the conference hotel. A

conference hotel is not the only lodging option available; you can find an Airbnb. You can also room

with others and split the cost.

3) When making travel arrangements, consider the possibility of not receiving funding and plan

accordingly within your personal budget.

4) Once you know the estimated costs associated with your trip, contact Laura Berge and she will direct

you to the necessary paperwork, once she receives the paperwork, she will input it into Workday for

you.

5) If you would like to apply for travel funding here are your options:

o Scholarships: There is a general scholarship application available for Academic Years

beginning early in the fall and closing early in the spring. Please apply to this first and as

soon as possible. The General Scholarship Application typically closes at the end of January:

https://financialaid.wsu.edu/scholarships/

o GPSA: You can only apply to GPSA during the month of your travel, after the trip has ended

and you have incurred all the expenses. Follow the instructions on the GPSA website very

carefully & make sure you have all the needed attachments. If you do not attach an approved

Spend Authorization to your application, GPSA will not review your application. Please

understand that GPSA will only choose the best applications to provide funding. This

funding is competitive & they will not always fund the amount you request.

▪ Application dates: https://www.gpsa.wsu.edu/student-resources/financial-

support/travel-and-registration-grants/

o AKD (Alpha Kappa Delta) travel money is available to AKD members. Please consult with

the AKD liaison in the department, Sarah Whitley (whitley@wsu.edu), for more information.

o Off-Spring-Award-Cycle Department Funding: Fill out the department funding request form.

Use this method only if an unanticipated conference opportunity arises. Funds for off-time

travel awards are not always available and are limited; the expectation is that students apply

for travel money using the spring awards cycle.

Reimbursement Process:

• If you have been approved to receive department funding, you will submit your receipts (for airfare,

hotel, transportation, etc.) to Laura Berge. You do not have to submit food receipts as they are

reimbursed at a per diem (base) rate based on location. Once receipts are received the reimbursement

process will be processes through Workday. The reimbursement process typically takes 2-6 weeks.

• State employees (you) can on only be reimbursed up to a certain amount that depends on location.

For reimbursement amounts see this website: https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates.

You will notice that hotel reimbursement is not always as high as the hotel cost, another reason to

look for affordable housing. Attached are the Per Diem rates for WA State which were updated in

October 2023.

• If you apply to GPSA, it may take months after your trip for GPSA to let you know if you were

approved to receive funding, then it takes a couple of weeks after that for the check to be sent to you.

• Scholarships - you will be awarded your scholarship money in the following Academic Year after

you apply. Typically, this is paid out in 2 separate payments, one in Fall semester and the other in

Spring semester.

If you have questions or concerns about what is classified as a reimbursable expense with regards to travel,

please contact Laura Berge.

The Role of Faculty Mentors and Advisors

“A mentor is a faculty person who assists scholarly development, contributes to intellectual

stimulations, and fosters professionally enriching relationships with graduate students…one who

nurtures a rapid transition from graduate student to colleague through insightful guidance, trust,

and mutual respect” (Washington State University Graduate Student Code).

Your mentor is expected to interact with you on a regular basis to provide advice and guidance

related to professional development. You may change mentors at any time, without fear of

reprisal.

As described in the WSU Graduate Student Code, mentors and advisors will:

• Interact in a professional and civil manner consistent with nondiscrimination and

sexual harassment policies of the University

• Demonstrate collegiality in the classroom and in supervisory relations to

encourage independent learning

• Develop clear expectations about research responsibilities including timelines for

completion (e.g., research assistantships, theses/dissertations)

• Provide feedback on work in a timely manner

• Discuss authorship arrangements in advance of entering into collaborative

projects

• Acknowledge student contributions to research presented at conferences or in

professional publications

• Act in the student’s best interest by: preventing faculty rivalries from interfering

with their duties as mentors/advisors/committee members; not impeding student

progress for the benefit of the student’s teaching or research assistance; excusing

themselves from supervising a student when there is an amorous, familial, or

other relationship causing a potential conflict of interest; and refraining from

requesting students to do personal work (e.g., child care, home/personal projects)

without appropriate agreement and compensation.

At the start of the every semester it is important that you meet with you primary faculty

advisor. The goals of the meeting are (1) making sure both you and your advisor understand

relevant programmatic milestones you are expected to achieve this semester/year and (2)

establish specific and achievable goals for the semester and academic year. Students enrolled in

SOC 700 or 800 independent research credits are responsible for initiating this meeting and it

should occur early during the semester. It is recommended that when you initiate this meeting

you provide your advisor with an agenda and/or tentative semester goals for further discussion in

your meeting.

When Difficulties Arise

Difficulties in one’s academic career sometimes arise and it is important to know how any

concerns you may have are normally handled at WSU. The first course of action is to talk to

your mentor / advisor to resolve your concerns. If a remedy is not possible, you and/or your

advisor can seek advice from the Graduate Studies Director(s) and then the Department Chair. If

there is a reason why these individuals cannot be approached, problems may be taken directly to

the appropriate office. Depending on the nature of the issue, you might wish to consult the

Ombudsman (an impartial resource to assist all in the university community), the Office for

Equal Opportunity, or Graduate School personnel. Academic issues are handled by the Assistant

and Associate Deans. Student conduct issues are handled by the Office of Student Conduct.

Other matters may be referred to the Committee on Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities

(CGSRR).

Exceptions to Policy

You may petition for exceptions to the policies described in this Handbook. For exceptions to

Departmental policies, the petition should be submitted in writing through the major professor

(your Advisor) to the Graduate Studies Committee. For exceptions to University Policies, the

petition “should be submitted in writing through the major professor and the Chair of the major

department/program to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean may then act upon the

request or refer it to the [University] Graduate Studies Committee.”

Ethical Considerations

Academic Integrity

You are expected to uphold high standards of scholarship and conduct in your roles as student,

and researcher. The Department of Sociology fully supports the academic integrity policies

outlined in the Washington State Standards of Student Conduct. For updated policy documents,

see http://conduct.wsu.edu.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism (presenting other’s information,

ideas, or phrasing as one’s own without proper acknowledgment of the source); fabricating data,

research procedures, results, or citations; cheating; facilitating acts of dishonesty by others;

possession of computer files or written documents without express permission (e.g., exams); and

unauthorized multiple submission of the same work. Violations will be adjudicated using

procedures described by the Office of Student Conduct.

One instance of academic dishonesty is likely to result in termination of a students continuation

in the program. Ignorance of these policies is not a defense. If you are unclear about what

constitutes a violation of policy, speak with your advisor.

Washington State University Computer Privacy Policy

https://policies.wsu.edu/privacy-notice/#wsu-content

Sociology Department’s Statement on Ethics

The purpose of this statement is to acknowledge the nature of professional responsibilities as

educators toward students, the subjects of and participants in students’ research, and to our

colleagues at Washington State University and in the wider discipline.

Sociology faculty at Washington State University affirm and support the Code of Ethics

developed by the American Sociological Association. We acknowledge that it is our

responsibility as educators, practitioners and researchers to ensure that our students are trained to

be sensitive to ethical issues and to work in accordance with the ASA Code of Ethics.

Therefore, the Department’s ethical expectations include all of the following:

• All course work in research methods and practice will include appropriate

consideration of ethical issues.

• Students doing research must comply with the ASA Code of Ethics and applicable

institutional research guidelines, including human subjects review procedures. For

updated ethics code documents, see http://asanet.org/

• Students who do research to fulfill course work requirements, to meet degree

requirements in Sociology, or as a representative of the University or Department,

must do so under the direct supervision of sociology faculty.

• Students must have explicit permission of a sociology faculty member before

beginning the research, and must continue to receive supervision from a sociology

faculty member while the research is in process.

• Supervising faculty, generally, will be the chair of the student’s committee or any

assistant, associate, or full professor in sociology.

• Sociologists who, as members of this faculty, supervise student research will

exercise their professional judgment in guiding the student with respect to ethical

issues that arise in the course of the student’s research.

• Owing to the supervisory capacity of faculty with respect to student research, any

promise of confidentiality that exists between researcher and members of the

research population necessarily extends to the supervising faculty, and

respondents must be informed of this fact.

Institutional Review Board and Responsible Research

All research conducted on human subjects must have prior approval by the WSU Institutional

Review Board: http://www.irb.wsu.edu/

At the above link, you will find (1) Human Subjects Forms & Information, and (2) a Human

Subjects Required CITI Training Course.

PART TWO. EARNING A MASTER’S DEGREE

Earning a Master’s Degree requires completing course work and an independent research

project, the Master’s Thesis. You must successfully complete at least 30 hours of course work to

earn a Master’s degree in Sociology—including at least 21 hours of graded course work.

Ultimately, you will need at least three faculty committee members, the majority of them in

Sociology, to form a Master’s committee, but the first step is to find a Sociology faculty member

to chair your committee. To select a chair, look around the department: Who is doing work that

interests you? Who seems like someone with whom you could work? Do you need someone who

will allow you a great deal of autonomy or do you require a lot of guidance? Ask other graduate

students about how it is to work with particular faculty.

Program of Study – the basis for your degree requirements, once approved

Before the end of your second semester , you need to file your Program of Study with the

Graduate School, through the Sociology Graduate Program Coordinator. The Program form,

and all other Graduate School forms, can be accessed on the Graduate School web site:

http://gradschool.wsu.edu/facultystaff-resources/18-2/.

Your Program is a plan of study that documents the list of seminars that you intend to take to

fulfill the requirements of the Master’s Degree, and the names of the faculty who will guide you

through your thesis work. Each member of your MA committee must sign your program. Your

Program must also include mention of your thesis topic. This can be quite general; it is not

necessary to state the exact nature of your thesis. The Graduate School will approve your

planned course of study when it meets department and Graduate School minimum requirements

for a degree. When you finish your MA thesis and apply to receive your MA degree, your

Program of Study will be compared against your transcript of credits earned.

To earn an MA, you must successfully complete each course that is listed on your Program. However, it is likely that

you will substitute various courses for those you initially planned. It is relatively easy to delete or add specific courses

(“Change of Program” form) and/or faculty committee members (“Change of Committee” form) in order to meet

changing interests. Facult

members understand that a student’s interests and needs change and so committee changes are

not uncommon. *Please inform faculty members who are removed from your committee.

Prior to the start of your fourth semester, after registering for seminars, verify that your Program

of Study reflects your course record on your transcript. File Change of Program or Committee

forms as needed. Not all of the courses you take must be included on your program, but you

must take all courses listed on your program. All Program of Study changes must be made the

semester before you defend your Master’s.

The Thesis

“The thesis is a scholarly, original study that is a significant contribution to the knowledge of the

chosen discipline.” (Graduate School Policies and Procedures)

Generally, you will design your project in close consultation with the Chair of your committee.

The thesis itself may be of any length, but many students opt to write one that is “article-length”

(facilitating their submission of the final document for publication).

You may use an existing data set or collect your own data. Whatever you choose to do, make

sure your thesis project is one that can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time (see

“Satisfactory Progress Chart” on page 14).

Overview of the Thesis Process

i. Begin by having informal discussions with faculty members with whom you share interests.

Talk about topics, timelines, research methods, and ethical issues. Decide upon a Chair, who can

help you form a committee.

ii. In consultation with the Chair of your committee, discuss how to proceed with the research

topic you have chosen. A typical next step is to write a “proposal.” In your proposal, describe

the research questions or hypotheses you intend to address, your preliminary reading of the

relevant literature, the methods and strategies you intend to use, and so forth. Generally, a

student shares the proposal first with the committee Chair before distributing it to other

committee members.

iii. Provide a copy of your proposal to each member of your committee and ask for feedback.

iv. Write a final version of the proposal and give copies to each member of your committee.

v. Schedule a meeting with members of your committee. The goal of this meeting is for

everyone to leave the room with a similar idea of what your research is going to be, how you will

proceed, and the kind of product you anticipate will result. It is appropriate for you to ask

questions of your committee members to make sure that everyone is satisfied with your proposal.

vi. If the research involves human subjects you must have completed the human subjects

training course—CITI—before you can submit an application to the Institutional Review Board.

It can be accessed at: https://irb.wsu.edu/training/ Then, complete the form required by the

WSU Institutional Review Board and, under the supervision of your Chair, obtain approval

before you begin your research https://irb.wsu.edu/forms/

vii. As you conduct your research and begin to write, provide regular progress reports to the

Chair of your committee. Occasionally update your committee members on your progress.

Consult with your Chair if you have questions about how much information you ought to provide

to other Committee members. Of course, you ought to call upon other members of your

committee whenever you need/want their expertise.

viii. Once your research is complete, your thesis is written, and approved by your committee

chair, give each member of your committee a working draft. A working draft is one that has a

title, is properly formatted, written in complete sentences, includes a bibliography, and so forth.

The closer your draft to final form, the better the quality of comments you can expect to receive

from your committee members. Different faculty will have different expectations and interests,

so be sure to discuss these expectations with committee members ahead of time.

ix. Your committee is responsible for approving all aspects of the final thesis before you

schedule the final examination. After each member agrees that the thesis is ready to defend, a

thesis Defense may be scheduled. To schedule a Master’s defense you must:

• Have an approved Program of Study on record with the Graduate School,

identifying your current committee configuration and coursework. Submit

Change of Committee/Program of Study forms to make adjustments to your initial

Program of Study.

• Have completed or be enrolled in all the required course work

• Be registered for a minimum of two credits of Soc 700 for the semester or

summer session in which the final thesis defense examination is to be taken

• Submit the Scheduling form to the Graduate School 10 or more working days

prior to the anticipated examination. When committee members sign the Thesis

Acceptance/Final Examination Scheduling form, they indicate that a thesis,

suitable in format for submission to the Library, has been given their approval

(Graduate School Policies and Procedures). The candidate must present an

electronic draft copy of the thesis, complete in format, with the scheduling form.

Do NOT assume faculty members will sign a form for an incomplete thesis.

• Submit the Application for Degree form to the Graduate School

• Apply for graduation and pay the $50 graduation fee by the time the defense is

scheduled.

xi. The Defense. Before the defense, discuss the process with your Chair. Each MA Committee

member must attend. Defenses are “public,” so other faculty and students may attend as well. A

thesis defense generally lasts about an hour (and may last no more than 90 minutes). Members of

your committee will ask you questions about how you conducted the research and analyzed your

data, and the implications of your work. Other faculty attending the defense may ask questions as

well. The presentation part of a defense is required to be open to the public, though the following

period of questions can be public or private.

If 75% of the eligible faculty who attend the defense and vote agree that you have successfully

defended your thesis, you pass. The vote itself is conducted in closed sessions by written ballot

(students will not be present).

In the unlikely event that you fail the thesis defense, the Graduate School permits that a “second

and final attempt may be scheduled at the request of the major department/program after a lapse

of at least three months.”

Following a successful defense, students have five days to submit their thesis to the Graduate School,

submit the signature page on the Service Request page of my WSU, sign and return the Hold Harmless

Thesis/Dissertation Final Checklist document provided by the Graduate School, available here:

https://gradschool.wsu.edu/documents/2014/12/dissertation-and-thesis-final-checklist.pdf/

Creating Your Program

Calculating Course Requirements for the MA Program

The program of study for a Master’s Degree requires a minimum of 33 total credits (hours) of

course work. Of these 33 credits:

• At least 21 credits must be in graded course work

o At least 15 credits in graded course work must be 500-level courses

o No more than 6 hours may be earned from 300/400-level courses

o No more than 10 hours may be from outside the department

• No more than 6 hours may be transfer-credits from another school

• At least 4 hours must be in ungraded Soc 700 (“Thesis Hours”), 2 of which must

be taken in the semester the thesis will be defended

*Audited courses may not be used for the Program of Study.

*Students must re-take courses listed on the Program in which they do not earn a grade better

than a C-.

*All full-time Master’s Degree students must register for one Thesis Credit (Soc 700) each

semester to track faculty advisor effort (Graduate School Policies & Procedures).

• 700-Level Research Credits are for students working on master’s research and/or

examination.

• For each semester a student is enrolled in research credits, students should discuss

expectations with his or her faculty advisor who will provide a grade based on

whether the student met those research expectations. There must be written

documentation about what a student will complete during a semester to satisfy 700/800

credits. This can be formal or informal… a piece of paper or an e-mail, but there needs to

be some sort of documentation. It is strongly advised that when you set a meeting

with your advisor to discuss 700/800 research credits that you bring to that meeting,

or share ahead of time, a proposed schedule of tasks that you will complete this

semester to satisfy research credit expectations. For first year students, that might be a

simple as stating that you will identify a thesis topic and committee.

• Credits are awarded for a grade of Satisfactory (S); no credit is awarded for a grade of

Unsatisfactory (U). A grade of U will be assigned in the event of a failed exam or

when the student otherwise does not fulfill requirements related to their research,

including plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind related to the research.

• Two U grades for 700 credits may lead to dismissal from the Graduate School.

*A full-time academic load is 10 to 12 credits during the academic year.

*Students who serve as TAs or RAs are required to enroll full-time each semester. Students

on summer appointments as teaching, research, or staff assistants must register for 3 credit

hours during summer sessions, usually 700 Thesis Hours.

MA Programs must include the department’s core courses:

• Soc 511 Data Management (3 graded hrs)

• Soc 520 Research Methods in Sociology (3 graded hrs)

• Soc 517 Seminar in Contemporary Social Theory (3 graded hrs) OR Soc 510

Development of Social Theory (3 graded hrs)

• Soc 521 Regression Models (3 graded hrs)

• Soc 591 Sociology—The Profession (2 semesters) (total of 2 ungraded hours)

• Soc 700 Thesis Hours (at least 4 ungraded hours, with 2 during semester of defense)

Students enrolled in Sociology 521 should have completed at least one introductory statistics

course at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

Course Rotation: Typically, the Department offers four substantive graduate courses, an

advanced analytic techniques course, and an advanced methods course each year. Advanced

Quantitative Techniques in Sociology (SOC 522) is typically offered in the fall and Special

Topics in methods and analytic techniques in the spring.

Transfer Credits: Credits appropriate to the program of study earned in other accredited

graduate schools while in graduate student status may be applied toward a student’s graduate

degree program at WSU. Grade must be B or higher. Credits for an MA may not be more than 6

years old at the time of submission. Transfer credits cannot be from a previously earned

Master’s degree. Extension courses, special problems, research and thesis, workshops, and

correspondence courses will not receive credit. Please note that the maximum time allowed for

completion of a master’s degree is 6 years from the beginning date of the earliest course applied

toward the degree; this includes any transfer credits earned toward the WSU degree.

Clarification of the Graduate School’s transfer credit policy is available here in the Graduate School

manual: https://gradschool.wsu.edu/policies-procedures/

Worksheet for MA Program

Typical Program

Hours

Second Year—Spring Semester (Sociology Classes)

Elective 3

Elective (Advanced Methods) 3

700 MA-level Research hours 6

591

The Sociology Profession (Teaching) (Pass/Fail)

Total: 13

Notes:

1. When you fill out your program, include all courses needed to earn the MA degree—even

those you have yet to complete.

2. You are expected to be enrolled in at least one graded course (400-500 level) each

semester, except during the semester in which you are writing your thesis when all credits

may be in Soc 700. You are expected to enroll for at least one hour of Thesis Credits

(Soc 700) every semester, under the name of your main advisor (or, in the case of your

first semester at WSU, your assigned initial faculty mentor).

3. While in residence at WSU, you must be registered for at least 10 credit hours each

semester. Consult with your committee chair about your course plan.

4. You must take all courses listed on your program. In cases when a course listed on your

program is not offered or another need arises, file a “change of program” with the

Graduate School.

First year—Fall Semester (Sociology Classes) Credit

510/517

Theory Seminar

511

Data Management

Elective

591

The Sociology Profession (Research) (Pass/Fail)

700

MA-level Research hours

Total:

First Year—Spring Semester (Sociology Classes)

520

Research Methods

521

Regression Models

Elective

700

MA-level Research hours

Total:

Second Year—Fall Semester (Sociology Classes)

Elective

Elective (e.g., Soc 522, Adv Analytic Tech)

700

MA-level Research hours

Total:

PART THREE. EARNING A DOCTORAL DEGREE

Earning a doctoral degree requires completing course work, passing preliminary examinations,

and conducting/defending an independent research project – the Dissertation. To earn a PhD,

you must choose an area of Sociology in which to specialize, demonstrate mastery of knowledge

in that area, and conduct original research to advance the field.

Ultimately, before the end of your first post-MA semester at WSU, you must find someone to

Chair your dissertation committee. Look around the department: Who is doing work that

interests you? Who seems like someone with whom you could work? Do you need someone who

will allow you a great deal of autonomy or do you require a lot more guidance? Ask other

graduate students about how it is to work with a particular faculty.

Before the end of your first post-MA semester, you need to file your Program of Study with the

Graduate School. Essentially, your Program of Study is a list of classes that you intend to take to

fulfill the requirements of the PhD degree, and the names of the faculty who will guide you

through your thesis work. Each member of your committee must sign your program. The

Program form may be downloaded from the Graduate School and should be filed through the

Sociology Department’s Graduate Program Coordinator.

On the Program form you will list the courses you have already taken (toward the MA) as well as

those you intend to take to complete the coursework requirements for a PhD. You must also

indicate the title or topic area of your dissertation. The description of your dissertation topic can

be general and later changed to better reflect your specific topic as your ideas develop. The

Graduate School will approve your planned course of study when it meets department and

Graduate School minimum requirements for a degree. When you finish your PhD and apply to

receive your degree, your Program of Study will be compared against your transcript of credits

earned.

To earn the PhD, you must successfully complete each course that is listed on your Program.

However, it is likely that you will substitute various courses for those you initially planned; or

you might change the configuration of your committee. It is relatively easy to change your

program to delete or add specific courses (“Change of Program” Form) and/or faculty (“Change

of Committee” Form) to adapt to changing interests. Please inform any faculty members

removed from the committee of the change.

Prior to the start of your final semester, verify that your Program of Study reflects your current

committee configuration and your course record as it appears on your transcript. File Change of

Program or Committee forms as needed.

Entering the Program with a Master’s Degree from Elsewhere

Students entering the Program with a master's degree in Sociology from another university are

strongly encouraged to spend the first year of study at WSU taking core Theory, Statistics,

Methods, and Professionalization/Teaching seminars with other first-year cohort members.

Participation in these fundamental courses further prepares students for more independent

scholarship and enhances socialization into the department and discipline. To accommodate

these coursework expectations, students entering the program with an MA from elsewhere are

permitted four years to complete the PhD, allowing the first year to be devoted to fundamental

coursework and becoming familiar with graduate faculty in the program before embarking on

independent research. However, if you believe your situation is exceptional, you may consult

with the Graduate Director(s) and your Advisor about electing out of a required course.

Graduate School policy is to allow no more than 10 years of study to earn the PhD, starting from

the beginning date of the earliest course applied to the PhD, including transfer credits.

In order for the sociology department to accept an MA from another institution or program,

students must submit their MA thesis, paper, or project to the Graduate Studies Committee for

review. If the MA is from a discipline other than Sociology, it will be accepted or rejected based

on criteria including:

1. Illustrating independent research and asking and answering of a research question

2. Illustrating knowledge and familiarity with sociological (or closely related) theory,

methods, and literature; and

3. Illustrating academic skill commensurate to the master’s level.

After evaluation of the MA work, the Graduate Studies Committee will provide one of three

decisions: Reject; Accept with Reservations (and, for non-Sociology MAs, the suggestion that

the student pursue an MA in sociology at WSU); or Accept without Reservations. MA work can

be turned in to the Graduate Coordinator (electronic copies preferred), who will pass it along to

the committee.

For students whose MA is in Sociology, a second MA cannot be pursued in Sociology at WSU.

For those students, this process is advisory. Students who receive the Accept with Reservations

decision regarding a Sociology MA will be encouraged to speak with their advisors regarding

ways in which to strengthen their background in Sociology prior to the CWE process.

Preliminary Exams

After you complete your Master’s thesis, you will participate in Preliminary Exams or prelims.

The prelims consist of two separate components.

Component One: Portfolio Preparation

Goal:

Demonstrate student’s academic writing and competency in responding to scholarly critique,

faculty support for research agenda, and professional development.

Students preparing to take their preliminary exams will enroll in 2 credits of Sociology 800 in the

Fall semester, under their main advisor. Earning these research credits will require the

completion of a professional portfolio. There is no other scheduling paperwork required for this

component of the preliminary exam.

Portfolio content:

(1)

Professional Statement (no more than 1500 words). The narrative, written in

consultation with one’s main advisor, should synthesize academic experiences in the

graduate program as they relate to program objectives, elaborate one’s professional goals

as a scholar and educator, and describe professional objectives for the future, including

how their interests align with the WSU Sociology Department’s faculty expertise. The

statement should also address the student’s rationale for including each document (i.e.,

how does that piece show mastery of certain program goals), and lessons learned from

writing each document (i.e., concrete skills, knowledge, or what not-to-do, etc.)

(2)

Curriculum Vitae. Using professional standards, list your qualifications and

accomplishments in the areas of Research, Teaching, and Service to the department,

college, university, discipline, and/or larger community

(3)

Two examples of student scholarship. These may include MA theses, papers developed

from MA theses, revised graduate seminar papers, publications or manuscripts for

publication, book chapters, or other scholarship that demonstrates competencies. Only

one can be co-authored; at least one must be sole authored. If co-authored, the work can

include more than two co-authors but the student must be the first author and the other

coauthor(s) must describe the division of labor in a memo.

Evaluation:

An annual rotating committee of two graduate faculty members plus a student’s main advisor

will serve as the evaluation committee, hereafter the student’s Faculty Examination Committee

(FEC). The two “at-large” faculty members will be selected by a random process to the FEC by

the director of graduate studies annually. A student’s main advisor will serve as the third member

of his/her FEC. At the beginning of each fall semester, the Department Chair will write a memo

to the Graduate School identifying the two “at large” faculty members (and a substitute) to serve

on FEC in that academic year, thereby eliminating the need for a student to file numerous change

of committee forms. A committee is appointed from August 15-May 15 and charged with the

evaluation of portfolios and revisions in the given academic year. If a student’s chair is selected

to serve as an at-large member on the FEC in a given year, the appointed substitute will serve as

one of the FEC members. If a student’s chair is on sabbatical, the student should discuss and

make plans with his/her chair to identify a substitute chair for this process. File a Committee

Substitution form with the Graduate School.

The FEC will use all of the following criteria to evaluate the portfolio.

1. Extent to which the student has developed academic goals and interests consistent with

departmental strengths/faculty expertise and has crafted a plan to achieve those goals.

2. Articulates a cohesive, logical research agenda in the professional statement.

3. Extent to which progress has been made toward professional objectives.

4. Evidence of professional development.

5. Quality of scholarship submitted. Collectively, the body of scholarship must:

a. Formulate a viable sociological research question located in a larger body of

knowledge

b. Collect or identify appropriate data to draw conclusions about the research

question

c. Apply or identify appropriate research methods and describe the methods

accurately

d. Recognize shortcomings or limitations of (proposed) research and findings.

After the FEC evaluates a student’s portfolio, they will:

1. Provide an assessment of either “S” (satisfactory), “U”(unsatisfactory), “X” (work in

progress), or “I” (incomplete), based upon the assessment of the majority of faculty who

assessed the work.

2. Inform the student and graduate faculty of the outcome.

3. Provide written feedback on the portfolio. The feedback may be general in nature OR

specific to each component of the portfolio.

In the case of an “S” grade, the student should file his or her preliminary exam scheduling

form with the Graduate School (through the Sociology Graduate Program Coordinator) once

the department announces the ballot meeting date for the spring semester.

In the case of an “X” grade denoting the need for continued progress toward completion, a

student can treat it like a revise & resubmit on a journal decision. The student is responsible

for revising the professional statement and portfolio, crafting a memo in response to the

problem areas identified by the committee. Revised portfolios can be turned in for re-review

any time after a student receives feedback up until prior to the end of the following spring

semester. However, the FEC must have enough time to assess the revised portfolio before

final grades are due. Therefore, all resubmissions must be received at least two weeks prior

to the last day of instruction for the term. An “X” grade will be replaced with an “S” grade

(with a formal change of grade form filed by the student’s chair) when a student submits an

acceptable portfolio. The need to revise will likely affect his or her progress and funding in

the program. Students who receive an “X” should discuss the matter with his or her advisor

regarding timing and strategy for revision.

An “I” grade may be used when a student cannot complete the requirements due to an

exceptional situation beyond the control of the individual. S/he has one year to satisfactorily

complete the portfolio requirements. An “I” grade will be replaced with a “S” or “X” grade

(with a formal change of grade form filed by the student’s chair) when a student submits a

portfolio.

A “U” grade may be assigned for unsatisfactory performance or for unfulfilled requirements,

such as when an “X” is replaced with a “U” in cases where a student cannot develop a

satisfactory revised portfolio within the specified timeframe.

In keeping with Graduate School policy, any student who receives 2 “U” scores may be

dismissed from the Graduate School. All potential dismissals because of failure to make

progress on the portfolio will be discussed in a full meeting of graduate faculty.

Timing & Procedures:

Students will enroll for Sociology 800 (Portfolio-Research Credits) in their third year if they

entered with a BA/BS or second year if they entered with an MA/MS. However, a student may

not submit a portfolio for evaluation until she/he has successfully defended his/her MA thesis. A

student’s main advisor may request an exception to department policy that would allow the

student to submit the portfolio while s/he finalizes his/her MA thesis or to delay portfolio

submission due to an exceptional circumstance. Requests for exception must be made in writing

and submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee who will make the final decision regarding

exceptions. Extensions will be treated as major deviations from normal progress in the program,

which may jeopardize funding. Students who are approved to defend an MA thesis in the Fall of

their third semester and complete the portfolio within the same semester should register for two

credits each of Soc 700 and Soc 800.

Portfolios are due to the Graduate Coordinator NO LATER THAN December 1 (by 4pm) of the

year a student enrolls in portfolio research credits. Submit the portfolio components as PDF files

using the following file naming conventions: ProfStatement_ YourLastName_date; CV_

YourLastName_date; WritingSample1_ YourLastName_date; WritingSample2_

YourLastName_date. The evaluation committee will provide assessment to students no later

than the date grades are due at the university. Students who cannot meet the December 1

Portfolio deadline due to delayed progress on the MA thesis are at risk of losing departmental

funding.

Example of the Portfolio Evaluation Rubric (Preliminary Examination)

Portfolio Evaluation Criteria (please check one column per row):

NARRATIVE &CV

absent/inadequate

needs work

meets

expectations

exceeds

expectations

Academic goals/interests

consistent w/ departmental

strengths/faculty expertise

Formulates feasible plan to

achieve goals

Logical research agenda

articulated in professional

statement

Demonstrates progress

toward stated professional

objectives

Evidence of professional

development

SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship submitted

formulates viable

sociological research

question located in a larger

body of knowledge

uses/identifies appropriate

data to draw conclusions

about research question

uses/identifies appropriate

methods & describes the

methods accurately

Recognizes shortcomings or

limitations of (proposed)

research & findings

FINAL ASSESSMENT

(select one)

Unsatisfactory

X-Needs

Revision

Satisfactory

Component Two: Area Paper

Goal:

Demonstrate ability to synthesize and contribute to knowledge about a substantive area of

sociology and identify gaps in that knowledge base.

Content:

(1)

Area Paper (5000-6000 words, exclusive of references. Include word count after

title. Abstract of 150-200 words suggested, not counted toward word limit. ). The

paper will be an analytic, critical review of a literature that encompasses one topic

within a sub-area of sociology that is determined in consultation with a student’s

main advisor. It should demonstrate mastery of this subfield by critically reviewing

foundational works on the topic as well as by discussing important contemporary

debates in the literature (i.e., last 10 years). This critical review should lead to

discussion of fruitful avenues for future research, given the knowledge gaps identified

by the student. The review should be supported with a comprehensive cited reference

list useful to one interested in understanding the history of thought and new

developments in a specific area. This review can be modeled after Sociology

Compass.

Your review should be driven by a question, such as:

• What debates are driving the subfield? What does new research add to these

debates or the field more generally?

• Is a new school of thought or paradigm developing in the subfield? If so, how

is the new perspective related to or a departure from previous schools of

thought? If not, what promises to be an emerging perspective?

• Can you offer a fresh perspective on developments in the subfield? This

discussion might be theoretical or methodological. What are the critical

points needing further exploration?

• By comparing across sections or boundaries, are there related developments

happening in different sub-fields?

• How has the subfield affected public policy or impacted social life in other

ways?

Students should identify a topic in consultation with their advisors. Students should

not receive critical feedback or editing on drafts of the paper from faculty members in

or outside the department, from other students, or anyone else. The area paper must

be the student’s independent scholarship drawing on published research. Paid

copyediting or proofreading services are not permitted; however, one-on-one writing

assistance can be sought from the WSU Graduate and Professional Writing Center. In

addition, students enrolled in writing courses for credit at the 400/500 level may work

on area papers as part of course requirements and receive and incorporate feedback

from the instructor. Examples of such courses are ENG 402, 495, 545 and WRIT 405.

Evaluation:

The same annual rotating FEC will evaluate the area paper (see above in discussion of

Component One).

Papers should demonstrate a student’s comprehensive knowledge of past and current research in

their field of expertise. The FEC will use the following criteria to evaluate the paper:

a. Suitability of topic of sociological inquiry

b. Completeness of reference list to encompass a subarea of sociology

c. Comprehensiveness of coverage and sufficiency of the level of detail

d. Ability to identify shortcomings / knowledge gaps in the literature

e. Ability to propose logical and feasible future directions of inquiry

A student must pass all five components (a-e) to pass the preliminary examination. After

evaluation, the FEC will provide an overall assessment of “high pass,” “pass,” or “fail.” A

student who fails is allowed one chance to redo the area paper, a policy in keeping with the

Graduate School preliminary exam process. The evaluation committee will provide feedback

that indicates area(s) (a-e, above) where competency was not adequately demonstrated. These

deficiencies will be summarized in writing and conveyed by the student’s main advisor.

Pass: A grade of “S” will be assigned for 800-credits during the semester a student passes

his/her initial exam.

Fail: A grade of “X” will be assigned for 800-credits during the semester a student fails his/her

initial preliminary exam. If a student passes his/her second attempt, the “X” will be replaced by

an “S” and an “S” will be assigned for the current semester. If a student fails his/her second

attempt, a grade of “U” will be assigned for 800-credits during the semester s/he took the exam.

A grade of “U” also will replace the “X” grade assigned to the initial attempt.

A student required to re-write the area paper should include a memo succinctly describing how

s/he addressed the deficiencies in the initial area paper identified by the FEC. In the event a

second exam is required, the FEC “on assignment” will use both the written comments by the

previous FEC and the student’s memo to assess the revised paper so that their review is in line

with the initial set of critiques to which the student was responding. If a student desires, an effort

will be made to appoint the same FEC members as the first examination to re-evaluate the

revision, but this may not always be possible and is not guaranteed.

Timing & Procedures:

Students approved to proceed to the second component (Area Paper) of the preliminary exam

should prepare a Preliminary Examination Scheduling form for the Graduate School, listing the

ballot meeting date identified by the department and bearing the signature of her/his dissertation

committee chair. Submit this scheduling form by February 1 to the Graduate Program

Coordinator, who will assist in obtaining the additional signatures from faculty examining

committee (FEC) members and transmit the forms to the Graduate School.

**Examining students may have no more than 6 graded credits in process or outstanding on

their programs of study when Prelims are scheduled. Although the Graduate School may grant

policy exceptions in some circumstances (e.g., remaining coursework is unrelated to exam

material), plan coursework to meet requirements. Recall that you must take all coursework listed

on your program of study, but you need not list all coursework you take on your program of

study. File any necessary Change of Program forms prior to submitting your scheduling form.

Students will email a copy of their paper (as a PDF attachment) to the Graduate Program

Coordinator by NO LATER than 4:00 pm on April 10

of their 3

year if they enter with a

BA/BS or their 2

year if they enter with an MA from elsewhere. Use the following file naming

convention: AreaPaper_ YourLastName_year. Failure to turn in a paper, or turning in one after

the required deadline, will result in a “fail” and may affect the student’s progress and funding in

the program. A student’s chair may request an exception to this requirement to make normal

progress by submitting a written memo to the Graduate Studies Committee. This request for an

off-time exam should be made in advance of exam scheduling, save for exceptional

circumstances when this is not possible. All ballot meetings for the cohort of examinees will be

held at one time before the end of the same semester. The evaluation committee will provide

assessment to students within 30 days of the ballot meeting.

A student who receives a “fail” on the area paper must turn in a rewritten paper to the evaluation

committee on September 30

. “Off-time” area papers typically will be turned in on September

(e.g., unless otherwise specified in the memo of exception; exceptional circumstances arise).

Examining students should submit a Preliminary Exam Scheduling Form to the program

coordinator by September 1

(see above for submission process).

After you pass your prelims you will be formally “admitted to candidacy” in the PhD program.

If you fail your prelims you will be re-examined no sooner than three months. The second

attempt to pass prelims is the final attempt. According to Graduate School policy, “a student who

has failed two preliminary examinations may not become a candidate for the doctorate and the

student’s enrollment in the Graduate School will be terminated” (Graduate Policies &

Procedures, Chapter 8, Section C).

Example of the Area Paper Evaluation Criteria (Preliminary Examination)

AREA PAPER Evaluation Criterion

Absent or

Inadequate

Needs

Work

Meets

Expectations

Exceeds

Expectations

Suitability of topic of sociological inquiry

Completeness of reference list to encompass

subarea of sociology

Comprehensiveness of coverage and

sufficiency of the level of detail

Ability to identify shortcomings / knowledge

gaps in the literature

Ability to propose logical and feasible future

directions of inquiry

OVERALL Assessment* (Circle One)

Fail

Pass

High Pass

*A student must PASS (meet expectations) in all five areas to pass the preliminary

examination.

The Dissertation

“The dissertation is a scholarly, original study that represents a significant contribution to the

knowledge of the discipline” (Graduate School Polices and Procedures).

A dissertation committee includes at least three faculty members, of whom the majority and the

Chair are Sociology graduate faculty (for further information, see the Sociology Graduate

Program By-Laws.). Committees can include members outside the department or the university,

who are approved on a case-by-case basis.

The traditional dissertation in sociology is a monograph. However, you may choose an alternate

“journal article” format. The Graduate School requires these dissertations to include at least two

published or to-be-published manuscripts based on research done while at WSU where the

graduate student is the sole or primary author. The department strongly recommends a format of

at least three sole-authored papers. Co-authored papers with other graduate students will not be

accepted. The article-style dissertation must include an introduction, discussion, and/or

conclusion that integrates the presentation of the manuscripts and must be formatted according to

standard Graduate School guidelines, including a table of contents, signature page, etc. When a

manuscript is co-authored, the contributions of each author must be detailed in the introduction.

For further detail, see the Graduate School’s Dissertation and Thesis Submission Guidelines.

Overview of the Dissertation Process

i. It’s typical to discuss your dissertation plans with the faculty member who has agreed to

serve as the chair of your dissertation committee and then to engage other committee members in

discussion about your plans. Once you have some good ideas, write a proposal that describes the

research questions or hypotheses you intend to address, your preliminary reading of the relevant

literature, the methods and strategies you intend to use, and so forth. In most cases, students

share their proposals first with their Chair and obtain his or her approval before involving the

other members of the committee—though this is not a rule. Discuss it with your Chair.

ii. Provide a copy of your proposal to each member of your Committee and ask for feedback.

iii. Write a final version of the proposal, taking faculty feedback into account.

iv. Upon approval from your chair, schedule a meeting with members of your committee. The

goal of this meeting is for everyone to leave the room with a similar idea of what your research is

going to be, how you will proceed, and the kind of product you anticipate will result. It is

appropriate for you to ask questions of your committee members to make sure that everyone is

satisfied with your proposal.

iv. If the research involves human subjects you must have completed the human subjects training

course—CITI—before you can submit an application to the Institutional Review Board. It can

be accessed at: http://www.irb.wsu.edu/citi.asp. Then, complete the form required by the WSU

Institutional Review Board and, under the supervision of your Chair, obtain approval before you

begin your research, if your research will involve “human subjects.” IRB forms can be obtained

online at http://www.irb.wsu.edu/forms.asp.

v. As you conduct your research and begin to write, provide regular progress reports to the

Chair of your Committee. Consult with your Chair if you have questions about how much

information you should provide to other committee members, and when. Of course, you ought to

call upon other members of your committee whenever you need/want their expertise. At least

once a semester, make a point of acquainting each committee member with your progress.

vi. Once your research is complete, and your dissertation is written, provide each member of

your committee with a complete draft (i.e., one that has a title, is properly formatted, written in

complete sentences, includes a bibliography, and so forth). The closer your draft is to being a

final one, the better the quality of comments/feedback you can expect to receive from the

members of your committee. Obtain feedback and revise your dissertation.

Note: Some committee members prefer to see drafts of each chapter/or set of chapters as these

are created rather than wait until all chapters are written. Make sure you understand the

expectations of your committee members.

vi. Present a final draft of your dissertation to members of your committee. Once each member

agrees that the dissertation is ready to defend, you may schedule a dissertation defense (“final

oral exam”).

 Have an approved PhD Program of Study on record with the Graduate School,

identifying your current dissertation committee configuration and coursework you’ve

taken that counts toward your degree. Submit Change of Committee/Program of Study

forms to make adjustments to your initial PhD Program of Study.

 Prior to scheduling your defense, pay the graduation fee to the Cashier and keep your

receipt for submission to the Graduate School. Pay the microfilming and optional

 Scheduling your defense requires that each member of the Committee sign a form

attesting to the fact that the dissertation is defensible (i.e., a copy of the dissertation,

suitable in format and content for submission to the library, has been given preliminary

approval). The Dissertation Acceptance/Final Examination Schedule Form must be

submitted to the Graduate School at least ten working days prior to the scheduled

defense. The Graduate School will schedule your final examination upon receipt of the

Form and a properly formatted, electronic copy of the dissertation. So plan

accordingly!

 At least five working days prior to the oral defense, you must submit a complete

(electronic) copy of the dissertation to the Sociology staff member responsible for

graduate student records for public display in the Sociology Main Office.

vii. The Defense. Each member of your Committee must attend. Other faculty and students may

attend as well. A dissertation defense lasts at least one hour and may not exceed two and one-half

hours. Talk with your chair about how the defense will be conducted. Members of your

Committee will ask you questions about how you conducted the research, analyzed your data,

and so forth. Other faculty may ask questions as well.

If 75% of the eligible faculty who attend and vote agree that you successfully defended your

dissertation, you pass. The vote is conducted in “closed session” by written ballot (students will

not be present).

In the unlikely event that you fail the defense, the Graduate School allows that “a second and last

attempt may be scheduled after a lapse of at least three months.”

viii. A final copy of the dissertation (and related required forms) must be submitted in digital

format to the graduate school within five working days for final acceptance. When

dissertations are electronically submitted to the Graduate School, paper copies of the title

page, abstract and signature pages are still required. These should be on 100% rag bond

with the signature page signed in black ink by all committee members. For additional

formatting guidelines, see: https://gradschool.wsu.edu/documents/2014/12/dissertation-

and-thesis-submission-guidelines.pdf/

Calculating Course Requirements for the PhD

The program of study for a PhD requires a minimum of 72 total credits (hours) of course work

beyond the Bachelor’s Degree, of which:

At least 33 hours must be graded graduate-level (500-level) courses

At least 20 hours must be in ungraded 800-level research credits

No more than 9 hours from non-graduate courses (e.g., 400-level)

No more than 15 hours at WSU from outside the department

No more than 12 hours transferred from another graduate school

*The Doctoral Program may contain no Pass/Fail or Audited classes. Any course included on

the Program in which a grade a C- of below was earned must be repeated for a grade.

*As a PhD student you must register for at least one Dissertation Credit (Soc 800) each semester

to track faculty effort (Graduate Student Policies & Procedures). You must enroll for research

credits (Soc 800) while working on your preliminary examination components and while

preparing and defending the dissertation. You must register for a minimum of two hours of Soc

800 during the semester in which the final oral examination (dissertation defense) is to be taken.

*A full-time academic load is 10 to 12 credits during the academic year. All TAs and RAs are

required to enroll full-time each semester. If you are on summer appointment as a teaching,

research, or staff assistant you must register for 3 credits during summer, typically Soc 800.

Programs for the PhD must include the department’s core courses:

Soc 511 Data Management

Soc 520 Research Methods in Sociology

Soc 517 Seminar in Contemporary Social Theory

Soc 521 Regression Models*

Soc 591 Sociology—The Profession (2 semesters)

Soc 800 Dissertation Research Hours

*Students should have completed at least one intro statistics course (undergrad or grad level)

In addition, you must take two advanced methods/analytic techniques classes:

Soc 522 Advanced Regression Methods (Variable topics) (May be repeated for credit)

Soc 523 Qualitative Methods Practicum

800-Level Research Credits are for students working on doctoral research and/or

examination. For each semester a student is enrolled in research credits, faculty advisors should

discuss expectations and provide a grade based on whether the student met those research

expectations. Credits are awarded for a grade of Satisfactory (S); no credit is awarded for a

grade of Unsatisfactory (U). A grade of U should be assigned in the event of a failed exam or

when the student otherwise does not fulfill requirements related to their research, including

engaging in plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind related to the research. Two U

grades for 800 credits may lead to dismissal from the Graduate School.

Soc 525 Practicum in Survey Research

Soc 526 Experimental Methods

Or other approved advanced methods/analytic techniques classes

Please note: To remain in “good standing,” you must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of

at least 3.0 throughout your time in graduate school. If your GPA falls below that level, the

department will be required to petition the graduate school to keep you in the program. Any

course listed on your “Program of Study” in which a grade of “C-“ or below is earned must be

repeated for credit.

Program of Study: Standard Course Plan & Benchmarks, BA to PhD**

FALL – YEAR 1

SPRING – YEAR 1

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

511 Data Management

520 Research Methods in Sociology

517 Seminar in Contemporary Theory

521 Regression Models

5xx Elective

700 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(1)

700 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(1)

591 Professionalization (Ungraded)

(1)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: Add an MA Degree; File

an MA Program of Study (committee & course

plan); Annual Review (CV & Progress report)

9 graded

credits

Progress Benchmarks: Substantial

progress on MA Thesis Proposal

9 graded

credits

FALL – YEAR 2

SPRING – YEAR 2

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

5xx Elective

522 Advanced Quantitative Techniques

523/525/526 Adv Rsch Methods*

700 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(3)

700 Research Credits (Ungraded)

591 Professionalization (Ungraded)

(6)

(1)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: MA Thesis Proposal

Mtg; Update MA Program of Study (Courses &

Committee, if nec); Annual Review (CV &

Progress report)

9 graded

credits

Progress Benchmarks: Schedule MA

Defense (and MA Graduation); MA Thesis

Defense

6 graded

credits

*Two advanced analytic techniques or methods courses are

required for the PhD, which may be taken any time after year

1. Check current course rotation for offerings.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL FOR MA:

(Minimum degree requirements: 33 credits

total, 21 graded, 4 Soc 700 Research credits)

33 graded +

(13

ungraded) =

46 total

FALL – YEAR 3

SPRING – YEAR 3

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

5xx Elective

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(2)

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(6)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: PhD Program of Study

(committee & course plan) (Sept 10); Portfolio

(Dec 1); Annual Review (CV & Progress report)

6 graded

credits

Progress Benchmarks: Schedule Preliminary

Exam (Feb 10); Preliminary Exam Area Paper

(April 10) *Only up to 6 credits may be in

process/remaining to schedule prelim exam

3 graded

credits

Program of Study: Standard Course Plan & Benchmarks, BA to PhD (cont’d)

FALL – YEAR 4

SPRING – YEAR 4

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

800 Research Credits

(10)

800 Research Credits

(10)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: Dissertation

Proposal Defense; Annual Review

(CV & Progress report)

Progress Benchmarks

FALL – YEAR 5+

SPRING – YEAR 5+

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

800 Research Credits

(10)

800 Research Credits

(10)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: Job Market;

Annual Review (CV & Progress

report)

Progress Benchmarks: Schedule

Dissertation Defense & Apply for

Degree; Diss Defense; Job Market

Note: During your first 3 yrs of study, you are expected to

be enrolled in at least one graded graduate-level course each

semester, except for the semester of your thesis defense

when all credits may be in Soc 700. Coursework should be

completed before taking the prelim exam (area paper), but

up to 6 credits may be remaining or in progress. While in

residence at WSU, you must be registered for at least 10

credit hours each semester. A full-time load is 10- 12 credits.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL FOR PhD

(Minimum degree requirements:

72 credits, 33 graded [42

recommended], 20 Soc 800

credits)

9 graded + 33 MA

graded + 48

ungraded =

90 credits

**In many cases it is appropriate for students to take coursework beyond the minimum that

is required. Because the preliminary exam process is tailored to narrower interests, students

are encouraged to take courses across several areas of sociology. Please discuss course

planning with your faculty advisor(s) to adjust this example plan to fit your interests, best

accommodate demands of your independent research with formal coursework, etc.

Program of Study: Standard Course Plan & Benchmarks, MA (from elsewhere) to PhD

FALL – YEAR 1

SPRING – YEAR 1

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

511 Data Management

520 Research Methods in Sociology

517 Seminar in Contemporary Theory

521 Regression Models

5xx Elective

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(1)

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(1)

591 Professionalization (Ungraded)

(1)

591 Professionalization (Ungraded)

(1)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: File an PhD Program of

Study (committee & course plan – Dec 1);

Annual Review (CV & Progress report)

*Two advanced analytic techniques or

methods courses are required for the PhD and

may be taken any time after year 1. Check

course rotation for offerings.

FALL – YEAR 2

SPRING – YEAR 2

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

522 Adv Quantitative Techniques*

523/525/526 Adv Rsch Methods*

5xx Elective

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(6)

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(2)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: Update Program of

Study (Courses & Committee, if nec); Portfolio

(Dec 1); Annual Review (CV & Progress report)

Progress Benchmarks: Schedule Preliminary

Exam (Feb 10); Prelim Area Paper (April 10)

Coursework shld be completed before prelim

(area paper), but up to 6 credits may remain.

FALL – YEAR 3

SPRING – YEAR 3

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(10)

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(10)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: Dissertation Proposal

Defense; Annual Review (CV & Progress report)

Progress Benchmarks

FALL – YEAR 4+

SPRING – YEAR 4+

SEMINAR

CREDITS

SEMINAR

CREDITS

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(10)

800 Research Credits (Ungraded)

(10)

Total Credits

Progress Benchmarks: Job Market; Annual

Review (CV & Progress report)

Progress Benchmarks: Schedule DissDefense

& Apply for Degree; Diss Defense; Job Market

NOTE: You are expected to enroll in at least 1 graded course/semester for 1.5

yrs. While in residence, you must register for at least 10 credits/semester. A

full-time load is 10-12 credits. Up to 12 graded transfer credits may count

toward your degree. **Discuss course planning w/your faculty advisor to

adjust this example to your interests, demands of independent research, etc.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL FOR PhD

(Minimum degree requirements: 72 credits,

33 graded, 20 Soc 800 credits)

33 graded cr

+ 12 transf cr

+ 52 (ungr) =

91 credits

Satisfactory Progress toward the MA & PhD for Students Entering with a Bachelor’s Degree

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Fall

Add an MA Degree

(Sept 10)

Select MA Chair &

Committee to

File MA Program of

Study (Dec 1)

Thesis Proposal to

Committee (early Fall)

File any Change of

Committee & Program

Change forms (after Spring

registration);

Select PhD

Chair/Committee; File PhD

Program of Study (Sept 10);

Submit Portfolio (Dec 1)

(Preliminary Exam

Re-Take: schedule by

Aug 27; resubmit

area paper by Sept

10)

Defend Dissertation

Proposal (end of Fall

or early Spring)

File any Change of

Committee &

Program Change

forms (after course

registration)

Dissertation fully

drafted (end of Fall

or early Spring)

Spring

Defend Thesis (end of

Spring)

File any Change of

Committee & Program

Change forms

Schedule Preliminary Exam

Area Paper (by Feb 10);

Submit Preliminary Exam

Area Paper (April 10)

Begin Job Market

Preparation

Defend Dissertation

(end of Spring)

*All forms to the Graduate School should be submitted through Megan Konkel, sociology graduate program coordinator. Specific

dates represent departmental submission deadlines for on-time delivery to the Graduate School. Observe Graduate School

deadlines for other forms, such as Applying for Degree forms, and so forth, which should be submitted through the graduate

program coordinator. See Deadlines & Procedures for MA and PhD degrees here: http://gradschool.wsu.edu/facultystaff-

resources/18-2/

Satisfactory Progress toward the PhD for Students Entering with an MA Degree from elsewhere

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Fall

Select PhD Chair &

Committee to

File PhD Program of

Study (Dec 1)

Take fundamental

(core) courses

Submit Portfolio (Dec 1)

(Preliminary Exam Re-

Takes; schedule by Aug 27;

resubmit area paper by

Sept 10)

File any Change of

Committee &

Program Change

forms (after course

registration)

Spring

Take fundamental

(core) courses

File any Change of

Committee & Program

Change forms

Schedule Preliminary Exam

Area Paper ( by Feb 10);

Submit Preliminary Exam

Area Paper (April 10)

Defend Dissertation

proposal (end of semester

or early Spring semester)

Begin Job Market

Preparation

Defend Dissertation

(end of Spring)

*All forms to the Graduate School should be submitted through Megan Konkel, sociology graduate program coordinator.

Specific dates represent departmental submission deadlines for on-time delivery to the Graduate School. Observe

Graduate School deadlines for other forms, such as Applying for Degree, Defense Scheduling forms, and so forth, which

should be submitted through the sociology graduate program coordinator.

See Deadlines & Procedures for PhD degree here: http://gradschool.wsu.edu/facultystaff-resources/18-2/

PART FOUR. ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Useful Websites and Form Links

These important web sites provide vital information or other forms of support in meeting the

requirements and procedures of your graduate program.

WSU Graduate School: http://www.gradschool.wsu.edu/ ; http://gradschool.wsu.edu/students/

• Graduate School Policies & Procedures

• Announcements for current students from the Graduate School

• Deadlines for Degree

• Dissertation & Thesis Guidelines of the Graduate School

• Forms to file with the Graduate School

 Program of study (i.e., “Your Program”)

 Add a Degree

 Change of program

 Committee change/substitution

 Preliminary exam scheduling

 Final exam (defense of thesis or dissertation) scheduling

Fees and Expenses Information for Graduate Students

http://finaid.wsu.edu/cost-of-attendance/

GPSA Travel Grant Information

https://www.gpsa.wsu.edu/funding/travel-grants/

Useful Information for International Students

WSU’s Office of International Programs hosts a number of programs and services useful to

incoming international students. Visit their website for information on international programs,

community events celebrating international cultures, and support services:

https://ip.wsu.edu/on-campus/

International student services, including on how to maintain your F-1 or J-1 student status:

https://ip.wsu.edu/isss/studentservices/f-1-overview/f1-status/

English-language

support:

https://ip.wsu.edu/learn-english/

The International Center for https://ip.wsu.edu/intl-center/

Tax information for international students can be found here:

https://ip.wsu.edu/isss/studentservices/travel-regulations/

**Students for whom English is a second language are expected to take a language assessment as soon as

possible (or even prior to) arrival at WSU to measure English language proficiencies and to optimize

assistantship assignments. Appointments fill quickly. For more information or to schedule an exam go to

https://ip.wsu.edu/learn-english/learn-english-programs/academic-english/teaching-assistant-evaluations/

Long-form notice

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or

activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of

its community against any individual on the basis of sex (including sex stereotypes, sex

characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity),

race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability,

use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status,

protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or

immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or

government contract.

WSU policies comply with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations, including, but

not limited to: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 USC § 1681), Title IX

implementing regulations 34 CFR 106, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d

et seq) and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Title I and II of the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-11) and 45 CFR Part

84, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq), Title IV of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq), Chapter 49.60 RCW, and the Gender Equality in Higher

Education (Chapter 28B.110 RCW).

Inquiries about the application of these laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding

the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations), as well as reports and

complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s

Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both:

Compliance and Civil Rights

Tel: 509-335-8288

Email: [email protected]

Online: Online Reporting/Complaint Form

In-person: French Administration Building Room 220

Address: PO Box 641022

Pullman, WA 99164-1022

Title IX or Deputy Title IX Coordinator: [email protected]

ADA Coordinator: ADA.Coordina[email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Civil Rights

Online: Online Complaint Form

Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-1100

Tel: 800-421-3481

FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339

Email: [email protected]

Local OCR office: https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr

Reports and complaints about conduct that may constitute discrimination (including sex

discrimination under Title IX) can be made verbally or in writing to Compliance and Civil

Rights and the university’s Title IX Coordinators at the contact information above. WSU’s

prohibition on and relevant procedural guidelines for discrimination, discriminatory

harassment, sex discrimination, and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating

violence, domestic violence, and stalking, are available here:

• WSU’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment

• CCR’s Procedural Guidelines

• WSU’s Standards of Conduct for Students

• Employee manuals:

o Faculty Manual

o Administrative Professional Handbook

o Civil Service code

o Collective Bargaining Agreements

Additional Services

Graduate students have access to a host of services on campus, including:

Counseling and Psychological Services: http://counsel.wsu.edu/

Libraries: http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/

Professional Development Workshops and Leadership Opportunities:

http://gradschool.wsu.edu/professional-development/

Graduate & Professional Writing Center: https://writingprogram.wsu.edu/graduate-writing-center/

Fellowship Opportunities for Graduate Students:

http://gradschool.wsu.edu/fellowships/

Graduate Student Funding Opportunities and Grant-writing Workshops:

https://gradschool.wsu.edu/scholarships-fellowships-awards/

Assistance with grievances: chrome-

extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://gradschool.wsu.edu/documents/2017/0

7/gs-grievance-procedures.pdf/

The university has comprehensive safety policy that includes, among many things, information

and links to the university sexual harassment policy, campus safety services, counseling services,

and service to individuals living with disabilities. You can read about these policy here:

http://safetyplan.wsu.edu/

APPENDIX A. GRADUATE STUDENT REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

FUNDS FOR UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

In limited circumstances, the department may be able to support graduate student professional

development

and research opportunities for which scholarships through the Sociology Department, SGSO,

Graduate School, or other institutions are not feasible or timely. Please submit your request,

using this form, to the Department Chair and Program Coordinator () via email attachment. The

department requires you apply to GPSA prior to requesting funds from the department. You will

not hear back from GPSA before submitting the department request, but we ask you to apply

anyway. In the event you are approved for funding, provide all receipts to Ben Weller and he

will work with you to reimburse your approved travel expenses.

Name:

Date:

Amount Requested:

Purpose (fill out all that apply):

Conference Fees:

Research Expenses:

Travel to:

Other (explain)

Have you applied for other sources of funding (i.e., GPSA travel grants)? Yes/No

If so, which ones?

Justification for request (including why other funding sources are not feasible):

Committee Chair Statement of Support (In 2-3 sentences please describe how requested funds

will assist progress toward degree).

Committee Chair Signature.

Your signature indicates that you support this student’s request for funds.

Name: Signature:

Date:

Approved

Denied Department Chair Signature Date