How to Apply
To apply for admission to the M.A. Program in Sociology, follow these two steps:
STEP 1: Read this overview of the application process.
STEP 2: Apply to the Graduate School online
After you establish an online account, submit the following materials using the Graduate School’s application portal:
Academic transcripts
Ask the Registrar of your undergraduate institution(s) to send your official transcript(s) directly to the UM Graduate School either electronically or by U.S. mail.
Two letters of recommendation
The Graduate School will contact your recommenders and send them a link for uploading their letters. The most valuable letters come from instructors who know you well, and who can assess your performance and temperament as an undergraduate and your potential for graduate-level work. Letters from nonacademic employers or supervisors can also be useful if they address your ability to thrive in an academic environment. We find that letters containing specific examples and illustrations of your potential for success in graduate school are usually more helpful than those that offer only general praise.
Statement of purpose
In one or two single-spaced pages, tell us why you want to join our graduate program.
Your statement of purpose should explain:
• What area or subdiscipline of sociology most interests you, and why
• What question(s) you would like to explore in graduate school
• Whether you envision working with a particular faculty member on a thesis or internship
• What your long-term career goals may be, and how a graduate sociology degree will help you attain them
Your statement may also explain:
• Any problem areas in your application, such as low grades. What have you learned from these challenges?
• Any special circumstances not noted elsewhere that will help us evaluate your potential for success
Writing sample
Writing samples frequently indicate a student’s potential for thriving in our graduate program, which is writing-intensive. Please submit an essay, a paper, or other example of your academic writing that shows your ability to make an argument, advance a hypothesis, or explore a question. Your writing sample can be an assignment previously submitted for a class and should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages. Your submission may be an excerpt of a longer paper.
GRE
We do not require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Application deadlines
The application deadline for students who wish to be considered for graduate assistantships is March 1, although we consider applications for each Fall class up to June 1. Because of the structure of program, we allow first-time students to begin their studies in the Spring semester only under exceptional circumstances. We offer admission and assistantships only after students complete the entire Graduate School admission process, including the submission of official transcripts.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact:
Kirk A. Johnson
