Professor; Director of Graduate Studies Faculty Profile This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (205) 934-0825
*Priority funding and international applications deadline. Applications for self-funded students will be accepted up to August 1.
**Self-funded students only. Admission waiver for Spring must be requested from the PhD program.
Admission to the doctoral program in medical sociology requires the approval of the UAB Graduate School opens a new website and the doctoral program committee of the Department of Sociology. The committee:
recruits the most qualified graduate students
balances the interests of the medical sociology program with available financial resources, and
reviews and makes recommendations for admission.
Educational Background
The master's degree is the first step to a PhD in Medical Sociology. All students entering the program without a master's degree will earn their MA as they matriculate through the PhD program. The department does not offer a terminal MA in Medical Sociology.
Students with a Master's Degree
Students with a master's degree are granted waivers for a maximum of 15 semester hours of substantive graduate work. Wavers are approved by the graduate program director and the professors in charge of the respective coursework in question. Students with a MA, MPH, MPA, etc., who have not written a master's thesis will be required to write one before they proceed to the dissertation.
Graduate Transfer Students without a Graduate Degree
Students transferring from another graduate program without a graduate degree may be granted waivers for a maximum of 12 semester hours of substantive graduate work. Waivers are approved by the graduate program director and the professors in charge of the respective coursework in question.
Minimum Admission Requirements
A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution in sociology or a related field with a minimum of 18 hours of social science coursework, preferably including social theory, statistics, and research methodology.
An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 system, or a 3.2 GPA for the last 60 semester hours in a BA/BS program.
A 3.0 GPA in all previous graduate coursework.
For international students, a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 80 and an acceptable score on the Test of Written English (TWE) or a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS.
Exceptional students who fail to meet any of the above requirements will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. The following criteria are also considered in the admissions process:
Evidence of scholarship
Statement of career goals, with emphasis on research and scholarship
Request one (1) official transcript to be mailed by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School (WES translations are sometimes required for transcripts): UAB Graduate School LHL G03 1720 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
Submit official TOEFL test score (for international applicants only — this score is required even if you went to an English-speaking school outside of the U.S.):
Professor; Director of Graduate Studies Faculty Profile This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (205) 934-0825
