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PhD Program Requirements

Teaching Requirement

Libby Yost teaching undergraduates. All students are expected to develop teaching as well as research skills. Teaching skills are developed in the required professional seminar, SOC 702. The summer semester of SOC 702 is devoted specifically to developing teaching skills. Students will have the opportunity to observe, review, and critique their own teaching performance, learn various pedagogic techniques, develop syllabi, etc.

After receiving the master's degree, students are required to teach at least one undergraduate course in the department prior to graduation. A student who serves as the Teaching Assistant for Methods or Statistics courses at the undergraduate or graduate levels may fulfill the teaching requirement with that assignment.

Required Courses

Medical Sociology Core (9 hours):
+ - SOC 780: Medical Sociology Click to collapse
Theory and research in medical sociology; systematic overview of relevant literature. 3 hours.

Two of the following:
  • SOC 724: Body and Health
  • SOC 734: Global Health
  • SOC 735: Special Topics in Global Health
  • SOC 755: Race and Ethnic Relations
  • SOC 756: Gender and Health
  • SOC 775: Place and Health
  • SOC 781: Sociology of Health and Illness
  • SOC 783: Health Care Delivery Systems
  • SOC 785: Family and Health
  • SOC 786: Health Disparities
  • SOC 787: Sociology of Mental Health
  • SOC 788: Social Medicine

Theory Core (6 hours):
+ - SOC 720: Classical Theory Click to collapse
The major works of classical sociological theorists, including Durkheim, Marx, Weber, and Simmel. 3 hours.
+ - SOC 722: Contemporary Theory Click to collapse
Review of late 20th century and early 21st century sociological theories and issues. 3 hours

Statistics and Research Core (15 hours):
+ - SOC 601: Data Management and Analysis Click to collapse
An introduction to statistical theory and univariate and bivariate statistics. 3 hours.
+ - SOC 703: Regression Analysis Click to collapse
Multivariate statistical analysis. 3 hours.
Prerequisites: SOC 701 [Min Grade: C] or SOC 601 [Min Grade: C]
+ - SOC 704: Categorical Data Analysis Click to collapse
Logistic regression and other models for categorical outcomes. 3 hours.
+ - SOC 705: Advanced Research Methods Click to collapse
Methodology of social research. 3 hours.
Prerequisites: SOC 601 [Min Grade: C]
+ - SOC 711: Qualitative Methods Click to collapse
Field research design, observational research; in-depth interviewing strategies, analyzing qualitative data. 3 hours.

Sociology/Health Electives/Transfer Credits (30 hours, up to 6 hours outside the Department):
See course descriptions in the UAB Graduate Catalog. Up to 9 hours of independent study (SOC 791-793) may be used to meet this requirement.

University Requirement:
  • GRD 717/SOC 794: Principles of Scientific Integrity.

Proseminar (3 hours):
+ - SOC 702: The Proseminar on the Profession Click to collapse
The culture and organization of sociology; norms and values of the graduate student culture and the profession; the sociological imagination; sociological careers; the practice of sociology; thesis development. Designed to orient the student to the perspective and practice of sociology. Required of all beginning graduate students. 1 hour.

Research Hours (30 hours):
  • Master's Thesis Research Hours (6 hours)
  • Doctoral Dissertation Research Hours (24 hours)