The Stanford Sociology Doctoral Program: PhD Timeline
How long will it take to get a PhD in Sociology at Stanford?
It all depends on the student. There is a lot of variation - some students complete the program in five years, some in as many as seven or eight years. On average, students complete the program at the end of their sixth year in residence.
Some of the factors that may extend the length of your program of study include:
- Data collection/analysis
- Off-site research
- Participation in a joint degree program (like the JD/PhD or PhD/MPP*)
- Marriage/childbirth or other family obligations
- Leave of Absence (typically for extensive data collection)
- Change in sociological interest and/or dissertation focus
Suggested Timeline
Note: There is not a typical or recommended schedule or timeline for students pursuing their PhD in Sociology. However, if a student were to strive to complete their degree in five to six years, a recommended “schedule” would be:
First Year
- Required Coursework (including pro-seminar, workshops, methods courses, theory, several survey courses, and the TA training course).
- Students are enrolled full time in each of the academic quarters.
- Summer RA and enrollment in independent study and one methods course.
- First qualifying exam in September, prior to beginning year 2
- Apply for predoctoral fellowships
Second Year
- Remaining Required Coursework, which may survey courses, workshops, and methods electives.
- TAs and RAs
- 2nd qualifying exam
- Advancement to candidacy
- Begin thinking about dissertation
Third Year
- Finish required coursework. Students must enroll or attend at least one workshop each quarter, reqardless of whether or not all other coursework has been completed.
- TAs and RAs
- Third year paper
- Begin dissertation proposal - possibly defend dissertation proposal
- Apply for dissertation fellowships
Fourth Year
- Defend dissertation prospectus no later than end of May
- Finish RA requirements
- Finish TA requirements
- Begin writing dissertation
- Apply for dissertation fellowships
Fifth Year
- Complete RAs and TAs for funding
- Apply for dissertation fellowships and external aid for Year 6
- Write dissertation - possibly defend dissertation, submit manuscript, and graduate
Year 6
- See “Year 5” above
Students participating in a joint degree program can expect to take an extra one or two years to complete the program.
If you have any questions that cannot be answered on our website or in the Stanford Bulletin, please contact the student services office.