UCSB Sociology Graduate Program
Admission Procedures

Updated July 2007

The Department of Sociology admits for the Fall Quarter only.

Complete the E-Application & Mail Supplemental materials by the December 10, 2007 Deadline

AFTER THIS DATE, NO FURTHER APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Application Checklist

ONLINE APPLICATION

Domestic Applicants: ONLINE APPLICATION

International Applicants Only: International students MUST submit a preliminary application (pre-application) for review before continuing the application process--Domestic students do not need to complete this form:
ONLINE PRELIMINARY APPLICATION

If you are a person with a disability and require an application in other than electronic form, please contact the Graduate Division by calling (805) 893-2277.

Further information on UCSB's graduate studies can also be found at the Graduate Division's website, including links to financial aid, housing, campus visits, etc.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

Except for the test results (GRE and TOEFL) students must submit supplemental materials directly to the Department of Sociology (address listed further down on this page):

Transcripts

Students must request two official copies of their transcripts from each college-level institution they have attended. This includes junior college, lower-division, extension, and graduate transcripts. All transcripts should be sent to the Department of Sociology. Your GPA for admission to UCSB graduate studies must be at least a 3.0 for your upper division coursework (from your undergraduate institution(s)).

Foreign applicants are held to the same requirements. Official transcripts or documents must come directly from the degree-granting institution (a copy of the diploma is not an official document, unless you have it notarized as coming from the original document). Since we do not return transcripts, foreign students should not send the original document if it is irreplaceable; obtain a notarized or certified copy instead. All foreign documents must be accompanied by certified translations, including your writing sample if not in English.

Statement of Purpose

Please write your name on each page of your Statement of Purpose, CV, etc. and print them on white paper; recommended length for the statement is 2-3 pages (preferably 2) with normal font size and line spaced at 1.5 spacing. Please include information about yourself, your goals, and anything else you feel will help the admission committee understand who you are and why you want to attend our program. The cover sheet lists additional information you can provide, such as your personal achievements and accomplishments, and a CV--you may include the CV as a separate document, and either include the personal achievements as a separate page or incorporate them into your personal letter as you prefer. You must include the required cover sheet from Graduate Division.

Letters of Recommendation

Three official letters of recommendation from faculty members with whom applicants have studied should be sent directly to the Department of Sociology, and must also have a signed release cover form from Graduate Division for each letter. These letters should contain the following information:

• Circumstances under which referee has known the student.
• The referee's evaluation of the student's overall intellectual ability (e.g., analytical power, critical facility, theoretical skills); independence of thought (e.g., insight, imagination, creativity); effectiveness of communication, oral and written; motivation, persistence, self-discipline, thoroughness, etc.
• The referee's assessment of the student's long run, overall probable contributions to sociology, to society, and to UCSB's graduate program.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Official GRE and TOEFL scores should be sent directly from ETS (the testing organization) to the Graduate Division of UCSB. UCSB's institution code is 4835, and the department code should be left blank. Verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing scores on the GRE are required of all applicants. (The Advanced Sociology Test is optional). The GRE only offers computerized test formats. To insure that test scores are received by the application deadline, students should plan to take the GRE no later than October 31, but we will accept scores through the middle of December. GREs taken later may arrive too late to be considered for the forthcoming year and thus cause your application to be rejected. For Sociology, there is no minimum required score for the GRE for admission to our program.

• International Applicants:

All International applicants for the MA/PhD, PhD degree program for Sociology are required to first complete a Pre-application to determine eligibility. Domestic students do not need to complete this form.

Foreign students are held to the same regulations affecting admission as are students from the United States. In addition to the GRE, foreign students whose native tongue is not English, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score above 550 on the written test, 213 on the computerized test or 80 on the Internet Based Test. Students who have received a bachelor's or master's degree from a U.S. institution are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

If accepted to the Department of Sociology, all students whose native language is not English, will be required to take the English Language Placement Examination at the beginning of the first quarter in which they are registered. Students must pass the test before they will be allowed to become a teaching assistant.

Educational Testing Service:

Arrangements for taking the GRE and TOEFL are made through the Educational Testing Service which has facilities throughout the world. Students should consult the GRE booklet (either the Domestic Edition or Foreign Edition) for the most convenient test center. Booklets may be obtained from:

Educational Testing Service

Box 6000

Princeton, NJ 08541-6000

(609) 771-7670

Submission of Sociology Paper

Students must submit directly to the Department of Sociology a sample of written work in sociology or in a closely related field. If a writing sample is submitted in excess of 15 pages, please designate which 10-15 pages of your work the Admissions Committee should read. All written work should include a bibliography, footnotes, or references, if applicable. Because materials cannot be returned, applicants should keep a copy of written work. All writing samples must be written in English or translated into English by a certified translator.

Supporting Materials must be sent to:	Fee paid by Check or Money Order must be sent to:
Graduate Program Office Sociology Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9430	Attn: Graduate Admissions 3117 Cheadle Hall University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2070

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE OR DENIAL

The Department of Sociology does not have a fixed schedule of dates for acceptance or denial. The burden of responsibility rests with the applicant to see that all supporting materials are submitted as early as possible to enable the admissions committee to make a thorough and fair evaluation. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Students are encouraged to check online to view which materials have been received and listed on your supporting materials page. If you need assistance, please contact our Graduate Program Assistant by email. Please note, during the peak admission season (December/January) it may take up to a week or two to post your materials received on your electronic application/supporting materials page.

Although the Admissions Committee does not interview applicants, prospective students are cordially invited to visit the Department of Sociology to talk with current graduate students and faculty in their area of interest, or contact faculty through email---please do not contact faculty concerning admission requirements, housing, or administrative items concerning admissions.