Graduate Programs: Doctoral Degree Program

Refer to Part 2, Section 6 of the Graduate School Handbook for policies regarding doctoral degree program requirements and rules.

1. Philosophical Tenets of the Doctoral Program
   1. Ph.D. programs in rural sociology require courses and seminars which provide a systematic treatment of rural studies in addition to mastery of sociological theory and methods and their application to rural problems.
   2. Each Ph.D. program shall be viewed as an individualized sequence of course work and other experiences designed to fulfill the needs of the student in the development of scholarly research competencies.
   3. Individual Ph.D. programs should provide for depth and breadth of knowledge appropriate for both Rural Sociology and Sociology.
   4. A variety of experiences in teaching, research, development, and service activities will be sought for each student. Appropriate teaching and research practicums may be utilized to achieve this end.
   5. The advisory committee for the student shall be responsible for assisting in the development of a balanced program with depth and breadth of course work and professional experiences.
   6. Faculty advisers shall assume leadership in working with the student in developing and designing an individual program with the advice and consent of the advisory committee, in a timely manner.
   7. Students are encouraged to begin planning their dissertation research early in their program.

2. Student Planning Procedures

   Individuals seeking the Ph.D. degree will be expected to have an acceptable background in the discipline-specific career area and shall be guided by the following policies and procedures.

   1. Following admission to the program, the student, in consultation with the chair of the department's Graduate Studies and Research Committee, shall select a faculty adviser. Student interests and faculty competencies and responsibilities (and agreement to serve) will be important factors in adviser assignments. A student may request a change in advisor if the areas of specialization and dissertation topic so warrant.
   2. The student, in collaboration with the adviser, will identify at least three additional faculty members to serve with the adviser as an advisory committee. At least three of the committee members will be faculty in the Rural Sociology Program and at least one from outside the degree area. Major responsibility for planning the Ph.D. program for the student shall rest with this committee.
   3. The Ph.D. program for the student should be developed and approved by the advisory committee prior to the end of the second quarter of residence. A copy of the program will be forwarded to the Rural Sociology graduate faculty and to the Graduate Studies and Research Committee for the initial audit of standards.
   4. All programs of study submitted by Rural Sociology graduate students will be circulated for review by the Rural Sociology graduate faculty. All petitions for changes or waivers in an approved program will also be reviewed by Rural Sociology graduate faculty.
   5. A minimum of 135 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree is required to complete the degree. In completing the minimum requirements of 135 hours, students should normally plan 110 to 120 hours of course work, if they do not possess a Master's degree. Students with a Master's degree that has been accepted for 45 hours of credit should normally plan to complete 65 to 75 hours of course work. Students are expected to enroll for a minimum of 20 hours of research after completing the general exams.

3. Program of Course Work

   The Ph.D. program in rural sociology must include three fields of emphasis in addition to required minimum hours in sociological theory and research methodology.

   The first field is the general speciality in rural sociology. This area should give students an overview of the substantive focus and theoretical, methodological, and other aspects of the research tradition of rural sociology as a sub-field within sociology.

   For the second field, the student selects one of two speciality areas in rural sociology, the sociology of agriculture/natural resources, and social change/development.

   The third field is a speciality area of the student's choice which is developed in consultation with the advisor. Students may want to extend their disciplinary focus in sociology or another social science; or they may want to develop a speciality area useful for their dissertation research or to complement career plans. They also may choose the remaining specialty area in Rural Sociology.

   A minimum of twenty hours of graduate work is suggested for each field of emphasis in addition to theory and research methodology. Courses taken to fulfill one requirement may not count toward fulfillment of other requirements. Total hours are to be chosen from courses below or equivalent courses as approved by the student's advisory committee. An "*" indicates core courses in each area that may not be substituted.

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