Department of Sociology/CJC @The University of Missouri-Kansas City   Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program

What does it mean to do Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City provides a unique opportunity to bring the perspectives and methodologies of at least two disciplines to bear on the student's research area. Drawing on the resources in both the Coordinating and Co-Disciplines, students take coursework and conduct their research interdisciplinarily, and are often in a position to bring together faculty who may not have collaborated previously.

At this time, the department is only accepting students for the Sociology co-discipline.
Applications will not be accepted for Sociology as a coordinating discipline.

What are the minimum requirements for acceptance into the co-discipline?

Applicants who designate sociology as a co-discipline must submit samples of written work and a brief statement (no more than three pages) indicating a preliminary proposal for their interdisciplinary plan of study (e.g., intended coordinating discipline, academic emphasis areas, intended dissertation research area). This statement should address how sociological studies will contribute to achievement of their academic and professional goals.

Sociology as a Co-discipline

Those students with sociology as a co-discipline will take a minimum of 15 hours in sociology. Prior to full admission they will have been expected to have taken, and passed with a minimum of 3.0, the following courses:

SOC 501 Social Theory I (3 hours)
SOC 502 Social Theory II (3 hours)

These two required courses are included in the 15 required hours in sociology.

Who should consider doctoral work in an interdisciplinary environment?

Because students take coursework in both disciplines and conduct their dissertation research interdisciplinarily, upon graduation they will be able to demonstrate scholarly depth and breadth of knowledge in each of these disciplines, and be prepared to use the skills of interdisciplinary scholarship and research to further human knowledge and understanding. Students will come to value both the range and diversity of approaches to various research problems. They will learn how to work in a collaborative research environment, and how to communicate the results of their research to diverse scholarly audiences.

Students who succeed in this demanding program will be self-motivated, willing to learn the requisite skills of critical thinking, analysis, and research design, and will have a desire to conduct original research in their chosen fields of study. While each discipline has certain basic requirements which must be met, there is considerable flexibility which allows students and their doctoral committees to design plans of study that meet individual needs. Indeed, it is often students who first identify the connections and possibilities that generate true interdisciplinarity in the pursuit of research project.

Doctoral study represents a substantial commitment of time and energy. It is not unusual for students to spend as many as five years pursuing the degree. Thus, it cannot be viewed as a degree which is simply "picked up" through the completion of a set number of required courses—perhaps while the student is also working a full-time job. The Doctor of Philosophy degree is distinguished from undergraduate and Master's degrees by the emphasis on original research, and the final product of the student's program: a doctoral dissertation which makes an original contribution to the stock of human knowledge and understanding.

Click here for the School of Graduate Studies website on the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program.

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What is the difference between the Coordinating Discipline and the Co-Discipline?

Rather than "Primary" and "Secondary" disciplines, we prefer to think of "Coordinating Disciplines" and "Co-Disciplines." These are the two domains of research within which students will work and learn during their time in the program, and students can expect to spend approximately 60% of their time in their Coordinating Discipline, the remainder in their Co-Discipline.

Among the disciplines with which Sociology has been paired by students are: History, Religious Studies, English, Public Affairs and Administration, Psychology, Health Psychology, and Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education. Students may also work with the Social Science Consortium as a Co-Discipline.

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What will I be doing as a student in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program?

While the individual requirements vary from discipline to discipline, the basic sequence consists of required and elective coursework in both the Coordinating Discipline and the Co-Discipline, followed by qualifying examinations which certify a student as an official candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Then, working with dedicated professors who represent a wide variety of interests, students will work toward the completion of an original research project, and the successful defense of the doctoral dissertation. Along the way, you will be working most closely with your two principal advisers (one from each discipline) and your doctoral advisory committee.

Click here to learn more about the broad outlines of a graduate student career in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program.

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How do I apply to the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program?

For admission to the program, applicants must meet both the general criteria of the UMKC School of Graduate Studies and the discipline-specific criteria. They must be recommended for admission by the doctoral faculty review groups in the two disciplines which would constitute their interdisciplinary pairing. Upon approval of these positive recommendations by the graduate dean, students are admitted to the School of Graduate Studies. The School of Graduate Studies monitors student progress in the program, enforces program regulations, and facilitates communication among the disciplines. A discipline coordinator, usually a doctoral faculty member, coordinates admission reviews and tracking of students within each discipline.

If possible, it is generally advisable to meet with the coordinator of each discipline before applying, and to become familiar with the faculty in each potential department. Among other things, the faculty who will be reviewing your application will be looking to see if there is a good "fit" between the student and research interests of the faculty. This is one reason a statement of academic interests should be as clear and precise as possible.

The materials which must be submitted for review include:

• A completed application form (click here to apply online).
• Official transcripts of all previous college and university work, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• A detailed 3-5 page statement of your academic interests and goals, as well as some indication of how you see the two disciplines you have selected contributing to them. This is most important as it gives doctoral faculty an idea of your research interests and how you plan to pursue them.
• A recent writing sample (e.g., a published or an unpublished paper you have written, or a chapter from your Master's thesis).
• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors under whom you have studied.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

What are the minimum requirements for acceptance into the program?

The first requirement is a Master's degree in sociology or a related discipline such as criminology/criminal justice or anthropology. Prior to acceptance, all students must have completed the equivalent of the core Master's-level courses in sociological theory (Sociology 501/502), research methods (Sociology 510/511), and intermediate statistics (Sociology 516).

The second requirement both for acceptance is that students and their research interests can be well matched with available faculty and their academic expertise. Put differently, this means that not everyone who is qualified for admission to the program can be admitted. Potential students who can identify a specific area of interest which coincides with the expertise of our faculty members are most likely to be successful both in admission and in the program. Prior to application for admission, potential students are encouraged to speak to or (if possible) visit with faculty members to determine if the possibility of this match exists.

Click here to visit the faculty websites in the Department of Sociology/CJC.

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Is there financial assistance available?

Most departments have both Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs), and many graduate students are able to avail themselves of these throughout their time in program. In addition, there are a number of College- and University-wide opportunities for which students may apply, including: Chancellor's Fellowships, Preparing Future Faculty Fellowships, and Distinguished Dissertation Fellowships.

Click here for more information on financial aid and assistance.

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For more information on the Department of Sociology and the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program, please contact:

Deborah Smith , Ph.D.
Department of Sociology
Office: (816) 235-2529
Email: smithde@umkc.edu

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Revised: Fall 2006