My current degree is not in Sociology. Will this adversely affect my graduate application?

No. Applicants are not required to have a Sociology degree, although a background in the social sciences and statistics can be extremely helpful. It is important, however, that applicants who come from another academic background understand the field of sociology and how it applies to their areas of interest. The Department of Sociology does not have specific course requirements for admission to its doctoral program.

My recommender cannot use the electronic option for submission of the letter of recommendation. What can I tell the recommender?

All letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically. Your recommenders must submit their letters through the recommender portal: Harvard Griffin GSAS does not accept letters submitted via email, mail, or a dossier service.

My test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts, or writing sample will be late. What do I do?

All materials for admission to the doctoral program must be submitted by December 1, 2023, for Fall 2024 admission. Late materials will not be accepted.

Seminar on Social Exclusion and Inclusion

The Seminar on Social Exclusion and Inclusion at the Center for European Studies invites speakers from both sides of the Atlantic to present research on a broad range of issues pertaining to the dynamics of exclusion and inclusion in Europe. This year, among other topics, we will discuss the relationship between urban space and politics, and look at beauty standards and exclusion in the modeling industry across Europe. The seminar is open to participants from across the university as well as from other institutions. In the Fall, we will meet once a month on Friday, from 2:15 to 4:00 pm...

Should I submit my fall grades when they are available?

You may upload your Fall grades to your application after the application deadline. Files are made available to the Admissions Committee shortly after the deadline. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the Admissions Committee will consider material that has been added to the file after the deadline.

Should I visit the Sociology Department before I apply?

In the interest of treating all applicants equally, the Sociology Department at Harvard University has a policy of not scheduling meetings between faculty and prospective doctoral students until admissions decisions have been made.

Applicants who wish to tour the campus to learn more about the University should contact the Information Center.

SOC 3303 / GOV 3009 Research Workshop in Applied Statistics

The Applied Statistics Workshop meets all academic year, Wednesdays, noon-1:30pm, in CGIS K354. This workshop is a forum for graduate students, faculty, and visiting scholars to present and discuss methodological or empirical work in progress in an interdisciplinary setting. The workshop features a tour of Harvard's statistical innovations and applications with weekly stops in different fields and disciplines and includes occasional presentations by invited speakers. Free lunch is provided.

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SOC 3304 Culture and Social Analysis Workshop

This seminar is open to the public.

[ Seminar Website ]

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SOC 3308 Economic Sociology Seminar (w/ MIT)

Inaugurated at the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1997, the Economic Sociology Seminar aims to be the home for cutting-edge economic sociology in the greater Boston social science research community. Since 2003, the seminar has been jointly run by faculty from the Sloan School's Economic Sociology Program and the Harvard Department of Sociology. Meeting at MIT and Harvard in alternating weeks during the academic year, presenters and participants represent a diverse array of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. What we share is a commitment to engage the array of...

SOC 3309 Migration and Immigrant Incorporation Workshop

Members of the Harvard Migration and Immigrant Incorporation workshop share a common interest in international migration and the incorporation of immigrants into host societies. This broad topic includes questions of race and the integration of the second generation (the children of immigrants). While the majority of participants focus on the United States, the workshop includes and is open to researchers studying other immigrant-receiving countries. The primary purpose of the workshop is to circulate works-in-progress in order to elicit feedback and suggestions for improving scholarly...

Department of Sociology

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