Mrak Hall UC Davis

Make Your Mark on Our Understanding of Deep Connections Throughout Society

Advanced study in sociology develops critical insights about the relationships and dynamics that make up our social lives. The Ph.D. program in Sociology at UC Davis emphasizes rigorous preparation in sociological theory and research methodologies as the basis of sound scholarship. Our training prepares students for successful careers in academia, private industry, public service, government and many other high-impact roles in society. We encourage our graduate students to begin active research early in their academic careers and provide the support and mentorship needed to succeed.
How to Apply Graduate Study at UC Davis

Program Highlights

Our Program...

was ranked #36 in "America's Best Graduate Schools" by US News & World Report in 2025
has a pluralistic vision of sociology with a wide range of faculty specializations
emphasizes researching issues challenging California, the United States, and the globalizing world
is comprised of a diverse and interactive group of Ph.D. students
boasts faculty and students with excellent records of publication, research awards and grants

 

Doctorate Training Strengths

Our Doctoral Students...

develop strong theoretical, methodological and analytical skills
specialize in three methods: field, quantitative and comparative/historical methods
engage in a wide variety of social issues
pursue their own dissertation projects based in substantive areas of sociology

 

Faculty Spotlight

 

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Joss Greene, Assistant Professor

Joss Greene is a qualitative researcher who studies gender, punishment, labor, and social change. He has researched transgender people's experiences with prisons, reentry, work and community care. His newest work is a community-engaged research project about activism during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

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Tina Law, Assistant Professor

Tina Law is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and studies inequality, race and ethnicity, political sociology and AI. She addresses questions about social and political inequality in the U.S., often by developing novel methodological techniques and text and image datasets.

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Veronica Lerma, Assistant Professor

Veronica Lerma specializes in criminalization, critical carceral studies, intersectionality, education, Latinx sociology and qualitative research methods. A California Central Valley native, her research focuses on those in her community who have intersected with the criminal justice system.

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Faculty Specializations

The faculty's diverse specializations provide students with the opportunity to design individualized degree programs. Some of these include:

  • Complex Organizations
  • Culture
  • Demography
  • Health and Medical Sociology
  • International Migration
  • Family and Kinship
  • Law and Social Control
  • Political Economy and Economic Sociology
  • Political Sociology
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Social Movements
  • Social Stratification
  • Work, Occupations, Professions

Recent Sociology Graduate Placements

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Konrad Franco

Principal Researcher, CA Department of Social Services

2023 UC Davis Ph.D.

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Angelita Repetto

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Michigan State University

2025 UC Davis Ph.D.

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Paola Langer

Presidential Post-Doctoral Fellow, Princeton University

2024 UC Davis Ph.D. 

Explore a Designative Emphasis

African American & African Studies

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Human Rights

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Critical Theory

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Science and Technology Studies

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Feminist Theory and Research

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Computational Social Science

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UC Davis Sociology Ph.D. Program Overview

Applicants accepted into the Sociology graduate program are admitted directly to the Ph.D. program. The master's degree is awarded to students in the course of working toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuation in the Ph.D. program is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all M.A. degree requirements. 

The department provides students with facilities for study, work and social interaction. Limited office space is available as are individual mailboxes and a computer lab, in addition to extensive campus facilities. An average of 50 to 70 students enroll in the Sociology graduate program, which has 28 faculty members and affiliates. Theoretical, methodological, and substantive pluralism characterize faculty research interests and departmental course offerings. 

To learn more about applying to the Ph.D. program in Sociology, visit the Admissions page. Applications are due by December 15. 

How to Apply