Our admissions committee selectively admits about 10 new graduate students each year. A minimum GPA of 3.0 during the last two years of undergraduate study is required. There is no GRE requirement. Our committee evaluates each applicant’s entire file holistically in making admission decisions. Strong letters of recommendation, a clear and focused personal statement, your research interests fit with faculty expertise, and an exemplary academic writing sample are at least as important as other factors. If you have faced difficulties that have negatively affected your record or you have additional strengths that you believe will ensure success in our graduate program, discuss them in your personal statement and the committee will take them into consideration.
Diversity Statement: The Florida State University Sociology Department is committed to admitting and supporting a diverse community of graduate students. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and gender, sexual, & romantic minorities, as well as individuals with disabilities and first-generation college students. We also desire applicants from diverse countries of origin and undergraduate institutions, and we aim to support students interested in a wide range of sociological topics, research methods, and theoretical perspectives.
Deadlines
Applications for our Graduate Program must be completed by February 15, 2024 for students to be eligible for funding from the university.
Completing your application
A complete application includes (1) mailing official undergraduate/graduate transcripts sent directly to FSU’s Office of Admissions at 282 Champions Way, Tallahassee FL 32306-2400, and (2) supply the requested information and upload documents to the Graduate School’s Application Portal, including:
- Personal Statement: Upload a 2-3 page statement that highlights your relevant training and experiences, your sociological interests and career goals, and why our department is the right place for you to continue your education.
- Academic Writing Sample: Upload a copy of a sole-authored paper, such as an undergraduate course paper, an honor’s thesis, Master’s thesis, or publication. The paper should showcase your writing abilities, demonstrate critical thinking skills, and reveal your potential to succeed in our graduate program.
- Transcripts: Upload copies (unofficial is fine) of undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- English Proficiency Score for International Applicants: Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. Upload a copy of your exam score. Any of these exam scores are accepted.
- TOEFL with a minimum of 550 paper, 213 computer, or 80 Internet based
- Cambridge C1 Advanced Level with a minimum score of 180
- Michigan Language Assessment with a minimum score of 55
- Duolingo with a minimum score of 120
- Notes:
- Countries Exempt from English Language Proficiency Requirement: https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/international-admissions
- These new exams do not serve as alternatives to the SPEAK exam, which is required if an international graduate student is being appointed as a Teaching Assistant (TA) and does not have the requisite score on the speaking section of the TOEFL.
- Notes:
- Recommendation Letters. Provide the contact information of three academics who have agreed to write letters of recommendation. We will email them instructions about how to upload their letters. If you have been out of college for an extended period of time and cannot secure three academics, contact us for further guidance.
Application Fee and Status Check.
Once you have provided the required information and uploaded your materials, you will have to pay a $30 fee and be able to check the status of your application through the “application status check.” If you do not pay the fee, the graduate school considers your application incomplete and they will not consider you for admission. The application fee is charged by the graduate school and the $30 fee cannot be waived.