Our program is highly structured and requires a substantial amount of coursework, typically taking three years to complete. While you complete your coursework, you receive extensive training in a range of areas and methods. The required methods sequence at IU emphasizes quantitative methods and is intended to provide the preparation necessary to be both a producer and consumer of quantitative research.

At the same time, we do not neglect qualitative methods. There is a core of faculty and a rapidly-growing contingent of graduate students who do primarily qualitative work, and our department offers advanced courses in qualitative methods.

At IU, you are trained to be adept researchers and often have opportunities to conduct research in collaboration with faculty members. All students will be required to take the Sociological Research Practicum (SRP) series to prepare an independent research paper, the “empirical paper.” This empirical paper is often used later as the basis for participation in S700, the publishing course and may ultimately be published in a sociology journal.

In addition, there are other funded research projects and fellowships made available to graduate students that provide experience and financial support. Many of our graduate students have presented their work at regional, national, and international conferences and published in some of the most prestigious sociology journals.