Graduate Handbook

The Master of Science degree is conferred when students complete a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours and successfully complete a Master’s portfolio. Students must have a combined GPA of at least 3.0 (B). No more than 3 credit hours may count towards the MS for courses taken outside the Department. There is no assumption that courses taken outside the Department will count towards a graduate degree in Criminology; written approval for such courses is required.

The 30 credit hours of Master’s level courses must include SOC 504 (Statistics for the Social Sciences), SOC 587 (Criminological Theory), and SOC 606 (Research Methods). All full-time master’s level students will take the three required courses during the first semester of study. All students will take SOC 601 (Portfolio Guidance) in their last two semesters.

Other policies regarding MS-level coursework are:

• Students at the MS level are expected to register for 12 credit hours to be considered full time. Students expecting to finish the program in 1 year (2 semester) should register for 15 credit hours per semester.
• A grade of C in a course is the minimal passing grade for a course that may count towards credit for meeting the requirements for the MS. Grades of C- or lower do not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for the MS.

The Graduate School specifies the maximum number of credit hours or courses that can be transferred, waived, or exempted by graduate programs at the University and the circumstances under which such actions can be considered. The Department of Sociology and Criminology has additional requirements beyond the minimum specified by the Graduate School for graduate work that counts towards the MS in Criminology. The Department makes the final decision on which, if any, credits are accepted for graduate work completed at other institutions or outside the Department.

Up to three credit hours may be taken in an approved field or discipline outside sociology to count towards credit hour requirements of the MS, but approval is not automatic. A written petition to the Director of the Criminology MS, who will consult as appropriate with the Director of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Committee, and/or the student’s faculty advisor should be explicit about what contribution such outside courses will make to the student’s program of graduate study in Criminology.

Up to six credit hours of graduate level work in sociology or criminology from another institution taken prior to enrollment at UB may be accepted as counting toward the MS degree. Approval for transfer of such credit is the responsibility of the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Committee and knowledgeable regular faculty. Students must petition to transfer credit during their first semester at UB; transfer is not automatic. Credit for SOC606: Research Methods and SOC587: Criminological Theory may not be transferred.

Fall Semester

SOC 504: Statistics*

SOC 587: Criminological Theory*

SOC 601: Portfolio Guidance

SOC 606: Research Methods*

Criminology Elective

*SOC 504, SOC 587, and SOC 606 are offered only in the fall semester.

Spring Semester

SOC 601: Portfolio Guidance

Sociology Elective

Criminology Elective

Criminology Elective

Criminology Elective

Master’s degree students apply for graduation/degree conferral in HUB after completing two or three semesters of full-time enrollment with a GPA of at least 3.0. In no case, however, should the Application for Graduation be submitted less than one semester before the completion of the Master’s degree.  When students are ready to determine their graduation/conferral date, they should:

1. Refer to the deadline dates for applying for graduation in HUB (see below)
2. Log into their HUB Student Center and follow directions on how to apply for graduation
3. Immediately after applying, email the completed form to the Graduate Coordinator, Susie Sheron, at hsheron2@buffalo.edu.

If you need to change your conferral date after you apply for graduation in HUB, you must do so by completing the Change Expected Graduation Term form and then email the form to hsheron2@buffalo.edu.

The Director of the Criminology MS acts as the advisor for all MS students except in cases where the instructor of SOC601: Portfolio Guidance is different from the Director. In this case, the instructor of SOC601 serves as the advisor for students enrolled in SOC601. Members of the MS Committee serve as second readers on final portfolio projects. 

A Master’s Portfolio consists of a set of materials that summarizes and displays the student’s criminological knowledge, skills, and problem-solving capabilities beyond an academic audience. It should also highlight the ability to design, manage, operate, and report on topics typically required for professional employment.  The portfolio emphasizes the student’s competence across several areas within criminology. The materials in the portfolio must be assembled and presented in a professional manner. The Portfolio should include:

• A 1-2-page cover letter template that discusses academic experiences and professional goals;
• A résumé that clearly highlights the skills and strengths the student has gained through the MS program (students must work with UB Career Services on both the cover letter and résumé);
• A LinkedIn profile that showcases the student’s skills and goals;
• A written product to be used when applying to positions or reaching out to organizations of interest. The format of the written product should be guided by information gained from informational interviews (recorded, transcribed, and submitted to the committee) with 2-3 people working in an industry or field of interest to the student. The written product could take several forms:
  • 2 short policy briefs that apply sociological theory, methods, and/or research to a particular policy or set of policies. Policy briefs should model those found on the Scholars Strategy Network, Work + Family Researchers Network, or The National Council on Family Relations. Briefs can address policies at organizational, community, city, state, or national levels;
  • An 8-10 page research paper that addresses a problem, policy issue, or an organizational process that incorporates sociological theory, methods, and/or substantive coursework;
  • An 8-10 page white paper to help general readers understand a sociological issue or social problem. Student may consult a guide such as http://www.impactonthenet.com/wp-guide.pdfDownload pdf for assistance with writing and structuring a white paper. Generally, white papers provide an overview of a problem, background on that problem, and potential solutions to solving that problem.

The written document is assessed by the Criminology MS Director (or the instructor of SOC601 if not the Director) and a second reader (typically a member of the MS Graduate Committee) to determine whether the student passes Master’s degree requirements.  The final grade for the MS portfolio can be Pass or Fail.

Graduate School policy dictates that “Master's degrees must be completed within four years from the student's first registration date in that master's degree program.” If an extension of time limit to complete the degree is needed, the student must complete the Graduate School’s Petition for an Extension of the Time Limit and provide the appropriate documentation to justify the time extension. The decision to extend time is at the Graduate School level and not at the Department level. All students should successfully complete all MS requirements in time for commencement.

The responsibilities of the student and the graduate program administration are listed below.

Candidate:

• Follow the specifications of the Graduate School and the Department guidelines for a Master’s portfolio, in consultation with the MS committee.
• Make sure that the Graduate Program Coordinator has a properly executed copy of any form submitted directly to the Graduate School.
• Complete a full portfolio as described above.
• Verify that the Graduate School has their correct graduation date on record and that they have conformed to all deadlines for conferral of degrees.

Director of Criminology MS:

• Certify to the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Coordinator that all requirements for the portfolio are completed to appropriate standards.

Director of Graduate Studies:

• Certify to the Graduate School that all requirements for the MS have been met.

Graduate Program Coordinator:

• Maintain the records in the student file verifying that the various requirements for conferral of the MS have been met.
• Transmit the appropriate documentation to the Graduate School upon confirming all coursework requirements are fulfilled, the Master’s portfolio requirements have been met, and any revisions are completed.

The requirements for the PhD degree include 72 credit hours of graduate study, including successful completion (grade of B or higher) of at least 6 additional credit hours of advanced methods coursework beyond that required for the Master’s degree. At the PhD level, students take at least 30 additional credit hours of graded course work beyond the MA or its equivalent and up to 12 hours of dissertation supervision. Written approval must be obtained before taking courses outside the Department that will count towards meeting the credit hour requirements for Sociology graduate degrees. No more than six credit hours from courses taken outside the Department are counted towards meeting the PhD credit hour minimum requirements, including the three hours that may be counted at the MA level. Students with an MA degree in Sociology applying from another program may be able to transfer up to six course credits (if taken within the last five years) at the discretion of the Graduate Committee, but they cannot waive or transfer credits for required courses. The Graduate Committee will also review that student's MA thesis and determine whether an additional MA will be required or not. For students with an MA degree not in Sociology, we generally do not transfer in credits, so those students will complete an MA degree en route to the PhD. The Department’s graded course work requirement and course transfer policy are more stringent than the Graduate School’s.

The Doctoral degree is completed by:

• Obtaining an MA in the Department (or its equivalent).
• Taking at least 42 additional credit hours of graduate-level course work beyond the MA (or its equivalent), including at least 30 credit hours of PhD level graded course work and which is to include at least two additional 3 credit hour courses in advanced research methods (for example, in field/ethnographic research, mixed methods, qualitative methods, advanced quantitative techniques, comparative/historical), and up to 12 credit hours of dissertation supervision. No courses over 10 years old will be counted toward the Doctoral degree without permission of the graduate committee.
• Completing all required coursework. Required courses include the Sociological Theory core courses (SOC 567, SOC 568), Research Methods and Statistics core courses (SOC 504, SOC 606, SOC 607), and at least one advanced methods elective.
• PhD students must earn grades of B or better in all required courses. Students who earn a grade below B (including B-) when retaking a required course will be dismissed from the program. A C grade does not meet standards for graduate work and does not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for the PhD. 
• Counting no more than nine credit hours of Selected Topics Readings (SOC 575) towards meeting the minimum requirements for graded course work, including the 3 credit hours of SOC 575 which may be taken at the MA level.
• Maintaining continuous registration in the program required by the Graduate School. Continuous registration is maintained by registering for at least one credit hour per semester.
• Students may register for more than 12 credit hours in a semester only in extraordinary circumstances and only with permission from the Graduate Committee.
• Passing PhD qualifying examinations in two substantive areas listed below in the Qualifying Examinations section. Students may petition the Graduate Committee to take an examination in a self-defined area.
• Completing a doctoral dissertation and passing its oral defense.

The requirements for the PhD degree include 72 credit hours of graduate study, composed of 36 credits of graded coursework and 36 credits of professionalization, research, or dissertation supervision credits.  A grade of B or higher is needed for all required coursework. Written approval must be obtained before taking courses outside the Department that will count towards meeting the credit hour requirements for Sociology graduate degrees. No more than six credit hours from courses taken outside the Department are counted towards meeting the PhD credit hour minimum requirements, and these external courses will replace internal professionalization/research credits rather than elective credits except under extraordinary circumstances.

Students entering directly from their undergraduate program earn their MA en route to their PhD. Students with an MA degree in Sociology applying from another program may be able to transfer up to six course credits (if taken within the last five years) at the discretion of the Graduate Committee, but they cannot waive or transfer credits for required courses. The Graduate Committee will also review that student's MA thesis and determine whether an additional MA will be required or not. For students with an MA degree not in Sociology, we generally do not transfer in credits, so those students will complete an MA degree en route to the PhD. The Department’s graded course work requirement and course transfer policy are more stringent than the Graduate School’s.

The Doctoral degree is completed by:

• Completing all required coursework. Required courses include the Sociological Theory core courses (SOC 567, SOC 568), Research Methods and Statistics core courses (SOC 504, SOC 606, SOC 607), at least one advanced methods elective, and at least 6 additional elective courses, which can include additional methods.
  
• Completing up to 36 credits of professionalization and research-related courses. Professionalization courses include Proseminar (SOC 500), Writing for Publication (SOC 545), a teaching course (SOC 612 or LAI 699), and the sociology Job Market Seminar (SOC 699). Research-related courses include Graduate Research (SOC 701, up to 12 credits), QE Prep (SOC 702, up to 6 credits), Project Guidance (SOC 600, up to 6 credits), and Thesis Guidance (SOC 700, up to 12 credits).
  
• PhD students must earn grades of B or better in all required courses. Students who earn a grade below B (including B-) when retaking a required course will be dismissed from the program. A grade of C does not meet standards for graduate work and does not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for the PhD. 
  
• Counting no more than nine credit hours of Selected Topics Readings (SOC 575) towards meeting the degree credit requirements. SOC 575 cannot replace required courses or the minimum 6 electives but can replace professionalization or research-related credits. 
  
• Counting no more than six credit hours of courses outside the Department towards meeting the degree credit requirements. External courses will replace internal professionalization/research credits rather than elective credits except under extraordinary circumstances.
  
• Maintaining continuous registration in the program required by the Graduate School. Continuous registration is maintained by registering for at least one credit hour per semester.
• Passing PhD qualifying examinations in two substantive areas listed below in the Qualifying Examinations section. Students may petition the Graduate Committee to take an examination in a self-defined area.
• Completing a doctoral dissertation and passing its oral defense.

All PhD students are required to pass two qualifying exams before they defend their dissertation proposal and advance to candidacy. The purpose of qualifying exams is to define areas of specialization, develop expertise in those areas, and prepare for the dissertation. Qualifying exams will ensure that students have adequate foundational knowledge in core areas of the discipline before they advance to the next phase of doctoral training.

In exceptional cases, a student may petition the Graduate Committee to forego a second qualifying exam if they have demonstrated expertise in a second qualifying exam area (e.g., through publications). This expertise should be evident on a CV. The petition may only be submitted once and must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the scheduled exam. No petitions may be submitted after the student’s 7^th semester in the program. Approval is at full discretion of the Graduate Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Areas for Qualifying Examinations

Students should choose two exam areas from the substantive areas below. One of these areas must be from List A, which contains areas of specializations supported by regular coursework. The second exam may be from either List A or List B, which contains areas of specializations not necessarily supported by regular coursework. In exceptional cases, students may petition the Graduate Committee to take an examination in a different area.

List A: Students must take at least one exam from this list. Students may take both of their exams from List A.

• Aging & the Life Course
• Community & Urban
• Criminology
• Environmental Sociology
• Sociology of Family
• Sociology of Gender
• Sociology of Health
• Race & Ethnicity
• Sociology of Work

List B: Students may but are not required to take one exam from this list. 

• Sociology of Immigration
  
• Law & Society
• Quantitative Methods
• Another area by special petition in extraordinary cases (not recommended)

The availability of all exam areas is contingent upon faculty availability, as each exam is required to have a minimum of 2 faculty reviewers.  Reading lists and sample questions are posted on the Sociology Department UB Learns website. Since the lists are routinely updated to include important new research and developments in the field, the most recent list should be downloaded when beginning preparation for the exams. Reading lists generally include 65-75 works (articles, books, book chapters, review essays).

Structure of Qualifying Examinations

A.  Timing of the Qualifying Examinations

Exams should be taken between the student's second and fourth year of the PhD program; if both exams are not passed by the end of the 4th year in the PhD program, the student will be dismissed from the program. If unexpected or exceptional circumstances prevent a student from taking the qualifying examinations by the suggested time, they can petition the Director of Graduate Studies for a one-semester postponement of their exams.  

Students should notify the Graduate Coordinator of their intentions to take an exam approximately 4 months before the exam (by April 1 for fall intentions and September 1 for spring exam intentions). Students who fail to notify the graduate coordinator by those dates may not be permitted to sit for an exam.

(Updated 1/23/24) For each area exam, students will take an in-person, 1-day written exam split into a morning and afternoon session. Students must answer 1 broad question in the AM and 2 narrower questions in the PM. Students are allowed nothing but the double-sided reading list and hand-written notes in the margins of the text. A full reference list is not necessary.

Qualifying examinations will be offered by the Department beginning the Wednesday before the start of each semester. (Dates may be subject to change due to room availability and weather. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the date of the exam. Weather events may cause last-minute rescheduling.)

B. Format of Examinations

Exams will take place in the computer lab (450 Park Hall) on computers that have been disconnected from the internet. These exams are split into a morning and an afternoon session. The morning session is 8:30 am-11:30 am and consists of answering one broad question that centers on core issues and debates in the field. The second session is 1:00 pm-5:00 pm, in which students answer two narrower questions about specific topics or theories. Students for whom English is not their native language will be allowed an extra half hour per session, so that they may end the first session at 12:00 pm and the second session at 5:30 pm. Students are given a choice of questions to answer in both sessions. Students are allowed only the double-sided reading list with handwritten notes in the margins of the text.  Students are strongly encouraged to spend 10-15 minutes outlining their essays before they begin writing. In text citations are necessary, but a full reference list is not.

C. Grading of Examinations

Examinations in each area are graded by two faculty members in the exam area. 

1. Pass: Student demonstrated a capacity for PhD-level research, independent thought, and the ability to critically evaluate key works, issues, problems, and debates in the subject area. The passing exam discusses relevant works at a level of detail that demonstrates that they have been read and understood; shows critical thinking about the readings and provides reasoned judgments about their worth and utility; synthesizes diverse perspectives and findings in a way that has potential to extend existing literature; and is organized well and written coherently for all three questions to a level allowed by the time and source constraints.
2. Required Oral Exam: Student failed to meet one or more of the passing criteria for the written exam as judged by at least one of the two faculty readers, but faculty readers think the exam may be redeemed (i.e., expertise may still be established) via an oral defense. An oral exam will follow to allow the student to clarify and better demonstrate their expertise. If done successfully (fulfilling the passing requirements above), the student passes the exam. If done unsuccessfully, the student fails the exam.
3. Fail: Student failed to meet one or more of the passing criteria on the written exam to the extent that both faculty readers agree the exam cannot be redeemed through an oral defense, or the student failed to meet passing criteria for the oral exam.
4. Pass with Distinction: In rare circumstances, a student will earn a pass with distinction when all three essays far exceed expectations.

If a student fails an exam, they must re-take that exam (or an exam in a different area, although this counts as a retake, or a second attempt) the following semester. If the student fails a second time, they will be dismissed from the program. 

D. Preparing for Exams

The most important way to prepare for qualifying exams is by taking coursework in the exam area. The courses offered in the Department form the foundation for the reading lists, and seminar discussions provide important background for each field. Students should also dedicate significant time to independently read and synthesize the material on the reading lists. Students can enroll in up to 6 credits of self-guided QE Prep (SOC 702) to prepare to their exams. Finally, students should consult sample questions in each exam area that are posted on the program’s UB Learns page.

Once each academic year, the Department will offer a proseminar on qualifying exam preparation, which is strongly recommended. Your advisor or other area faculty are also available for consultation if you have specific questions about works on the lists.

Students apply to the Dean of the Graduate School for advancement to candidacy for the PhD degree after they have completed six (6) semesters of full-time enrollment (or its equivalent) with a grade point average of not less than a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Guidelines for applying for advancement to candidacy are part of the Application to Candidacy Form. Once candidacy is granted, students are no longer required to register for 9 hours (students with teaching assistantships) or 12 hours (other students) to maintain full-time status. In no case should the Application to PhD Candidacy be filed less than two semesters before the completion of the degree. Students may not register for dissertation guidance hours until they have applied to candidacy. An unofficial transcript must be attached to the Application to Candidacy form.

The Dissertation Committee will have at least three faculty members, one of whom will be its Chair and who will have primary responsibility for directing the dissertation. All three members must be UB graduate faculty. The Chair and at least one other member of the Committee must be regular faculty in the Department of Sociology at the University at Buffalo. Additional members from outside the Department or the University at Buffalo may be added by mutual consent of the student and other committee members. The Graduate Committee will review any requests for subsequent changes in the committee after its initial formation.

Constituting a Dissertation Committee is a professional decision made by students in consultation with the Committee Chair and the prospective members. Students should select their committees with care, considering the contribution, expected time commitment, and appropriateness of each member invited to participate, given the research the student will pursue. Faculty are under no obligation to participate as members of any student committee; students should keep in mind that faculty may resign from committees. Similarly, students are free to replace or add committee members; these issues should be handled directly and professionally. Be aware that changes to committee composition may delay completion of work. Changes, while at the discretion of the student, should always be discussed with the Chair of the student’s Dissertation Committee.

Once the Dissertation Committee is constituted, its composition can be changed at any time at the request of the student who must notify the Director of Graduate Studies, submit a new Faculty Academic Advisor/Committee Members form to the Graduate Program Coordinator, and submit a petition to Change Expected Graduation Term or Amend the ATC. Under most circumstances, the committee that approves the dissertation and oral defense will be the same committee that approved the dissertation proposal. The student and his/her Dissertation Committee will determine mutually understood procedures for advancing the work and a timetable for reviewing the dissertation in progress.

• The Dissertation Committee (jointly or individually) and the student should communicate formally at least once a semester to review the dissertation in progress. Understand that failure to maintain regular communication may lead to faculty withdrawing from the committee.
• Students should prepare their dissertation or proposal in consultation with their Chair and schedule a defense when the Committee has had ample time to review the document in its entirety. No dissertation or dissertation proposal defenses will occur without at least 2 weeks’ public notice. Defenses should take place during the academic year and not during the summer months when faculty are off contract.

The goal of the dissertation is to ensure that each student demonstrates substantial independent scholarship. The dissertation can take two forms: it can be traditional in its form, resembling a scholarly monograph in form and substance, or it can be the synthesis of a research program presented as a set of several interrelated papers (generally three) on a single topic (with each paper representing one aspect of the dissertation topic, suitable in quality and contribution to the discipline for submission to a scholarly journal for peer review and publication), linked with an introductory chapter that establishes the dissertation theme (situates the work in the appropriate sociological research and methodological literature) and a synthesizing final one.

Graduate School policies indicate that no more than seven consecutive years may pass between the beginning of doctoral studies and the awarding of the degree. 

Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

Students prepare and defend a dissertation proposal that outlines the dissertation topic, discussing its theoretical relevance, research design, data sources and research procedures. The student provides the dissertation proposal to the Committee at least two weeks prior to its public defense. Students must submit a title, abstract (300 words or less), names of dissertation committee members, the time and date of the defense, and a complete draft of the dissertation proposal to the Graduate Program Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the defense so that public notice of the defense can be posted in the Department. All dissertation proposal defenses require at least 2 weeks public notice. The proposal may be assigned one of the grades Pass, Pass with Revisions, or Fail. In the event that the student receives a Pass with Revisions, the student has 30 days to revise the proposal in response to Committee comments. The revised proposal will then be given a final grade of Pass or Fail. If a student receives a grade of Fail, she or he may attempt to defend another dissertation proposal, without penalty, before the end of the next semester (excluding summer). Students who fail a proposal defense twice will be dismissed from the PhD program. Once the proposal passes, the student should fill out the Proposal Defense Form, signed by the Dissertation Committee Chair and all Dissertation Committee Members certifying that the proposal has passed. Student must also provide Graduate Program Coordinator an electronic copy of the approved proposal.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

Appropriate dissertation styles include the traditional monograph model, for which there are many examples available in the Department library or an article-style dissertation. Students should fully discuss this decision with their dissertation advisor, and must have the agreement of their entire dissertation committee to write an article-style dissertation. An article-style dissertation must have at least three substantive chapters that are suitable for review and potential publication in a refereed professional journal. The Dissertation Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Committee must approve any exception to this minimum requirement of three substantive chapters for an article-style dissertation. In addition to three chapters, there should be introductory and concluding chapters that describe the unifying themes of the substantive chapters. The dissertation chapters must be sole-authored original work. Co-authored work is not eligible for inclusion in the dissertation. Beyond these departures from the traditional monograph model, all other rules and regulations governing the traditional dissertation apply to the newer article-style dissertation. Whether the traditional monograph or article-style approach is selected, research competence and independent scholarship are required to earn a PhD in sociology and must be demonstrated in both the dissertation and its oral defense. The format of the dissertation must conform to the requirements of the Graduate School: Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Submission.

The student should submit a complete draft version of the dissertation to the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks prior to the expected date of the oral defense. Some committees may require even more time to review the complete draft version of the dissertation. Students who provide the draft dissertation too late for adequate committee review prior to scheduling an oral defense risk postponing the defense, or having their graduation delayed if extensive revisions are then required by committee members after the oral defense. The oral defense is considered a public meeting to which the Department faculty and students, and other interested members of the University community are invited. Students must submit a title, abstract (300 words or less), names of dissertation committee members, the time and date of the defense, and a complete draft of the dissertation to the Graduate Program Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the defense so that public notice of the defense can be posted in the Department. All dissertation defenses require at least 2 weeks’ public notice. This requires careful planning; keep in mind that it is inappropriate to expect committee members to be available during June, July, and August for formal activities related to thesis preparation and defense, except in the most extenuating circumstances.

Passing will be determined by a unanimous vote of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee that both the written document (including required revisions, if any) and oral defense meet standards in the discipline for conferral of the Doctor of Philosophy degree. All members of the Dissertation Committee are required to attend the defense for its duration. All other members of the Department and the University are invited to attend and participate in the questioning of the candidate. Immediately after the defense, the committee will meet to decide what additional revisions, if any, will be required for final acceptance. Only when the committee unanimously agrees that the work (and its revision, if required) is satisfactory, indicated by signatures from each committee member on the m-form, will the m-form be signed by the Director of Graduate studies certifying that the work meets the standards for conferral of the PhD by the Department of Sociology and the approved dissertation be filed with the Graduate School.

All graduating students need to verify that the Graduate School has their correct graduation date on record and should be sure to consult the Graduate School guidelines for dissertation formats and submission requirements several months before the expected defense. They will need to provide the Graduate School with a final, certified correct (revised if necessary) properly formatted version of their dissertation, and (of course) monitor the expeditious routing of the fully executed m-form.

When all coursework and continuous registration requirements are fulfilled, the qualifying examinations, oral defense of the dissertation, and the dissertation is complete and any revisions are completed, the Dissertation committee chair will obtain signatures from each member of the dissertation committee on the m-form. The m-form will then be signed by the Director of Graduate Studies and given to the Graduate Program Coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate School.

The final paperwork for the dissertation involves the Graduate School more than the Department and most of the forms that must be filled out are Graduate School forms. Also keep in mind that the Graduate School has precise specifications on the format of the dissertation and other matters. Early in the process, the student should review the Graduate School guidelines describing how to format and submit the final dissertation and to fulfill all the administrative requirements for graduating.

The guidelines regarding completion of dissertations and application for graduation can be complicated. The responsibilities of the student, dissertation chair, and the graduate program administration are listed below.

Candidate:

• Follow the Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Submission in the Graduate School guidelines for preparation of the dissertation.
• Make sure that the Graduate Program Coordinator has a properly executed copy of any form submitted directly to the Graduate School.
• Notify the Graduate Program Coordinator of the time and date of the planned oral defense and to submit a complete draft of the dissertation at least two weeks in advance so room arrangements can be reserved and a two-week public notice of the event be posted, leaving ample time for revision before all documents are due to the Graduate School.
• Circulate a copy of the dissertation abstract to all Department faculty members with an announcement of the date, time and place of the oral defense. This will be done at least two weeks in advance of the date.
• Complete a dissertation with a defense of its key contributions to the discipline in a public oral defense.

Dissertation Chair:

• Prepare appropriate forms indicating that the dissertation has been approved and that the candidate passed the oral defense. The m-form is available from the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• Make sure that the Graduate Program Coordinator retains a copy of any form (to be included in the student file) which is submitted directly to the Graduate School.
• Help coordinate departmental activities related to the process.

Graduate Program Coordinator:

• Maintain the records in the student file verifying that the various requirements for graduation have been met.
• Arrange a time and place for the scheduled dissertation defense to take place, and to publicize it.
• Provide the dissertation chair with the appropriate approval forms at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled defense.

Director of Graduate Studies:

• Certify to the Graduate School that all departmental requirements for the PhD have been met.

Final Steps for the PhD

• In order to receive a PhD from the University at Buffalo, the student must be registered for at least one credit hour during the semester of graduation. Students planning to graduate should notify the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Program Coordinator at least 9 months ahead of time so that there are no unanticipated problems with meeting continuous registration requirements.
• A convenient time and date for the oral defense, with at least two weeks public notice, will be selected by the student and his or her Dissertation Committee. All Committee members are required to attend the defense for its duration. In extenuating circumstances, faculty member attendance can be by telephone conference call.
• A minimum of two weeks must elapse from the time that a draft copy of the complete dissertation is filed with the Graduate Program Coordinator and public notice of the oral defense is given, and the occurrence of the defense. Keep in mind that program requirements dictate that Committee members should receive a properly formatted complete dissertation draft at least two weeks prior to its defense, but that professional courtesy demands that committee members should have six to eight weeks to do the work. Any exception to the six to eight-week time frame should not be assumed, but should be agreed upon by each member of the committee. The two week period for publication of the defense is the absolute minimum in conformance with Department policies and professional standards.
• At least two weeks before the oral defense occurs, provide the Graduate Program Coordinator with the final title of the dissertation and an abstract (300 words or less) that will be used to provide public notice of the event as well as a completed draft of the dissertation.
• Upon successful completion of the oral defense and any revisions the Dissertation Committee requires to the dissertation, the student’s Dissertation Committee Chair should notify the Director of Graduate Studies that the student has passed.
• Well in advance of the conferral deadlines listed on the academic calendar (see here) the student should verify that all required forms, etc. are on file with the Graduate School and that all administrative requirements have been fulfilled (consult the Graduate Program Coordinator and the PhD graduation checklist). Students also need to provide the Graduate School with a final (certified correct, with any required revisions), properly formatted version of their dissertation. Completing all of these activities early enough in the final semester in the PhD program to meet Graduate School and Department deadlines is particularly important for students planning to finish in the spring semester and seeking May conferral of degrees. This activity is the responsibility of the individual student.

Information will be collected from each student (a self-evaluation, due to the Graduate Program Coordinator after April 1) and from faculty with direct information about each student’s progress. The faculty as a whole assess performance and the Director of Graduate Studies communicates the faculty assessment in a letter to each student that is both summative and evaluative, recognizing progress made during the past year and suggesting directions for the future. The Graduate Committee uses annual evaluation information and other materials for several purposes: to acknowledge students’ accomplishments, to consider whether Master’s students applying to the PhD program will be admitted, and to carefully review the circumstances of students struggling in their graduate studies to determine whether they should be placed on probationary status in the program, or whether their best interests are served by leaving the program. Students on probationary status will be given guidelines for the actions they must take (clear incompletes, constitute committees and meet deadlines, etc.) to normalize their status. Students on probation who do not meet these guidelines and conditions in the following semester will be dismissed from the program.

Evaluation Procedures

The faculty will meet as a whole to assess graduate student progress. Each student who intends to remain in the program for the next academic year will prepare a brief statement outlining his or her progress and accomplishments for the current academic year. The Graduate Committee will provide a template for student statements to standardize information solicited from each student. Student statements, along with information from faculty with direct knowledge of student progress and accomplishments (i.e., worked on research together, was a student in seminar, served as TA or RA, observed at professional meeting), will be evaluated. Faculty will receive a list of all current students at least one week before the student evaluation meeting occurs, and should be prepared to summarize their knowledge of student progress (in person at the meeting, by communicating their summary to another faculty member who speaks on their behalf at the faculty meeting, or briefly in writing) so that each student receives appropriate consideration of their progress and appropriateness for continued graduate study by the entire faculty.

The consensus of the faculty regarding the progress of each student will form the basis for letters documenting student progress. These letters will be evaluative, noting both strengths and weaknesses. When warranted, the letter will express the determination of the faculty that a particular student will be placed on probationary status or not be allowed to continue in the program.

Specifically, students are evaluated according to criteria such as:

• cumulative GPA and GPA for current academic year
• evaluation of performance by faculty members who supervised assistantship, who instructed, or served on student committee
• length of time in assistantship, and quality of work performed
• length of time in degree program, plus quality and progress
• satisfying Master’s degree/core requirements by May of the second year in residence if continuing to the PhD
• passing PhD qualifying examinations and required courses on schedule
• earning grades of B or higher in required courses (theory, methods, statistics)
• existence of incomplete grades, and length of time incompletes are outstanding
• indication of professional socialization including awards, honors, publications, and presentations at professional meetings
• participation in Department activities

Basis for Funding Reappointment

Teaching assistants who perform poorly in their TA duties, or who perform poorly in their coursework (earn grades lower than B, accumulate incompletes) risk not being reappointed as teaching assistants.

Students not funded in one year are eligible for funding consideration in a succeeding year, based on results of their annual evaluation results and available resources.

Basis for Probation or Dismissal from the Graduate Program

Probation refers to a process by which students are informed of deficiencies in their progress towards the degree. Students are formally notified of probationary status and the steps they must take to remedy that. Failure to remedy probationary status will result in dismissal from the program or loss of funding. The Graduate Committee may decide that a student will not continue in the program for the following reasons:

• GPA below 3.2
• Grades below B (including B-) in any required course. Students who earn a grade below B (including B-) when retaking a required course will be dismissed from the program. A grade of C in a required course is the minimal passing grade for a course that may count towards credit for meeting the requirements for the MA. However, a C grade does not meet standards for graduate work and does not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for the PhD. Grades of C- or lower do not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for either the MA or the PhD.
• Breaches of academic integrity
• An unsatisfactory annual review which results in probation, if the basis for the unsatisfactory review and probation are not remedied on schedule
• Failing program components (MA paper/portfolio, qualifying examinations, dissertation proposal, dissertation defense)
• Accumulation of incomplete grades. Having two incomplete grades simultaneously may result in probationary status. Four incompletes may be the basis for dismissal from the program
• Inability to form a committee
• Inadequate progress towards meeting degree requirements
• Failure to maintain continuous registration in the program
• Exceeding Graduate School or Department time limits

With the rare exception of students funded on research assistantships or external fellowships, incoming PhD students are funded on departmental teaching assistantships for five years of study. Teaching Assistants (TAs) are trainees and are expected to fulfill assigned duties that assist faculty and departments in their designated teaching aims and responsibilities. Until students acquire credentials adequate for university instruction of undergraduates (Master’s degree in Sociology plus a teacher training course), TAs are typically assigned to professors to assist with the preparation and implementation of undergraduate/graduate courses. Third-year and later graduate students usually have primary responsibility for course instruction. International students must pass the SPEAK test in order to teach their own courses.

Teaching assistants must be resident in Buffalo for the entire term of their semester-long teaching assistantships. This requirement to be in residence is not negotiable. Any exceptions will be specified at the beginning of each term by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students are expected to be in residence at least 2 working days prior to the semester until final grading is complete and all of their teaching obligations are discharged. Dates for which TAs are contractually obligated to work are specified each year in the TA letter; these dates are typically 1-2 weeks before the fall semester begins through graduation in the spring.  TAs are expected to do no more than 20 hours of work per week as part of their teaching assistantships to preserve time for their own academic endeavors. TAs are student employees and are represented by the Graduate Student Employees Union bargaining unit.  As an employment relationship, faculty and TAs are expected to adhere to all department and university guidelines regarding collegiality, professionalism, and respect, as well as such guidelines prohibiting harassment, abuse, and violence. The Sociology Department regards TAs as valuable workers and students and expects them to be treated as such. 

Students who are funded by the Department as teaching assistants are required to attend the University-provided graduate student teacher training (typically offered at orientation) before beginning their TA assignment and a formal teaching course (LAI699 or SOC612) before instructing their own course. 

Students assigned as TAs for a faculty member should meet with the professor as soon as class assignments are made, usually before the semester begins. The professor and the TA should agree on TA responsibilities for the semester, which may reasonably include any/all of the following (not to exceed 20 hours per week):

• Grade papers and exams
• Acquire material to assist in preparation of lectures
• Hold office hours
• Attend undergraduate classes
• Maintain course records
• Mentor/advise undergraduate students
• Meet periodically (negotiated) with professor to discuss course related matters
• Attend, prepare, and/or deliver lectures
• Facilitate discussion
• Other administrative tasks

The Department’s expectation is that any student funded as a TA will do excellent work in that role. Faculty are expected to set clear expectations and to work with TAs in a professional manner.

One of the indirect benefits of teaching assistantships is teacher training. During the first two years of graduate training, TAs are exposed to different professors with distinct teaching styles. In doing so, they learn about course management, how to engage with students, how much material is appropriate at different levels of instruction, among other skills. They also begin to develop their own teaching philosophy in preparation for teaching their own courses.

Once they have earned the MA in Sociology, passed the SPEAK test if an international student, and completed the teacher training course (SOC612/LAI699), TAs typically prepare and teach their own undergraduate courses. The Department prepares the student for this role by offering training opportunities, teaching prosems, and learning experiences in apprentice roles during the first two years as TAs. 

Beginning with the 2021 cohort and the new curriculum, TAs funded by the department are expected to have 1 semester free of teaching responsibilities in order to collect/analyze data for their dissertation. The semester free of teaching responsibilities is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change. Only students meeting the curricular benchmarks (i.e. set to defend a proposal at the beginning of the 4th year) will receive a teaching release. 

Academic Integrity and Ethical Conduct
The Department of Sociology adheres to the ethical standards of the University at Buffalo and the American Sociological Association Code of Ethics.

An academic community is built on trust and the Department of Sociology depends on trust among its members for its sense of community. Academic dishonesty is a rare occurrence in the Department of Sociology. However, in order to safeguard the standards of the Department, the discipline, and the broader academic community at the University, policies for handling accusations of academic dishonesty provide a structure for handling the rare instances that occur and to safeguard the rights of all parties involved in accusations of academic dishonesty by having policies in place to deal with them.

Academic dishonesty could involve plagiarism, cheating, or falsification of data. Graduate students are directed to read and understand these threats to academic integrity and to avoid them at all cost. Graduate students should refer to the Graduate School policies regarding integrity.

Note: Keep in mind that faculty members differ in opinion regarding whether or not it is proper to submit a similar paper (or parts of the same paper) to meet requirements for more than one course. Do not assume that it is appropriate to do so, as this may be considered a breach of integrity by some faculty. ASK. Consult with each faculty member involved well prior to the submission of papers to determine the particular faculty member’s position on that issue. Submitting the same work for grades for two different courses (whether taken in the department or elsewhere) is NEVER appropriate.

While academic misconduct is rare, if a student is accused of academic misconduct (cheating, plagiarism, falsifying data, etc.), the following steps should be taken:

The individual professor or student who is making a formal accusation of cheating will bring the case to the attention of the Department Chair and the Director of Graduate Studies. Every effort should be made to settle the issue informally between the professor and the student. However, if they cannot resolve the issue, the parties involved will use the Graduate School procedures for dealing with academic dishonesty. The issue will be considered resolved when all parties agree, in accordance with University policies and regarding the merits of the accusation and implementation of sanctions, if any. If the matter cannot be resolved internally to the satisfaction of all parties, the Graduate School will have responsibility for adjudicating the case.

Faculty Advisor
Each student should have a faculty advisor at all times. For incoming students, the Director of Graduate Studies will initially assign a faculty advisor engaged in graduate training. Students will subsequently select a faculty advisor of their own choice (by the beginning of the spring semester) in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the faculty member they select as their academic advisor. There is absolutely no penalty for changing advisors, either from an appointed to a selected one, or from one selected advisor to another, as student and faculty interests evolve. There is no expectation on the part of the student or the faculty advisor that the faculty member selected for that role will necessarily serve as a chair or member of any Master’s or PhD committee, except at the invitation of the student.

The faculty academic advisor is responsible for helping the student develop a plan of study leading to the degree. The advisor may (but does not necessarily) direct the MA paper/portfolio or the PhD Dissertation Committee, may be a committee member, or may give advice independent of any other formal committee role. The role of faculty advisor must be by mutual consent of the professor and the student. This ensures that the advisor is willing to assume the responsibility of guiding the student through his/her studies, and that the student will work responsibly with the advisor. As interests change, students are free to change advisors. When this occurs, students must notify the Director of Graduate Studies in writing, as well as any faculty members affected by a change in advisors. Students should note that few faculty enter into an advising role lightly, and that faculty, too, may wish to resign from the capacity of faculty academic advisor. When faculty decide to resign from the role, they should discuss options with the student and ensure that the Director of Graduate Studies is notified, in writing, of any change.

Students should formally consult with their faculty advisor (if different from committee chair) and committee chair at least once during each term concerning their progress to date and to discuss their plans for the coming term. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule such meetings.

Grades
Students are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above at all times and must earn grades of B or better in all required courses (theory, methods, statistics). Students with GPAs below 3.2 risk receiving a probationary letter.

Grades of Incomplete
According to Graduate School policy, “Incomplete” grades are not to be assigned routinely, but only when a student cannot complete course work due to unforeseen and compelling circumstances, such as an illness. If an “I” is given, the maximum amount of time students have to complete the work and have a letter grade assigned is no more than two additional semesters plus the intervening summer (12 months). If course requirements are not completed by that date, the “Incomplete” is automatically changed to an “Unsatisfactory” (U) grade. Graduate School grading guidelines establish the longest period an incomplete can remain on a student record without assignment of an unsatisfactory grade. Individual faculty may establish shorter periods for required completion of incomplete coursework. No faculty member is required to assign incomplete grades without compelling evidence of unforeseen circumstances. Failure to complete courses on time jeopardizes a student’s academic standing and positive annual assessment.

Grading Standards
Grades in Sociology graduate courses adhere to the following standards:

A
Exceptional performance. Student’s achievement is (1) outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements, and (2) all course requirements were completed in a timely fashion.

A-
Significantly exceeds standards. Represents significantly exceeding standards and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that significantly exceeds the standards of performance for a graduate student but was not truly exceptional or (2) was exceptional but all course requirements were not completed in a timely fashion.

B+
Exceeds standards. The student’s achievement exceeds standards but does not significantly exceed standards. Signifies that the work was either (1) completed at a level of achievement that moderately exceeds the standards of performance for a graduate student or (2) significantly exceeds standards but all course requirements were not completed in a timely fashion.

B
Meets standards. The student’s achievement meets the course requirements in every respect. Indicates that the student’s work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that merely meets standards of performance for a graduate student or (2) exceeds standards but all course requirements were not completed in a timely fashion.

B-
Below Standards. Signifies that (1) the work was completed but at a level of achievement that is slightly-to-moderately below standards of performance for a graduate student or (2) some work (a minor amount) was not completed but the completed work met or exceeded standards.

C or lower
Significantly below standards. Represents failure to meet standards and signifies that the student’s work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is significantly below standards of performance for a graduate student or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I (incomplete). A grade of C in a required course is the minimal passing grade for a course that may count towards credit for meeting the requirements for the MA. However, a C grade does not meet standards for graduate work and does not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for the PhD. Grades of C- or lower do not count towards meeting credit hour requirements for either the MA or the PhD.

Graduate Committee

The Graduate Committee of the Department of Sociology is comprised of a number of faculty consistent with the Department by-laws, plus the Director of Graduate Studies. The committee has four main functions: (1) reviewing admission requests to the Department; (2) dealing with policy issues affecting the graduate program and making recommendations to the faculty as a whole; (3) reviewing and approving the programs of individual students, including petitions for waivers, exemptions, etc.; (4) ensuring the efficient operation of the graduate program.

Matters of graduate program policy are considered by the Graduate Committee which makes recommendations to the Department faculty as a whole prior to changing policies affecting the requirements or operations of the graduate program. Any faculty member or graduate student may bring a problem or suggestion concerning policy to the Graduate Committee for consideration. When a proposal or recommendation is submitted to the Graduate Committee, it will be discussed by the Department faculty as a whole as soon as is practical. Discussion of issues or proposals regarding graduate program policy brought to the faculty by the Graduate Committee will include the student representative to faculty meetings.

The Department itself or its subcommittees retain the following powers:

• Admission to and retention in the Department
• Funding offers proffered by the Department
• Approval of MA papers/portfolios and PhD dissertations
• Evaluation of qualifying examinations
• Conduct of defenses
• Individual student programs of study
• Annual evaluation of students
• Designation of Department honors and awards

The Director of Graduate Studies consults as appropriate with other members of the Graduate Committee or other knowledgeable faculty and acts on recommendations or petitions from individual students and faculty for actions such as:

• Student petition for waiver or exemption from any Department policies or requirements
• Student requests to take courses outside the Department
• Student petition notifying of change in advisors
• Student petition to establish or change the Master’s or PhD committee
• Student petition for self-directed PhD qualifying examination
• Student petition to take a leave of absence
• Faculty recommendations regarding admission to PhD program
• Master’s or doctoral dissertation committee recommendation for termination of a student before completing the degree.

Petitions should clearly state what is requested and include all relevant information needed to reach decisions. The Graduate Committee meets to consider petitions and suggestions as needed.

Grievance Procedures
It is usually in the best interests of student and faculty to negotiate informal agreements to settle disputes. However, more formal grievance procedures may be required when disputed issues cannot be resolved informally. Departmental grievance procedures are governed by the Department of Sociology by-laws and by procedures set forth by the Graduate School.

Harassment and Discrimination
Students should familiarize themselves, both with regard to their roles as student and as teacher, with the University at Buffalo Standards which prohibit harassment and discrimination (here).

Leaves of Absence
Program requirements include timely progression towards completing work for the degree and continuous registration in the Department. Timely completion of degree requirements once course work begins may be complicated by unexpected events in student’s lives. In such instances, leaves of absence may be granted for one year.

A student must petition for a leave of absence in writing, explaining the reason for the request and the anticipated date of return, with a copy to the Dean of the Graduate School. Before applying for a leave of absence, the student should discuss the matter with his/her Faculty Advisor, Committee Chair, and the Director of Graduate Studies. After Department approval, the leave request is sent to the Graduate School, which will make the final decision and notify the student. Students with approved leaves of absence will remain in the graduate program, although they are neither enrolled in courses nor registered for course hours. Leaves of absence are granted on an annual basis; extensions can be granted but are not automatic. Note that the Graduate School specifies that a Leave of Absence is for only one year. In extenuating circumstances, it may be possible to petition for another year of leave. Students should be aware that Leaves of Absence, in such instances, are at the discretion of the Graduate School and are granted on a year-by-year basis.

Conditions for reinstatement from leave are ordinarily set when the leave is granted, and include completion of outstanding work. Petitions for reinstatement will be considered by the Graduate Committee and the Graduate School. Students who remain unregistered for more than one year without an approved extension of their leave will be removed from the program. Such students who are removed from the program when a leave of absence expires may reapply for admission to the Department under current admission criteria in the event that they wish to continue their graduate studies at some future date.

Regular Faculty
In this document, the term “regular faculty” refers to tenured or tenure track, full-time professors in the Department of Sociology who are eligible to supervise graduate work.

Residency Requirements
There are several issues surrounding residency that graduate students should be aware of, including establishing in-state residency for domestic out-of-state students who study at UB. Funded domestic students who do not establish in-state residency in a timely way will likely have their funding terminated by the Graduate School. Residency also refers to the criteria for maintaining continuous enrollment in the program from the beginning through the end of graduate studies. These policies are established by the Graduate School; consult the Graduate School website for a detailed explanation of residency and continuous enrollment regulations.

Sociology Graduate Student Association (SGSA)
The Sociology Graduate Student Association ensures that student concerns are addressed within the community of graduate students in the Department and are represented in departmental decisions. It provides sociology graduate students with the opportunity to develop professional leadership skills through active participation in departmental decision-making and activities, helps foster collegial peer and faculty relations within the Department, and provides a framework for students to develop and share professional and academic information and ideas.