Admission to graduate study in sociology usually requires an undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.25 and a total score of 1100 from the quantitative plus verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. (The University of Iowa's institutional code for the GRE is 6681.) International students whose native language is not English should submit scores from the TOEFL exam. (The University of Iowa's institutional code for the TOEFL exam is 6681.) For information on the University of Iowa's English proficiency requirements, click here. In addition to fulfilling the Graduate College requirements for admission, applicants must complete a departmental application statement and use its personal reference forms in obtaining three letters of recommendation (click on application instructions below).

Admission decisions are based on consideration of the following:

1. prior academic performance,
2. personal reference letters,
3. scores on the GRE General Test, and
4. the applicant's statement of reasons for pursuing advanced work in sociology.

• The department has no specific undergraduate course requirements for admission, but a background in the social sciences with some mathematical training is useful. A foreign language is not required for admission and there are no foreign language requirements for either the M.A. or Ph.D. in sociology.

Financial Aid

The Department of Sociology offers four types of awards to graduate students:

teaching assistantships, research assistantships, University of Iowa Fellowships, and Graduate Merit Fellowships. Resident tuition is charged to out-of-state students who receive awards. Students who receive one-half-time teaching or research assistantships work 20 hours each week for faculty members on either teaching or research assignments. Financial assistance is awarded on the basis of merit to both U.S. and international students.  Graduate Student Award application- (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

Application Information

In order to meet the Sociology January 1 deadline, the application materials required by the Office of Graduate Admissions must be received, in their office, by December 1.

Here is how the application process works:

1. First, fill out and submit the Graduate College Application form (submit it no later than December 1st).  To access the Graduate College application, click on the link below:

1. Graduate College application

1. Next, download the Application Instructionsand click on the links below to view and print the departmental forms that need to be returned directly to us by ground mail (no later than January 1st). (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print all forms):

1. Application Statement Form

1. Recommendation Form (3 letters of recommendation required)

1. Because the individuals writing recommendations should be allowed ample time to send in their recommendations, and because delays can sometimes accompany the release of official records (e.g., official GRE scores and school transcripts), we recommend that you begin the application process as soon as possible in order to meet our January 1st deadline. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us (Sociology@uiowa.edu, 319-335-2502).