Graduate Programs in Rural Sociology

Graduate Program in Rural Sociology
Master of Science in Rural Sociology
Doctoral Program in Rural Sociology
Dual Title Degrees in Rural Sociology and Demography
Dual Title Degreesin Rural Sociology and Human Dimensions of
Natural Resources and the Environment
Dual Title Degree in Rural Sociology and Women’s Studies
Faculty in Rural Sociology
How & When to Apply

Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Graduate Handbook

• AEREC 525 or its equivalent for research methods
• a two-semester statistics sequence (AG 400 and R SOC 573, or their equivalents)
• two or more of the following courses for rural sociology (R SOC 452, 501, 502, 508, 516 and 517).

A plan of study is devised in consultation with the student’s graduate committee, both to meet these recommendations, and to craft a curriculum that is tailored to the student’s academic background and career goals.

Doctoral Program in Rural Sociology

The principal aim of the doctoral program is to impart the research and analytical abilities necessary to understand and explore the problems, structure and functioning of rural society. To this end, the student is guided in course selection by the major professor and other members of the advisory committee. In total, the advisory committee consists of at least four members, more than half of whom must be from the Rural Sociology Faculty, and at least one of whom must be from outside the program. Members of the committee are chosen by the student to represent areas of specialization.

There is no specific number of course credits of instruction and research beyond the master's level required for the Ph. D. Rather, award of the degree is made at such time as minimal course requirements are met and the student demonstrates to his or her committee and to the Department that he or she is a well-trained, competent, and professional sociologist. Thus, it is impossible to specify that exact amount of time necessary to complete the degree. However, it is expected that a student on a half-time assistantship will finish the doctoral program in 10 semesters (3 1/4 years) beyond a master's degree. A minor is NOT required.

Ph.D. students are expected to be prepared in four areas: Rural Sociology, Methods and Statistics, and two areas of concentration of their choice. The following course requirements apply to Ph.D. students matriculating in the Fall, 2006 semester or later. All students will meet the core rural sociology requirements and the methodology and statistics requirements.

Core Course Requirements

Core courses provide a broad overview of rural sociology, rural sociological theory, and the issues facing rural people both domestically and internationally. Four courses are needed to meet the core course requirement.

Take the following course or an equivalent theory course:

• R SOC 502 Use of Theory in Rural Sociology

Take one of the following two courses:

• R SOC 516 Change in Rural Society
• R SOC 517 International Rural Social Change

Take any two of the following courses (the list includes R SOC 516 and 517 if not taken above):

These courses encompass different areas in rural sociology and will provide students with an understanding of different specialty areas in the discipline. It is suggested that students choose courses from this list that do not fall within their declared areas of concentration, to provide breadth of training in the discipline.

• R SOC 501 Development of Rural Sociology
• R SOC 508 Sociology of Agriculture
• R SOC 525 Population and Development
• R SOC 530 Demography & Sociology of Poverty in Rural America
• R SOC 552 Rural Community Theory
• R SOC 555 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
• R SOC 597 Children and Youth in Developing Countries
• R SOC 597 Demography of Health and Mortality
• R SOC 597 Risk Assessment
• R SOC 597 Social Impact Assessment
• R SOC 597 Theory and Methods of Community and Natural Resources

Methods and Statistics Course Requirements

To provide a basic understanding of research methods and statistics, Ph.D. students must meet the following four-course minimum requirements, recognizing that thorough competency often requires additional coursework: Students are required to take AEREC 525 or its equivalent for research design and methods, R SOC 597 (Qualitative Methods) or its equivalent, and a two-semester statistics sequence (AG 400 and R SOC 573, or their equivalents). The typical Ph.D. candidate is equipped with a minimum level of research skills within the first year of training. This is accomplished either through prior instruction or by enrollment in research methods and statistics courses in the first year.

Concentration Areas

For the other two areas of concentration students might develop expertise in the sociology of food and agriculture, natural resources / environmental sociology, community, international development, or family sociology. We also offer two dual-title graduate degrees in Rural Sociology and Demography, and Rural Sociology and Women’s Studies (see below). For these two degrees, one of the areas of concentration will be demography or women’s studies, respectively. Students may also design their own concentrations, in consultation with their advisors. Additional information about areas of special concentration and corresponding courses offered in those areas will be found in Rural Sociology Graduate Program website ( http://www.aers.psu.edu/programs/RuralSociology.htm ).

Dual Title Degrees in Rural Sociology and Demography

The Rural Sociology graduate program participates in the multidisciplinary dual-title graduate programs in demography. Interested students are able to earn a dual-title master’s and/or doctoral degree in Rural Sociology and Demography. Dual-title students take additional required courses in demographic theory and methods that fall into four categories: Disciplinary survey courses, demographic methods, seminars in demographic processes; elective courses in population studies. The full description of the dual-title program, including all course offerings In the seven affiliated departments is available on-line at http://www.pop.psu.edu/general/dual-degree/dual-degree.htm. Faculty in Rural Sociology offer four demography courses intended to provide students with an understanding of theories and substantive demographic issues in the following areas: health and mortality, poverty and inequality, population and development, children in developing countries. These courses are appropriate for all rural sociology students with substantive interest in these areas, not just dual-title demography students. These courses are also intended to prepare students for comprehensive exams in the demography concentration area.

Dual Title Degrees in Rural Sociology and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment

The Rural Sociology graduate program participates in the transdisciplinary intercollege dual-title graduate programs in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment (HDNRE). Interested students are able to earn a dual-title master's and/or doctoral degree in Rural Sociology and HDNRE. Dual-title students take additional required courses including in Integrated Perspectives in HDNRE, Ethical Issues in HDNRE, HDNRE Colloquium, and select among other required courses which provide a foundation for engaging in HDNRE-related applied and basic research, teaching, and outreach. The full description of the HDNRE program is available from the program office and will be posted on-line sometime during the Fall Semester 2008. Faculty in Rural Sociology offer one required course in the core curriculum of HDNRE (Human Dimensions of Natural Resources) and several related courses (Social Impact Analysis, Theories and Methods of Community and Natural Resources, Natural Resource Sustainability) which provide students with an understanding of theories and substantive natural resource and environmental issues. A thesis/dissertation on a natural resource and environment topic which includes social aspects of resource use is required of students in the dual-title degree program.

Dual Title Degree in Rural Sociology and Women’s Studies

The dual-title degrees grounded both in Rural Sociology and Women's Studies fosters scholarly work across disciplines and increase the intellectual rigor and breadth of graduate work through immersion of candidates in Women's Studies and Rural Sociology. The dual-title degree will also provide a context in which students can learn to synthesize knowledge within and across disciplinary boundaries. In addition, a dual-title degree program provides students with an opportunity for increased work within a pedagogical framework that encourages an interdisciplinary approach to teaching. For more information on the dual-title degree see: http://womenstudies.psu.edu/graduate/degree_programs.shtml#PhD. Prospective students seeking admission to the dual-title degree program should apply directly to Rural Sociology. Each applicant should state that she/he wishes to apply to the dual-title degree in Women's Studies, and should include in the application a statement of purpose that addresses the ways in which her/his research and professional goals reflect an interest in interdisciplinary and feminist research. Both the Women's Studies program and the cooperating department will evaluate applications and decide on admission. Doctoral-level dual-title degree students are required to take nine credits of course work in Women's Studies: WMNST 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3 credits), WMNST 502: Global Feminism (3 credits), and WMNST 507: Feminist Theory (3 credits). Students also must complete nine additional credits of Women's Studies course work (at least 6 of which should be at the 500 level) chosen in consultation with the Women's Studies graduate advisor. A dissertation on a women's studies topic is required of students in the dual-title degree program.

Language Requirement

There is no language or communications requirement for the Ph.D. in Rural Sociology beyond the Graduate School's requirement of competency in English.

English Language Competency - Rural Sociology

The ability to effectively and competently read, write, and speak the English language is critical for success in Rural Sociology at The Pennsylvania State University. Course work in our program involves extensive reading on topics that span the range from the philosophic to the technical, and the ever present need to use English to express information and ideas in both verbal discussions and written assignments. To ensure that all Ph.D. candidates attain a high level of English ability, the following strategy for the assessment and remediation of English deficiencies is followed.

Reading: Students must be capable of reading and comprehending sociological material written for advanced undergraduate audiences.
Writing: On their own, students must be able to compose clear and understandable English, with a minimum of blatant grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.
Speaking: Students must be able to speak English clearly and correctly, both extemporaneously and in formal presentations.

Written and Oral Evaluation: Beginning in the Fall 1992 semester, the Graduate Program Committee in Rural Sociology will be responsible for assessing the English ability of all entering Ph.D. students during the first month of their enrollment. This preliminary assessment will consist primarily of a one-day examination that will have three phases.

First, students will be given an hour to read a sociological research article. The article will be chosen by the Graduate Program Committee and will (1) be easily readable in an hour, (2) be written at about the advanced undergraduate level, (3) have a mixture of theoretical discussion and empirical analysis, and (4) focus on a topic of general appeal. Second, students will be given four hours to write an essay about the article, guided by questions suggested by the Graduate Program Committee. This essay will be limited to four pages in length. Third, after reading these essays the Committee will meet with each student to appraise their verbal abilities in English. The student will be asked to present a brief synopsis of their essay and be expected to answer questions about it. We stress that the intent is not to evaluate the student's command of Rural Sociology, but merely to assess their ability to read, write and speak English.

This evaluation will be complemented by other evidence of English ability. The latter might include TOEFL scores, assessments by recommendation letter writers and other outside sources, or by examples of written work by the student. Together, this information will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee who will then decide whether remediation is warranted, and if so, suggest an appropriate course of action.

Waiver of Written and Oral Evaluation: If there is compelling evidence that matriculants already meet or exceed acceptable standards of English ability, the Graduate Program Committee will have the option of waiving the written and oral evaluation.

Candidacy Examination

A candidacy examination must be taken by all students intending to earn the Ph.D. The examination is administered by the candidate's doctoral committee within three semesters of entry into the doctoral program (summer sessions do not count) but not before the students has completed 18 credits of graduate courses beyond the baccalaureate. A plan of study is developed by the student with the help of his/her committee in advance of the candidacy meeting, and is generally approved, perhaps with revision, during the meeting. In the event that the committee responsible for the student's M. S. oral examination at Penn State has made a recommendation regarding the student's acceptability as a Ph. D. candidate, the doctoral committee may use the master's committee recommendation as the candidacy exam or enlarge on it as is necessary for a rational decision about candidacy. Students whose native language is not English must also meet the TOEFL and English language competency requirements to be admitted.

Comprehensive Examination

Each Ph.D. candidate must pass a comprehensive (combined written and oral) examination in rural sociology, research methods and statistics, and two chosen areas of specialization. The comprehensive exam is normally taken after the candidate's course work has been substantially completed and is administered in response to the student's petition.

Final Oral Examination

Upon completion of the student’s doctoral thesis, a final oral examination is scheduled. The exam is administered by the student’s doctoral committee and focuses on the student’s dissertation research.

How & When to apply

The deadline for completing applications and submitting all required documentation for spring semester is September 1st. The deadline for fall semester is January 1st. To obtain instructions and complete the application, see instructions on how to apply. The application for graduate school is offered electronically only. If you wish to have a packet of additional information, please send request to ljensen@psu.edu.
 

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• Graduate School Home Page
• Graduate School Admissions and Program Information Portal

Last Updated: 01/16/2009