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Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice
211 Oswald Tower
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-2527
Fax: 814-863-7216

College of the Liberal Arts

Graduate Admissions

"Given my interests in stratification and health, our department is a great place to study.  Between the University's extensive resources and the department's student-oriented faculty, I have been able to work on a variety of projects related to my research agenda that have enhanced my educational experience at Penn State."

Jason Houle

Hometown: Buckfield, Maine
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maine (Class of 2005; BA in Sociology with Highest Honors,  Summa Cum Laude)

Degree Admission

Degree admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the graduate program. Each program has its own procedures for evaluating applications. An applicant must apply for admission to a particular program of study. Applicants may apply to only one graduate program at a time. The Graduate School will not consider concurrent applications for admission to more than one program and does not act upon an application without a program's recommendation.

Please note:

  • U.S. applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution to apply for admission.
  • International applicants must have a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree to apply for admission. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
  • You may only apply to one graduate program and campus at a time.
  • If you currently hold a doctorate, you are not encouraged to apply for a second doctorate.

 

Degree Application Process

Applying for graduate admission is a two step process. Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School and the program. When the Graduate School receives your degree application, your information will be made available to the program to which you are applying. The program reviews your program application and supporting documents and makes a recommendation to the Graduate School. Upon receiving the nonrefundable application fee and a recommendation from the program, the Graduate School reviews your file to verify that the minimum admission requirements have been met. The Graduate School does not act on your application without a recommendation from the program. Questions regarding the completeness or status of your application should be directed to the program.

Applications are accepted from September 1 to January 1 for admission the following fall semester. Selection is based on transcripts, three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic performance, a statement of goals, a sample of written work such as a term paper or thesis, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. International applicants must also submit TOEFL scores. Please do not submit information with your application that cannot be used in the admission decision process, e.g. Individual Education Plans (IEPs), medical records, statements from physicians or psychologists, or legal documents. Such information will be returned.

Steps

Step 1. Complete the program application:

Step 2. Three letters of recommendation are required by the program. The recommendation forms may be submitted directly to the program by your references or securely sealed and submitted with the program application. Program mailing address is on the recommentation form.

Step 3. Complete the Graduate School online application. Click here for the Graduate School Admissions and Information Portal. Graduate School application fee is $45.00 US. The Graduate School no longer mails or accepts paper applications.

Step 4. Send the following to the Graduate Admissions Committee, Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice, The Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA  16802-3103:

Two official transcripts of all post-secondary institutions you have attended. Transcripts/records must be in the official language of the institution(s) attended, but if that language is not English you must also send an official English translation. Click here for a Transcript Release Form.

Three letters of reference/recommendation sent directly to the program by the individuals making the recommendations or securely sealed and included with your application. For recommendation forms for the Sociology Program or Criminology Program see step 2 above.

A statement of purpose.

A sample of written work such as a term paper or thesis.

Official GRE test scores. International applicants must also send TOEFL scores. The GRE Subject Test is not required.

Penn State University institutional code for both GRE and TOEFL exams is 2660.
The Crime, Law and Justice GRE code is 2202.
The Sociology GRE code is 2102.

International applicants must also verify VISA status or application. Application for VISA document.

Program application. For program applications for the Sociology Program or Criminology Program see step 1 above.

Step 5. Send the following to the Graduate School:

If the application fee is paid online via credit card at the same time as the application is submitted electronically, nothing needs to be mailed to the Graduate School. If you choose to pay the application fee by means other than online via credit card, the nonrefundable application fee of $45 may be mailed to the Graduate School with an application fee form: http://forms.gradsch.psu.edu/ges/appfee.html. Check or money order drawn on a United States bank only will be accepted. The Graduate School application fee must be received for the application to be processed.

Applications must be received by January 1.