Welcome from the DGS

Thank you for your interest in our department! Our goal is to train students who plan to undertake careers as professional sociologists--at academic institutions, in the government, or at private research organizations. I'd like to mention some of the things that make this department a strong and vibrant intellectual community and a supportive environment for graduate study:

Penny Edgell
Professor Penny Edgell, Director of Graduate Studies.

  • Training graduate students is of central importance here.
  • We have a dynamic, productive faculty and a rigorous intellectual environment. We encourage excellence.
  • Our faculty are fine mentors and often co-author with students.
  • We provide training in a broad range of methods and theoretical approaches.
  • Our program is flexible.
  • We typically offer students five full years of support through teaching and research assistantships and fellowships.
  • We provide funding for summer research and presentations at professional conferences.
  • Our cohorts are small and quite diverse, and the department's culture is collaborative and supportive.
  • Faculty in the department have a wide range of interests and strong ties with other campus programs; we encourage students to make intellectual connections outside the department.
  • Graduate students are elected to all departmental committees.
  • We provide training in teaching that prepares students for the job market.

The Graduate Program section of the website can answer many of your questions, but if you would like more information, please contact me by email or phone (612-624-9828). I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Penny Edgell
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

Department of Sociology - University of Minnesota
909 Social Sciences Building, 267 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-624-4300 Fax: 612-624-7020 E-mail: socdept@soc.umn.edu