PhD, Sociology

Explore the sociology of health, illness, biomedicine and health care systems alongside distinguished faculty scholars at one of the highest ranked medical sociology programs in the country.

The Doctoral Program in Sociology at the UCSF School of Nursing offers some specific areas of concentration that include race, class, gender and health disparities; science, technology, and medicine studies; and social determinants of health, including, community and individual exposures to violence, incarceration, and work conditions. Additional areas of study include HIV/AIDS, health professions and occupations, violence as a health issue, aging, among others. All students are required to complete extended training in social theory and both qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis.

Application Requirements and Process

Applications are accepted from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15 of each year. We welcome applicants with a bachelor's or master's degree in sociology, the social sciences, in certain humanities such as history or philosophy, and in the health professions such as public health, nursing, psychology or social work.

Recruitment and screening of applications for this program is handled directly by the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

For detailed information, including application requirements and FAQs, visit our Sociology Doctoral Program website.

Sign up to receive announcements about the PhD, Sociology program, including when our application cycle opens.

COVID-19 Information for Applicants

Pass/Fail and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grades – UCSF will accept pass/fail grades and satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades, without prejudice, for courses taken during the COVID-19 pandemic between spring 2020 through spring 2022. It has always been our practice to consider grades in the context of numerous other aspects of the application, and an international crisis certainly provides a unique and compelling context. In adopting this policy, we are cognizant of the fact that some undergraduate schools provided an option for students to take courses either for grades or on a Pass/Fail or S/U basis. We therefore want to be explicit that applicants should not feel pressured by UCSF to choose the graded option.

Online Courses – Online courses and labs may be taken to meet prerequisite course requirements for the 2023-24 application cycle due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Online courses and labs are acceptable as long as they are from an accredited college or university that displays college credit on an official transcript. Preferred online lab formats are synchronous instructor-led labs or participation in a virtual lab. If you are uncertain about your specific plans, please contact the Office of Student Affairs prior to enrolling in the course.

Campus and School Resources

The School of Nursing is committed to the holistic care and development of our students. Visit our school and campus resources page to learn about services to help new and continuing students thrive during their time at UCSF.

How to Apply

Applications Open: Oct. 1, 2023 / Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023