PhD in Sociology at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Overview

The PhD in Sociology at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a unique and innovative doctoral program that draws on our distinctive location along the U.S.-Mexico Border and focuses on the department’s outstanding expertise in migration, environment, and health. This Ph.D. program specializes in the comparative study of national and social processes that connect and transcend the boundaries of the United States and Mexico, as well as other divided global societies.

The faculty in UTEP’s Sociology & Anthropology Department have a strong record of publication and research in each of these fields. Moreover, as an interdisciplinary department that contains Sociologists, Anthropologists and Geographers, we provide a training that goes beyond more narrowly focused Sociology departments. Additionally, UTEP, with a majority Latinx student body, is on the cutting edge of filling the clear need for more Latinx scholars with Ph.Ds.

The department houses an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in “Immigration and Border Community”, is a member of the Rocky Mountain Research Data Center Consortium, and houses the Socio-Environmental & Geospatial Analysis (SEGA) Lab which provides training in GIS. It has established, world-leading experts on borders, spatial analysis, and political economy. Its faculty have also won three Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards for excellent teaching and numerous outstanding book awards from national and international associations.

UTEP Sociology Faculty by Specialty Area

Specialty Area	Faculty
Borders and mobility	Campbell, Chakraborty, Heyman, C. Morales, D. Morales, Murga, O’Hearn, Slack
Culture and health	Heckert, Leyser-Whalen, Frederick, D. Morales, Murga, Nunez-Mchiri
Environment and society	Basu, Carmichael, Chahim, Chakraborty, Firat, Heyman

Curriculum

Students in this program will engage in empirical research to produce new understandings of social processes impacting the world in a unique and highly dynamic context. Research will be conducted via one of the three tracks that comprise the program: (1) Borders and Mobility; (2) Culture and Health; and (3) Environment and Society. This tripartite structure reflects the concentrated expertise of our highly productive faculty in these three areas, all of which reflect their shared commitment to place-based research.

TO APPLY

Applications for admission to the PhD program should be sent to the Graduate School at https://www.utep.edu/graduate/apply-now/apply-now.html. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

The application must include:

Letter of intent and research interests and
3 Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts and diploma/certificates of all universities and colleges attended prior to application
TOEFL/IELTS if all degrees are conferred in non-English speaking countries.

We do not require GRE scores but applicants are welcome to submit them. A writing sample will strengthen and help the admissions committee to evaluate your application. Writing sample should be sent to SocPhd@utep.edu.

The final deadline for applications is March 15 but complete applications will be reviewed as they are received.