We require at least three letters, though we accept up to five. We accept letters from both academic and professional referees. We  recommend at least one recommender who can speak on your academic background.

Typically 1-2 pages in length, single-spaced. We recommend applicants to include details about goals, research interests, why sociology and why Brown Sociology in particular.  

Typically 25-30 pages, double-spaced. Examples could include a portion of a thesis, final course paper, or published papers. We highly recommend that the writing samples are solely written by the applicant.

No. At the application stage of the process, unofficial transcripts are sufficient. We may, however, request them at a later point in the decision-making process. If admitted into the program, you will be required to send official transcripts then.

No. You can earn a master’s on your way to earning a PhD.

Please include an unofficial transcript for all courses taken but do not include this particular education information in the Education History portion of the application. Only include degrees earned. We suggest you address this type of education in your cover letter.

We do not formally host visits prior to the application decision, but strongly encourage all admitted students to visit in the spring.

Of course! Not all of our students have undergraduate degrees in sociology, but most have a solid academic background and clear sense of direction.

Please see the TOEFL guidelines listed on the Graduate School website.

GRE test scores are valid for five years from the test date, while TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.

To build a fuller application, we recommend but do not require the submission of GRE scores. Information about fee waivers and reductions can be found on the GRE website. While strong GPAs and GRE scores are common among admitted students, we also value strong letters of recommendation, personal statements, and writing samples that evidence a good fit with departmental strengths.

Brown University Graduate School: 3094 & GRE department code: 2102

The TOEFL (see: guidelines) will be waived if: If you have submitted TOEFL/IELTS scores to the Graduate School prior to completing your application or if you qualify for a waiver based on the location of your previous/current institution, please check back on your application status page for updates. Language Proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) take 3-5 business days after your application is submitted to appear as received or waived on your status page.