Graduate Student Handbook

VII. DISSERTATION

After completing the Master’s Degree and having the Second Qualifying Paper approved, students write a dissertation proposal, and ultimately a dissertation. The dissertation must be an original and significant scholarly contribution to the sociological literature. The following steps are required to complete the Ph.D. Please note: although work on the dissertation proposal may commonly occur before the QP2 sign-off, the dissertation sign-on meeting cannot take place until after the QP2 sign-off meeting has taken place.

A. Dissertation Committee

a.  Department Committee Members - The dissertation committee includes the student’s dissertation advisor (who serves as the chair) plus two other members of the sociology graduate faculty. One (and only one) of the two committee members (but not the chair) may be a member of the Sociology affiliated graduate faculty, unless they have full membership status in the graduate program, in which case they count as a core faculty member. Contact the Graduate Program Director if clarification is needed. It is not uncommon for students to invite a fourth member from the sociology graduate faculty. The dissertation advisor is the main consultant for the student during all phases of the dissertation research and writing. Substitutions in committee membership, once the committee has been formed, must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. Substitutions normally occur only if a member is unable to serve or if a student’s topic or methodology changes dramatically.

b.   Committee Member from Outside the Department – The committee must also include an additional committee member who is not a regular or affiliated Rutgers sociology graduate faculty member. This outside member may be chosen from another department at Rutgers or from outside the University. The outside member should be a recognized authority on the subject of the dissertation. The student is encouraged to talk with his/her dissertation chair and committee members about the selection of the outside member of the committee. The student should also seek advice from the chair and committee members about how to request committee membership from individuals outside of the department. The outside committee member can be selected at the time that the committee is formed or can be added later. However, the outside committee member should be confirmed two months before the dissertation defense at the very latest. It is important that the student discusses the role of the outside member with that person and with the dissertation chair because the extent of involvement can vary greatly—from providing early and regular feedback to reading and providing comments only on the final draft. An outside member may not serve as the chair.

B. Dissertation Proposal and Proposal Defense

A dissertation proposal should be developed in close consultation with the student’s dissertation advisor and committee members. Dissertation proposals vary widely with respect to their length and level of detail, although they typically range from 15 to 25 pages. They should specify the research question(s), discuss the potential contribution of the work to sociology relative to past research and theory, describe the data to be collected or analyzed and the proposed method of analysis, and provide a timeline of the proposed work. These elements should also be presented and discussed explicitly during the oral proposal defense meeting. The student and the committee should also discuss whether the dissertation will be organized as a “three-paper” project or the more traditional “book-style” dissertation. These different types or structures of dissertation are discussed in the following section. Regardless of the type of dissertation structure chosen, if parts of one QP, or of both QPs, will be included as a portion of the proposed dissertation, the student must make clear the distinct contribution of the dissertation work beyond that made by the QP(s), as well as how each QP contributes to the overall argument of the dissertation. The more detail provided in the proposal about all issues noted, the more help committee members can give. Importantly, the dissertation proposal is not a formal contract, and both the student and committee members may adjust components of the project as the dissertation work progresses.

Please note: as mentioned above, the dissertation proposal defense must not take place before the QP2 sign-off meeting has taken place and QP2 has been approved.

C. Types of Dissertation

a. The Three-paper Dissertation

The three-paper model of a dissertation includes three interconnected but also stand-alone papers/chapters that are linked by an overarching theme, plus additional introductory and concluding chapters that establish and develop the theoretical and empirical connections among the papers/chapters. Often the committee will expect that different methods or theoretical orientations or data will be showcased across the three papers. In rare cases, it may be warranted to use parts of both or either QP1 and QP2 as part of a three-paper dissertation. But the task of the dissertation may not be simply writing a third paper after QP1 and QP2. Earlier work might well undergo further revision, and the general argument and/or conceptual framework linking the papers must also be developed. In addition, it is highly advisable for students on the job market to have more than one project and/or methodology in their arsenal. Students should keep in mind this goal of diversification when working on their QPs, and when thinking about how the dissertation relates to their overall research profile. The three-paper style is more common for quantitatively oriented research, although it certainly may be adopted for qualitative projects if the student and committee feel it is appropriate in a given case. For quantitative projects, each paper/chapter will commonly test different hypotheses, often with different datasets; for qualitative projects, where hypothesis testing is not the norm, the student should make clear what research questions are being explored overall and in specific chapters.

b. The “Book-style” Dissertation

The “book-style” or monograph-style dissertation will follow the thread of a particular argument, from theory to lit review, to data and analysis. It is more common to adopt this format for qualitative and/or mixed methods research, and for case studies or extended comparative case study research. Students intent on writing a book should probably follow this model (but also think consciously about writing the dissertation as a book, meaning thinking about one’s eventual audience and establishing the correct tone accordingly). Some students choose the Analytical Review option for QP2 because it can become the literature review chapter of their book-style dissertation fairly readily. It is by no means impossible to extract a component of a monograph-style dissertation for publication as a stand-alone article, and in fact it is commonly encouraged; but it will probably require more effort at synthesis, abridgment, and reorganization than is true for three-paper dissertations. Faculty guidance here is likely to be especially important.

c. Choosing a Format and Proceeding

Please note that both styles are completely valid models for a dissertation. The decision about which style to use varies across substantive areas and by the way in which the project develops. In the proposal defense, the student and committee should agree about which structure is to be adopted. They additionally agree upon a projected timeline of progress towards the completion of the dissertation and develop a plan for communication of the student with committee members. Upon approval of the proposal, the committee members and the Graduate Program Director sign the Dissertation Proposal Approval Form. This form is filed with the Graduate Program Coordinator. The Ph.D. Candidacy form should be signed by the Graduate Program Director and submitted to the Graduate School. At this point, the student is designated as ABD (“All But Dissertation”).

D. Writing the Dissertation

The dissertation writing process typically takes one to three years. That time period is spent conducting original research, writing an initial draft, and revising the chapters at least once in response to committee members’ feedback. The committee (especially the dissertation chair) must be kept informed of the student’s progress at frequent intervals and should monitor the candidate’s work and assist in its development. In so far as possible, the committee should attempt to give the student ample and early warning of any reservations concerning the student’s progress and, if necessary, specify the changes required for dissertation acceptance.

A first draft of the dissertation should be submitted to the dissertation advisor and/or to any or all members of the dissertation committee according to terms agreed upon by the student and by committee members. After receiving suggestions from committee members, the student revises the dissertation draft. The process of receiving feedback and revising accordingly may happen more than once, with students sometimes drafting several versions of a particular chapter. The dissertation is revised until the advisor and committee members believe that it is ready for defense.

E. Dissertation Defense

When the student, dissertation chair, and other committee members agree that the dissertation is complete and ready for public defense, the student contacts all committee members to schedule a dissertation defense at a mutually agreeable date and time. The defense date, time, and location should be scheduled at least three weeks in advance. Arrangements for the location of the defense are made with the sociology Graduate Program Coordinator. The dissertation defense must be publicly announced, and all faculty and graduate students in the sociology department must be invited to attend. Normally a Zoom link is also created for the defense, for those who cannot be present in person. The student should contact the sociology Graduate Program Coordinator to arrange for this announcement and invitation. The student should also contact the dissertation chair to discuss the structure of the defense. The student and all departmental members of the committee are strongly encouraged to be physically present at the defense to mark this significant student accomplishment. The outside member is expected to join by Zoom or other virtual platforms. If this is not possible for some important reason, the external member may be absent if he or she sends the committee chair written comments.

Per tradition to maintain academic integrity, a dissertation defense must be announced as a public event, at least open to the departmental community. If the student wishes, they may want to invite others to attend the defense, such as friends and family members.

The dissertation defense typically entails a lively discussion of the student’s work, with committee members and guests asking questions about the dissertation research. Toward the end of the defense, the committee convenes privately to decide on whether the candidate has ‘passed.’ Immediately following the formal defense, the committee members meet with the candidate to provide a list of changes (if any) that are required before the dissertation is approved. Typically, these required revisions are reviewed by the dissertation advisor although committee members may request to review and approve revisions. Students should be advised that this stage of final revisions, after a successful defense, is not trivial or anticlimactic but is an important part of the dissertation process. Making final revisions can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Students are strongly encouraged to create a list of the required revisions and then indicate in writing how the committee’s concerns have been addressed in the final version of the dissertation. During the immediate post-defense meeting, the committee may also provide advice about future revisions (i.e., those recommended but not required for approval of the thesis per se) as the student prepares the dissertation for publication as a book or referred journal articles. The committee and Graduate Director must sign the Ph.D. Candidacy form, or Final Defense Candidacy Form, that the student submits to the Graduate School.

F. Formatting the Official Dissertation

The final draft of the dissertation should be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions provided in the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Style Guide available on the School of Graduate Studies webpage. It is prudent for the student to prepare the document properly as it is being written, rather than having to do a lot of re-formatting at the end.

< Previous Section: VI. Qualifying Papers |  Next Section: VIII. Faculty & Student Communication and Support >

1. Standards and Expectations

A qualifying paper (QP) is a piece of original research (empirical or theoretical) that is ideally the first step toward a publication.  A QP, particularly the first QP, is part of the learning process about how to conduct original research that contributes to the discipline.  Many QPs ultimately become published journal articles or components of a larger product (e.g., dissertation or book).

a. Qualifying Paper Proposal - Before beginning a qualifying paper, students must write a short (typically about 5 page) proposal.  The proposal should: specify the research question; discuss the potential contribution of the work to sociology relative to past research; and provide a timeline of the proposed work.  For empirical QPs, the proposal additionally describes the data to be collected or analyzed and the proposed method of analysis.  QPs using quantitative secondary data analysis should include a discussion (or table) describing the proposed dependent, independent, and control variables.  The QP proposal should be submitted to your reading committee (see information on committee structure in section VI.2) for feedback and revision before scheduling a QP sign-on meeting (see information on QP sign-on meeting in section VI.3.a).

b. Content of the Qualifying Paper - A qualifying paper should be similar to a single journal article in the scope of the research question (i.e., well focused and delimited), data, and findings as well as in its length.  As such, a QP is typically 20-30 pages long plus any references, endnotes, tables, and appendices (as relevant).  Each paper should demonstrate a careful and thorough consideration of a sociological problem and clearly articulate the contribution of the research to the discipline.  One of the qualifying papers may be theoretical but at least one QP must be empirical.  QPs can use any substantive and/or methodological approach (e.g., analysis of survey data, textual analysis, interviews, field work).  As such, they vary in style and structure.  (Note that if your project involves research with human subjects, you must get IRB approval before collecting any data.  See section XII.1 below.)  We encourage you to take the Writing Seminar as a course when you are working to complete your first QP because this facilitates the development and completion of the qualifying paper.   To ensure breadth and proficiency in more than a single sub-area of sociology, the two qualifying papers must focus on topics that are significantly different from one another.  The committee structure (see section VI.2) helps ensure that the foci of the QPs are distinct.

2. Committee Structure

Each committee has a lead reader and two secondary readers.  The lead readers for the two qualifying papers must be different.  In addition, the two QP committees may have only a one-reader overlap. Thus, the two qualifying paper committees together include five or six different faculty members per graduate student.  This structure encourages intellectual and methodological breadth, and ensures that each student interacts intellectually with multiple faculty members.  Committee members may include regular sociology faculty and one affiliated graduate faculty member in sociology.

3. Sign-On & Sign-Off Meetings 

a.  Sign-On Meeting – Upon approval of the QP committee members, the student schedules a meeting with the committee to discuss the content and direction of the project.  This meeting lasts approximately one hour.  During the meeting, committee members and the student should discuss and agree upon the research question and conceptual framing of the project as well as the data and methods (when relevant).  The committee members and the student should also agree to a written timeline for the proposed work and for communication between the student and committee members (e.g., a progress report every month or two, monthly meeting with the lead reader, etc.).  Upon successful completion of the sign-on meeting, the committee members and the Graduate Director sign the QPI/QPII proposal form.  This form should be submitted to the sociology graduate administrator.

At the end of the QP sign-on meeting, the committee members should discuss the division of labor and work plan for supervising the student (e.g., work closely with the primary reader before distributing to other committee members, send all drafts to all committee members simultaneously, etc.).

b.  Sign-Off Meeting – Upon approval of the QP committee members, the student schedules a final sign-off meeting with the committee.  This meeting is scheduled only after the student has completed and revised the qualifying paper in consultation with the committee members.  (The process of writing a qualifying paper typically involves multiple drafts and recurrent interaction with your committee members as agreed upon in the sign-on meeting).  During the meeting, the student briefly presents the key results and conclusions of the research (about five minutes).  The student and committee members discuss whether there are remaining issues to be addressed before the committee agrees to “sign off” on the paper, and discuss strategies for moving the paper toward publication or inclusion in future work (e.g., dissertation).  Upon successful completion of the meeting, the committee members and the Graduate Director sign the Qualifying Paper Evaluation form as well as the MA or PhD Candidacy form.  These forms should be submitted to the sociology graduate administrator.

4. Students Entering with an M.A./M.S. from another Program

The department does not accept a prior Master’s thesis in lieu of one of our qualifying papers.  A student entering the Rutgers graduate program in sociology with an M.A. or M.S. who wrote a thesis may, however, use his/her thesis as the basis for one qualifying paper.  To do so, the student assembles a three-reader committee (see section VI.2) that reads the thesis and provides feedback on the steps required to make the work into a qualifying paper that meets departmental standards.  The conditions may range from minor to more substantial revisions in content, approach, style, methods, etc.  All restrictions on committee membership noted in section VI.2 apply.

< Previous Section: V. Requirements and Course Policies  |  Next Section: VII. Dissertation >

IV. NON-FINANCIAL RESOURCES

A. Advising

The advisory relationship with faculty is one of the most important elements of any Ph.D. program. Incoming students in our program are assigned a first-year advisor to help guide them through their adjustment to the department. Students are encouraged to select their own permanent advisor who shares their substantive interests, methodological approach, and/or general orientation to sociology by the beginning of the second year. This may or may not be a continuation of the first-year advisor relationship.

All students are encouraged to have at least one meeting per semester with their advisor to discuss their progress on coursework, qualifying papers, the dissertation proposal, and the dissertation. Most students and advisor(s) meet more frequently when working on QPs and during the advance stages of preparing or writing the dissertation. Students may also consult with their advisor regarding other issues and concerns with teaching, professional development, research funding, and publishing. It is critical that students keep their advisor updated on their progress and on any problems that arise in the program. Effective mentoring is a two-way street, where the student keeps the advisor updated on personal progress, and the advisor checks in on the student to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress in the program. If a student is having difficulty getting a timely response from their advisor or other committee members, they should ask for assistance from the GPD. More information about the advising, or mentoring, relationship is in development and will be added as an additional Appendix in the future.

In addition to consulting with their advisors, students are encouraged to develop working relationships with several other members of the department. Obtaining multiple perspectives on intellectual and professional matters are critical for a student’s development as a sociologist and as a scholar more generally.

B. Mail and E-mail Services

Each graduate student has a departmental mailbox in the mailroom on the first floor of Davison Hall. All departmental e-mails are sent to the students’ sociology RU Connect e-mail addresses (i.e., accounts that use the @sociology.rutgers.edu domain). The University also sets up each student with a Scarletmail account (a Google product), but to repeat, for department communication purposes, the RU Connect account should be used. Students can forward their Scarletmail messages (and email sent to non-university accounts, should they wish) to the RU Connect account, but not vice versa. Students must check their departmental email on a regular basis (at least once a day) to ensure they receive notifications about department matters including registration, funding, department events, course information, and the like. Not checking department email is not a valid reason for missing a deadline or opportunity.

C. Computer- and Data Storage-Related Services

Upon entering the program, each student is assigned a Rutgers NetID that is used for accessing all kinds of Rutgers services: computing, email, the library, and much more. Rutgers ITT is available for assistance. For any issue find the “Submit an SAS IT workorder” link can be found in the bottom of the Rutgers Sociology Webpage, under Quick Links. Much more important are the following protocols and services for dealing with computer- and data storage-related issues, managed through the School of Arts and Sciences Information Technology office (SAS-IT).

a. IT Requests

The University uses ServiceNow for the management of IT-related issues. All technical requests must go through this system. There are two ways to submit a request directly to SAS IT:

• • Web: https://ithelp.sas.rutgers.edu
  • Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Typical requests include: the purchase of hardware/software; connecting computers to the Rutgers network; installing Rutgers software (antivirus, VPN, O365, Box, Adobe); connecting to a network printer; other hardware/software issues. The SAS IT site contains a lot of information that should answer most common questions: https://sasit.rutgers.edu/how-to-guides.

Rutgers policy states that major computer issues on personal machines cannot be handled by SAS IT staff. The full SAS Computer Maintenance Policy is available at the following location: https://sasit.rutgers.edu/images/policies/SAS_Computer_Maintenance_Policy_2013.pdf.

b. Network Storage Resources

We do not recommend storing data on local machines. Instead, Rutgers highly recommends students use Rutgers’ version of Box (https://it.rutgers.edu/box). The department stores many folders and files here for our collective use, but you can also set up Box folders of your own. It is, for example, a great place for storing data securely, as well as your own documents. We currently maintain a Box folder “Faculty, Students and Staff” containing this document, but also an expandable depository containing examples of dissertations, dissertation proposals, qualifying papers, grant proposals, job market letters, CVs, replies to reviewers, etc. Students should feel free to share their successful documents on Box, in order to help others succeed.

c. Printing

Rutgers provides access to network printers via the central computer labs. The department has a Ricoh multi-function device in the mailroom (room 117) that provides printing, copying and scanning services. For information, see https://sasit.rutgers.edu/how-to-guides/guide/70-desktop-system-support/163-printing-and-photocopying/87-how-do-i-connect-to-a-networked-printer?highlight=WyJuZXR3b3JraW5nIiwibmV0d29yayIsIm5ldHdvcmtzIiwibmV0d29yay1zZXJ2aWNlLXN5c3RlbXMiLCJuZXR3b3JrZWQiLCJuZXR3b3Jrb3V0YWdlIiwiXHUyMDFjbmV0d29yayIsIm5ldHdvcmtcdTIwMWQiLCJuZXR3b3Jrb3IiLCJ0aGVuZXR3b3JrIl0=

d. Rutgers Computer Labs

OIT maintains central computer labs throughout NB. Information about their locations and services offered is available at https://it.rutgers.edu/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-computer-labs. A virtual PC-based computer lab is also available. The virtual lab provides access to all the software that is available in the physical computer labs (such as SPSS, Stata, SAS) – see the following pages for the full list of available applications:

• • https://ithelp.rutgers.edu/sp?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0012455&sys_kb_id=d6a82e0 3db5105108f550ad4e2961981&spa=1.
  • https://it.rutgers.edu/virtual-computer-labs  

e. Duo -- Two-step Login

Duo is a software app that you install on your phone for two-factor authentication, which helps protect your account by adding an extra layer of security beyond your password. You are required to use Duo to access many University resources. Setup instructions are available: https://it.rutgers.edu/two-step-login. Students can purchase a physical hardware token as well: https://software.rutgers.edu/product/3423.

f. Software

Rutgers has a site license to provide Adobe Creative Cloud products (Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Acrobat, and many more Adobe apps and tools) to all faculty, staff, and students. See https://it.rutgers.edu/adobe. Rutgers provides free access to various Microsoft Office products for all current students. Every student can install Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Sharepoint, Office Online, OneNote, Publisher. Note: Otter can be made available if there is interest. Details can be found at https://it.rutgers.edu/microsoft-office/microsoft-office-for-students.

D. Student Organizations

a. GUSS: The Graduate Union of Sociology Students (GUSS) is an organization composed of all sociology graduate students. GUSS conducts new student orientations, sponsors social events, elects student reps to department committees, and manages the GUSS budget.

b. The GSA: The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is an organization for graduate students from all departments. All graduate students are automatically members of the GSA. The budget is generated from student fees (paid by all graduate students). With these funds and graduate student support, the GSA sponsors a wide variety of activities.

< Previous Section: III. Financial Aid  |  Next Section: V. Requirements For Program Completion: The 2-4-6 Plan >

III. FINANCIAL AID AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

There are three main types of financial aid for graduate students: major university funding, minor university funding, typically earmarked for specific purposes, and competitive external funding. Each of these is described here.

 A. Major University Funding

Three major kinds of financial support are awarded by the department to graduate students: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships (TAs), and Graduate Assistantships (GAs). All of these provide full tuition remission, a stipend, and some fringe benefits, including health insurance (benefits vary by award type).

Students admitted to the program with major financial aid typically receive a multi-year package of support, typically for 5 years. This package most commonly consists of one to two years of Fellowship followed by three or four years of TA support. Fellows and TAs both receive tuition remission. They also both receive health coverage, although the health programs are different. Fellows receive major medical (limited) coverage through the School of Graduate Studies, while TAs receive more comprehensive coverage (state employee health plan) funded in part through payroll deductions during the two-semester academic year for the duration of your TA support found in your funding package. Students transitioning from one status to another, especially if partway through an academic year, should consult with the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Program Coordinator to ensure that their coverage is continuous.

Please note that annual renewal for each year of funding offers made at admission is dependent upon satisfactory progress toward the degrees.

a. University Fellowships are awarded at the time of admission. Fellowships currently have had no work obligation attached to them and they allow students to devote full time to their studies. Fellows are expected not to hold remunerative jobs inside or outside the University during that academic year. Although rare, the GPD may allow specific exceptions for very limited hours per week if essential to the student’s professional development or identity. A student on fellowship may work a small number of hours per week as an unpaid research aide for a faculty member, perhaps in exchange for co-authorship on a faculty-directed project or some other recognition.

b. Teaching Assistantships (TAs) provide support for two semesters of the academic year. TAs are expected to work on average 15 hours per week. Teaching Assistants attend lectures, lead discussion sections for lecture courses, assist with writing and grading examinations, hold office hours, and otherwise support the instructor of record for a course. Experienced TAs may be given full responsibility for teaching a course. [Please note: Students may technically relinquish a TAship as part of their offer of admission up until the time they sign a contract to do the work, normally three months before a semester begins. But the department depends on TAs to contribute substantially to the teaching work of the department, and the scheduling of courses happens many months in advance. Therefore, if you intend to surrender a TAship for a semester or a year or more, you are urged to let the department know at least 3 months ahead of time. This requirement applies whether you receive external funding in lieu of university funding, secure employment outside the department, or for any other reason.]

c. Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are almost always funded through faculty research grants. They are not normally a part of funding packages, and in recent years they have been uncommon. GAs are expected to work on average 15 hours per week assisting with all aspects of the faculty member’s project.

B. Minor University Funding

A wide variety of minor funding sources are available. These positions do not include tuition remission or benefits. Sources of minor funding include the following:

a. Part Time Lecturer (PTL) positions during the Fall and Spring semesters that pay a fixed salary for teaching a specific course (available mostly to ABD or near-ABD students).

b. Co-ad positions, which are available as additional teaching opportunities for students on TA lines who have completed their Master’s degree work. Students with a Co-ad appointment would normally teach two courses in a semester—one as a TA, the second as a Co-ad.

c. Wages for working on research grants or on specific department projects. These take two basic forms:

i. Research assistance (or occasionally administrative work) for a faculty member as a research assistant (RA). Normally such funding comes from research funds the faculty member has at their discretion as part of their contract with the university. This kind of funding can range from a couple of hundred dollars to perhaps several thousand dollars in any given year.

ii. Gretel Weiss funds: Several years ago, the department received money from the family of an alumna, which we have been using to fund faculty-student collaborative projects. The faculty member submits a proposal and identifies a student research assistant, and the department pays the salary, normally between $2000 and $4000. These funds are typically non-renewable. The goal is to foster short-term faculty-student research projects with the goal of publication.

d. Wages for helping professors in grading and/or proctoring student work in large courses. A call for graders is put out each semester.

e. Teaching during the summer session or at one of our satellite campuses which is paid on a per course basis equivalent to PTL pay in the regular year. [Summer courses will only be assigned to students with previous teaching experience (including as TAs). We normally prefer students who have already completed their Master’s degree.]

f. Small research- and conference-related grants. Calls from the department and from the School of Graduate Studies are issued approximately twice a year offering small amounts of money ($600 or less) to cover research-related expenses. These may include small payments to interview subjects, the cost of some portion of transcription services, occasionally software needs, etc. There are also travel grants awarded to travel to research sites, but most commonly, reimbursement for the cost of travel to academic conferences. To obtain a conference travel grant, the department normally expects applicants to be on the official conference program. Applicants must follow specific university rules around travel and expenses when seeking reimbursement.

C. Competitive External Funding  

A variety of fellowships are available from external sources. The procedures and stipends attached to these vary, as do the rules of eligibility. Students interested in applying for externally funded research grants or fellowships should contact GradFund directed by Teresa Delcorso-Ellmann, Senior Associate Dean, School of Graduate Studies. The benefits of receiving competitive funding are not just financial; the receipt of a prestigious fellowship is an indication of one’s potential as a scholar and is helpful when applying for jobs as an assistant professor or research scientist.

D. Banking of Funding Years

Graduate students who receive funding from an external source during the years included in their original funding offer made at the time of admission are not guaranteed that they can bank (i.e., defer) their sociology funding for use in future years in the program. [However, sometimes external funders mandate that a year of internal funding be, in fact, bankable, and programs must comply. In such cases the student will need to follow up on their specific case.] We try to find a university fellowship or TA position for a student who gets outside funding on a one-to-one year substitution for years beyond the original funding offer (assuming reasonable progress). However, we cannot promise that such a substitution will be available. No such substitutions of funding will be made beyond the seventh year in the program. We hope that this policy does not dissuade students from applying for prestigious external fellowships. Fellowships from the National Science Foundation and other organizations are an important indicator of one’s potential as a scholar and can open doors on the job market and for future funding opportunities from such organizations.

E. Tuition Remission

Domestic students:  The program pays full tuition for domestic (U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents) sociology graduate students funded on fellowships or Teaching Assistantships. As stated in J. Michael Gower’s memorandum from August 10, 2018, while receiving funding through fellowship or TAship, there will be no difference between in-state and out-of-state costs. While we encourage our students to live in the New Brunswick area while completing their coursework, and to participate in departmental life. While there is no state residency requirement, it is the department’s expectation that while funded students must be prepared to come to campus physically to teach their courses and to attend department events. All students must register for at least 9 credit hours per semester to be considered a full-time student. A TAship counts as 6 credits.

International students:  Full tuition is paid for all international sociology graduate students funded on fellowships or teaching assistantships. International students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Rutgers Global office to ensure that they are in compliance with the many regulations related to residency, visa status, health coverage, and more. See https://global.rutgers.edu/pre-and-post-arrival-steps for detailed information and guidance. It is expected that international students will live close to campus to attend departmental events and be physically present to teach their courses. All students must register for at least 9 credit hours per semester to be considered a full-time student. A TAship counts as 6 credits.

Tuition will automatically be remitted if the fellow or teaching assistant is registered for the semester. Fellows must pay their campus, computers, and school fees online. If a student does not pay their student fees on time, they will be assessed a late fee. TAs do not pay student fees; they are covered by the university.

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