An applicant must also submit three letters of recommendation, an essay discussing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, and three examples of their written work from any of their undergraduate sociology courses. In addition, the applicant will be interviewed by the admissions committee, either in person or by phone. The curriculum provides enough flexibility to meet the special needs and interests of students with a variety of backgrounds. In addition, students maintain a portfolio which faculty use to measure the extent to which students are meeting the goals and objectives of the graduate program. All teaching and research assistants are provided with private study and work space.
Appointments carry a stipend and provide for full remission of tuition and most fees.
Qualified students who expect to study full-time are encouraged to apply by April 1st for fall semester admission and by November 1st for spring semester admission. In recent years all full-time graduate students have received at least partial funding. Many recent graduates have successfully under-taken doctoral level programs at respected universities in all parts of the United States. Numerous others are employed in planning or research related positions with state or local governments, as community college instructors, or as independent consultants. Alpha Kappa Delta Graduate students who have completed one semester of study at UND with a GPA of 3.0 or better and who continue to work for their graduate degree are eligible to join Alpha Kappa Delta , the International Sociology Honor Society.