MA Graduate Program Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines Due February 15th
- The final application deadline for admission in the fall semester is July 1st.
- In order to receive full consideration for any of our departmental funding sources, a completed application (including transcripts, recommendation letters and personal statement) must be received by the Graduate School by February 15th.
- Students are not admitted to the program in the spring semester.
Application Submissions
Applicants are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:
- An application for graduate admission.
- Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate).
- Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields; at least two must be from academics.
- A writing sample in the form of a cover letter or statement of interest explaining how the MA in Sociology and Criminology may assist the candidate in meeting her or his personal goals.
- Students must have a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA
- Students with a GPA below 3.0 but who have counterbalancing evidence to suggest potential for success may be admitted on a provisional basis, but are not eligible for funding from the department
Students may also take Master’s level classes in our program as non-degree students (special graduate status), which has its own application deadlines and requirements.
Dr. Kimberly Cook Receives American Society of Criminology Lifetime Achievement Award
Department of Sociology and Criminology
The requirements for a major in Sociology, whether choosing the General or Public Sociology concentration. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the major! Please contact the department coordinators
Dr. Jean-Anne Sutherland for Sociology and Dr. Justin Smith for Criminology. In The summer months please contact the Chair, Dr. Mike Maume.
Our Faculty page has information about all of our faculty members including their areas of research, courses they teach, their personal websites, and course syllabi.
If you are interested in joining the Sociology and Criminology Club or applying for a scholarship, visit Clubs & Scholarships to find out about club meeting schedules, available scholarships, requirements and deadlines
Contact Us
Main office:910.962.3420 or 910.962.3432
Fax:910.962.7385
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RESEARCH HAPPENING NOW
Giving to Sociology and Criminology
We hope that you will join us in support of the UNCW Department of Sociology and Criminology. Your generosity ensures a rich experience for everyone in our department. Please consider a financial gift to the UNCW Sociology and Criminology Department. Annual or one-time gifts designated to the department support student scholarships and hands-on applied learning experiences, like the WHA-UNCW Community Campus, that prepares students for successful internships and post graduate careers. Please visit click here to make a tax-deductible gift to UNCW in support of Sociology and Criminology department.
For more information, visit www.uncw.edu/annualgiving
Or contact the department at soccrm@uncw.edu
Contact Us
Phone:910.962.3420 or 910.962.3432
Fax:910.962.7385
Administration Associates
Stephanie Laughter & Kathy Parish
Spring Featured Courses:
SOC/CRM 509 Teaching in Higher Education
CRN 23577 or 23578 T 3:30-4:30
Dr. Sarah Gaby
CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE UK-Study Abroad
Issues in Social Justice-Study Abroad
Dr. Kimberly Cook, The recipient of the DCCSJ Lifetime Achievement Award. "Congratulations"!
How the systems of crime and punishment harm and impoverish communities WECT NEWS6
Dr. Kimberly Cook “Incarceration in itself creates trauma”
mp4 Interview
UNCW Recognizes Faculty for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service
UNCW Distinguished Scholarly Engagement and Public Service Award
Dr. Kimberly Cook - Sociology and Criminology
Part-time Lecturer of the Year Award
Richard Davis - Sociology and Criminology
Congratulations to Dr. Kimberly Cook on the publication of her book!

Dr. Sarah Gaby
Russell Sage Foundation Grant
How the Civil Righs Movement impacted the relationshiop between historical racial violence and current day racism and racial inequality.
Lecturer Chardon Murray
The Khalifa Ihler Institute
Press Release: Our Contribution to the January 6th Select Committee
Sociology & Criminology Welcome New Faculty
- NEW: 2022-23 Research and Innovation Internal Seed Funding Awardees Announced
- NEW: Dr. Candice Robinson Awarded Pardee RAND Faculty Leaders Program Fellowship
- NEW: Dr. Douglas Engelman Elected Vice President of Wilmington NAMI Chapter
- Dr. Sarah Gaby has been awarded a Community Engagement grant, the project titled "Partnership with the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society and the Historic Latimer House". Congratulations!
Sociology & Criminology Charles L. Cahill Recipients NEW: 2022 Cahill Recipients Announced
For entrance in to the MA Program in Sociology & Criminology
Learn more about the program at: uncw.edu/socgrad
Begin your application at: uncw.edu/gradschool
Contact Dr. Jennifer Vanderminden with any questions about this process.
soccrmgrad@uncw.edu
Dr. Jennifer Vanderminden
Graduate Program Director
soccrmgrad@uncw.edu
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UNCW Rankings*Recognition*Results
College Choice Recognizes UNCW Criminology Program
The UNCW Department of Sociology and Criminology is recognized for having one of the nation’s best criminology programs. (more...)
University of North Carolina at Wilmington named in 2019 Best Online Colleges for a Bachelor's in Criminology!
- AKD Alpha Kappa Delta
- APS Alpha Phi Sigma
- Brown Bag Series
- Graduation 2022
- Million Dollar Club
- Mountain to Sea Speaker Series
- Sociology and Criminology Club
- Study Abroad
(The following are external links)
American Society of Criminology (ASC)
American Sociological Association (ASA)
North Carolina Sociological Association (NCSA)
North Carolina Criminal Justice Association (NCCJA)
Southern Sociological Society (SSS)