Ph.D. Testimonials
Rachel Morgan (Ph.D. 2013)
“Pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology at UCF was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The faculty and coursework facilitated my growth and development as a professional and intellectual. The faculty encourages and helps motivated graduate students succeed and study topics they are passionate about. They assist students in finding ways to learn outside of the classroom by working with organizations in the community and promoting collaboration with colleagues outside of UCF. While at UCF, I studied violence against women. I knew I wanted a career in which I could study this topic and contribute to making women’s lives better. The faculty in the department aided me in doing just that and taught me the necessary skills to succeed as an applied sociologist. The coursework in statistics, survey methodology, and domestic violence helped me secure a position with the U.S. Department of Justice examining criminal victimization in the United States. After earning my Ph.D., I felt confident and prepared to begin my career and I thank the UCF sociology department for this.”
— Statistician, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice
Timothy Colyer (Ph.D. 2012)
“A doctoral degree in Sociology has given me a new perspective when approaching people and challenges. The curriculum enhanced my ability to be open-minded when exposed to different viewpoints expressed by employees and customers, resulting in a management style that encourages and accepts diverse opinions. The doctoral program’s rigorous research methods and data analysis regimen enable me to apply advanced methods to program management and evaluation efforts.”
— Program Manager, Ahtna Support and Training Services
Debra Marshall (Ph.D. 2012)
“My degree has allowed me to view my work in the classroom as an important stepping stone on the path that all students, regardless of their eventual career choices, will take. Sociology broadens horizons, and gives meaning to our everyday world. It is a great feeling knowing that what I learned at UCF is being passed on to a new generation of academics. Teaching students at the introductory collegiate level is extremely rewarding and my professors and mentors at UCF were integral in giving me not only academic knowledge, but also teaching skills which I have been able to use to spark the interests of many students in an array of sociological areas. In addition, the doctoral program helped to strengthen and broaden my own base of sociological knowledge thus making me a more effective teacher. Whether teaching about the environment, crime, race, gender or class, many students have used the sociological foundations of my courses to benefit their academic and professional careers. I look forward to a long career in teaching, and I credit the sociology faculty at UCF for encouraging me down this path.”
— Assistant Professor, Brevard Community College
Nicholas A. Guittar (Ph.D. 2011)
“The doctoral program in sociology at UCF has improved my life both personally and professionally. The program did everything imaginable to prepare me for my current role as Assistant Professor of Sociology at a small regional university. I learned valuable research skills (both qualitative and quantitative), developed a firm understanding of social theory, and engaged in the application of sociology in local organizations. The department maintains a true open-door policy and they offer a wide variety of curriculum. One item that sets the UCF doctoral program apart from other doctoral programs is the fact that students teach—not just assist, but teach—courses in their area. Most academic positions place great emphasis on applicants 1) having a record of publication, and 2) having teaching experience. Thanks to my Ph.D. in Sociology from UCF, I now have both.”
— Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of South Carolina Lancaster
Nick Libby (Ph.D. 2009)
“I pursued a doctoral degree in Sociology to further my studies in Criminology, but have ended up with a rewarding career in health care. Essentially, I went from studying people that kill people to people who save people’s lives, shifting easily from official crime databases to survey data collected from medical professionals and patients. Although this is a shift in focus, my background in Sociology provided me with numerous transferable skills necessary to perform in any analytical occupation: research methods, quantitative analysis, data management, program evaluation, and survey design.”
— Avatar International