Dr. Mary Pattillo

Professor

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Biography

Mary Pattillo is the Harold Washington Professor in the Department of Sociology and the Department of Black Studies at Northwestern University. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago in 1997 and her BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University in 1991. Her research interests encompass Urban Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, and Inequality, focusing particularly on housing, education, and the criminal legal system. Pattillo has conducted significant research on Black communities, including studies on how Black parents navigate school choices and the role of monetary sanctions in the justice system. She is a prominent voice in discussions of gentrification and the sociocultural dynamics affecting the Black middle class, as evidenced in her influential books such as 'Black Picket Fences' and 'Black Block'. A member of several academic organizations, Pattillo serves on the Board of Trustees of the W.T. Grant Foundation and is actively involved in research and activism related to community and social policy issues.

Research Interests

Courses

SOCIOL 110: Introduction to Sociology SOCIOL 207: Cities and Society SOCIOL 403: Field Methods SOCIOL 476: Topics in Social Analysis: Urban Ethnography SOCIOL 520: Housing, Community and Public Policy AFAM 215: Introduction to Black Social and Political Life AFAM 460: Race, Politics, Society and Culture

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.