Expected Undergrad and Masters grades for PhD acceptance in social sciences?

[1234thumbwar]

What UG and Masters grades would make one competitive for admissions to a PhD program in social sciences such as sociology and anthropology? Would a 3.5+ do the job?

[ello_pomelo]

That depends on the programs you apply to, in addition to the quality of your institutions. Some schools place heavier emphasis on GPA than GRE, some vice versa. Some will favor a lower GPA from a higher-ranked institution, while others have no preference. Some will only turn to the GPA if other parts of the application are not satisfactory. My advice would be to look for specific institutions and faculty that interest you and see if your GPA is close to the average of those admitted. Ultimately, the best grades to show are the best grades you are able to get!