Program Overview
The PhD in Sociology at UMass Amherst fosters collaboration with esteemed faculty on research and publications. With an emphasis on public sociology, students engage in research that informs policy and activism. The program provides strong pedagogical and professional development support through workshops, teaching mentorships, and the opportunity to foster teaching skills. Graduates become active researchers, advocates, and educators, contributing to the field of sociology and making a difference in the world.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The PhD in Sociology at UMass Amherst allows students to collaborate with accomplished faculty on research and publications, becoming part of an active and diverse graduate student body in a large public university. The program emphasizes public sociology that speaks to public issues and informs policy, community work, and activism. Students advocate for policy changes, work with communities, complete research often cited in the media, and see their research make a difference in the world. These opportunities include:
- Hearing from experienced teachers in the first-year Proseminar
- Taking the required Teaching Sociology course
- Forming relationships with teaching mentors
- Engaging in a workshop for first-time instructors
Other:
The program has a number of research clusters investigating areas including:
- Gender, sexuality, and families
- Race, immigration, and citizenship
- Culture, identity, and social psychology
- Crime, law, and deviance
