Looking for a department that fits my research interests

[Dahlberg]

Dear all,

I am looking for a Ph.D. in sociology or anthropology in the US. Before obtaining MA in sociology, I was in continental philosophy and queer theory; therefore, I am unfamiliar with programs specializing in more empirical research. I would be grateful for any help and recommendation. My research interests include:

• Social media discourse analysis.
• Digital cultures.
• Homophobic and anti-feminist sentiments in Russia and post-soviet countries. 

 

[whooshboosh]

I can't offer specific departments, but one way to get a head start on researching is to start with a list of people and circle out from there. This will give you a list of departments that currently have people working in these areas; with a little work, you can also search them and get a list of departments where those people did their PhDs. 

Two ways to gather this list of people:

1. Pay attention to who is authoring the research articles you like and whose work you want to emulate. Are there any repeat names? Anybody whose work you think is just phenomenal and prompts you to want to do that for the next few years?
2. Go to the homepages of relevant ASA sections and finding the list of section officers and award winners. For you, it seems like the Sex and Gender Section and CITAMS (Communication, Info Technology, and Media Section) would be good places to start. 
   • Some sections will also have newsletters that list recent publications and interviews with section members, which will give you another place to find literature you like (and people to research). 

[lkaitlyn]

Re: programs that fit your interests:

• UC Berkeley (if you want to do qualitative methods)
• UCLA
• UMich (basically does everything)
• UC Santa Barbara
• Wisconsin
• University of Helsinki (if you're open to things out of the country)

You might also want to reach out to Radzhana Buyantueva and Emil Edenborg, two scholars who works a lot in the area of homophobia in Russia. They're not based in the U.S. but they might have suggestions for schools you should look at.

[Dahlberg]

Thank you very much for your advice. Radzhana Buyantueva and Emil Edenborg are excellent researchers I've never heard of. 
However, there is one unclear aspect: Are you referring to sociology or gender studies departments at these universities? Gender studies there seem more suitable for my interests; that is why I am making sure if you implied them in the first place.

 

 

 

[lkaitlyn]

On 7/20/2022 at 4:50 AM, Dahlberg said:

Thank you very much for your advice. Radzhana Buyantueva and Emil Edenborg are excellent researchers I've never heard of. 
However, there is one unclear aspect: Are you referring to sociology or gender studies departments at these universities? Gender studies there seem more suitable for my interests; that is why I am making sure if you implied them in the first place.

 

 

 

All of those have Sociology programs that should be able to support your interests. That said, I'd encourage looking into Gender Studies at UCLA, and the joint program at UMich (but your main program would still be Sociology). For the purpose of employment, I'd probably do Sociology at Santa Barbara, but their Gender Studies program is great, too.

Edit: Oh, also, I think Wisconsin has a funded MA program in Gender Studies. You could look into that, too, if Wisconsin allows you to apply to it along with the Sociology PhD program.

Edited July 21, 2022 by lkaitlyn

[julesevar]

https://reei.indiana.edu/

University of Indiana has this institute and a PhD in Sociology.

[paulodagama]

Hi all, 

I am planning to do my PhD on international migration and its political economy aspects. Can you suggest some departments which have focus on this area?

[lkaitlyn]

On 8/28/2022 at 12:40 AM, paulodagama said:

Hi all, 

I am planning to do my PhD on international migration and its political economy aspects. Can you suggest some departments which have focus on this area?

For migration-related things, I always recommend UC Irvine. It's not my specific subfield but immigration/migration is our main thing. We also have at least a few people who do political economy-type things in conjunction with the political science department (lots of faculty overlap).