Am I applying for the wrong programs?

[crock1255]

I'm finding my interests lie in the intersection of poli sci and sociology, but I want my work to be practical. I'm interested in topics of diffusion and the role of networks as they relate to national security. Do I belong in sociology, Poli-sci, public policy? I was introduced to social networks through sociology, so didn't really think to look in other departments, but have since been speaking with a lot of people in different departments who all (shocker) think their department is the bees knees.

Ultimately, I want to apply my research first and teach second. I am wondering how my potential advisors in sociology/poli-sci would feel if I didn't go straight to academia. And if I belong in a public policy program, which one? Network analysis is key for me. One person recommended UMich with their join PhD in Public Policy and Poli-sci.

Stats:

Undergrad: solid, well known research university

UGPA: 3.56/4

double major poli-sci/sociology (a theme?) GPA: 3.76 and 3.81

GRE: V: 680

Q: 620

AW: 5

Solid research in networks, political theory. Solid recs.

Worked in large consulting firm doing health care (don't want to focus on healthcare). Two presentations at international conferences.

Edited December 8, 2010 by crock1255

[Zahar Berkut]

I'm finding my interests lie in the intersection of poli sci and sociology, but I want my work to be practical. I'm interested in topics of diffusion and the role of networks as they relate to national security. Do I belong in sociology, Poli-sci, public policy? I was introduced to social networks through sociology, so didn't really think to look in other departments, but have since been speaking with a lot of people in different departments who all (shocker) think their department is the bees knees.

Ultimately, I want to apply my research first and teach second. I am wondering how my potential advisors in sociology/poli-sci would feel if I didn't go straight to academia. And if I belong in a public policy program, which one? Network analysis is key for me. One person recommended UMich with their join PhD in Public Policy and Poli-sci.

Stats:

Undergrad: solid, well known research university

UGPA: 3.56/4

double major poli-sci/sociology (a theme?) GPA: 3.76 and 3.81

GRE: V: 680

Q: 620

AW: 5

Solid research in networks, political theory. Solid recs.

Worked in large consulting firm doing health care (don't want to focus on healthcare). Two presentations at international conferences.

If you want to apply research and then teach, consider doing the public policy MA followed by a PhD program, too. There's an unfortunate bias in academia to frown upon those who do not immediately make it to a tnure-track position, and working following an MA can help you avoid that. It will also help you decide if you even want to go on to the PhD. Plenty of national security organizations should have an interested in someone with network analysis expertise.

I don't know how the academic field works for public policy PhD's. But if it's between PoliSci and Soc, my gut tells me the security studies subfield in PS will be more open to letting you take whatever approach you prove useful to work on national/international security problems, no matter where the literature comes from. You should definitely get an opiniion from someone who knows the soc field, though.

[GopherGrad]

If you search around a little bit, there is a thread from last year's crew in which they post their Statements of Purpose. One of the statements (that I considered the most impressive) talks a lot about networks. It might be of some immediate help to your dilemma. It also helps to keep in mind that most people see and increased blending in polisci/PP work.

In any event, I would consider contacting the authors of the work that most influences you and asking what they think.

[polisciphd]

While a substantial number of conflict scholars tout the benefits of looking at networks as future objects of investigation, there are a very small number of people, at least in poli sci, actually doing this work, especially if you get away from the guys doing terrorist networks. I am doing network analysis at Illinois, and several of my professors (Diehl, Vasquez, Dai, Cho) are all about using network analysis to study conflict processes (especially diffusion), but the main person who taught networks as a "method," as opposed to a "topic," just left (he was in the sociology dept.). If you really want to work with someone who has actually published on networks and war, then you should absolutely look at studying with Maoz at UC-Davis, he has a book coming out on the subject next year.

[catchermiscount]

While a substantial number of conflict scholars tout the benefits of looking at networks as future objects of investigation, there are a very small number of people, at least in poli sci, actually doing this work, especially if you get away from the guys doing terrorist networks. I am doing network analysis at Illinois, and several of my professors (Diehl, Vasquez, Dai, Cho) are all about using network analysis to study conflict processes (especially diffusion), but the main person who taught networks as a "method," as opposed to a "topic," just left (he was in the sociology dept.). If you really want to work with someone who has actually published on networks and war, then you should absolutely look at studying with Maoz at UC-Davis, he has a book coming out on the subject next year.

Mike Ward at Duke is also a nice option---he's more of a "methods" network guy than a "substance" network guy, but he's an excellent IR scholar broadly.