Programs similar to SHIPS at Stanford

[2xthefun]

Quick history: ABD at top 10 sociology program-left for other pursuits during which time I changed my research interests to higher education (particularly the role of blended programs like Early College or Middle College in preparing racial minority/lower SES/1st gen students for higher ed access/persistence/achievement by developing not just their human capital but possibly social capital as well). My interest has been fueled by the 2 years I have spent working at the community college level as an adjunct instructor/college readiness counselor. 

 

My question: at first I was looking at applying to a new sociology program with plenty of Sociology of Education faculty (UC-Irvine, UT-Austin, John's Hopkins, UCLA, UC-Berkeley) but after reading about the SHIPS program at Stanford (Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Studies in Education) I am considering PhD in Higher Ed, particularly those that are interdisciplinary. Anyone have recommendations for programs similar to the SHIPS program at Stanford? Or any thoughts in general about making the transition from sociology to higher education?

 

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

[hesadork]

What are your ultimate career goals, ie, how do you want to use the doctorate?  And are you looking to stay in California?

[2xthefun]

In a perfect world I would like to be TT faculty at a R1 institution-preferably 1 that has a Higher Education research institute. Being able to teach in either  sociology department or school of education seems like it would make me more marketable. I am actually not from California-although I will be moving there in a week to accept a full-time non-TT sociology position (but only 1 yr contract renewable)-so I am very open to considering other areas of the country. I am ABD from a R1 in the southeast-which is the part of the country I am from. The SHIPS program intrigues me-given the number of scholars affiliated with it who have similar research interests...just trying to weigh my options-

[hesadork]

There are a bunch of interdisciplinary ed doctorates that are jointly administered between an ed school and a traditional discipline in a grad school of arts/sciences.  (For example, history/ed, econ/ed, sociology/ed.)  I'm in the northeast so the two soc/ed programs that come to mind are at NYU and TC/Columbia, though neither is higher ed specific.  That's probably the closest I've seen to a SHIPS model.  My sense -- and full disclosure, I've been out of soc for a very long time -- is that these 'joint' programs look and feel a lot different from traditional soc departments that happen to offer an ed concentration or have faculty specializing in ed.

 

Given the extent of your soc training already, do you really want more soc classes (particularly if your ABD credits don't transfer)?  

[2xthefun]

Well my credits have partially timed out so to finish anywhere I will be taking more sociology courses...I have wrapped my head around the whole I will have to take more sociology coursework regardless of which path I choose. For me, the presence of faculty doing work that align with my own interests is the MOST important factor-I learned this lesson the hard way. A great program with little to no faculty support for the work you want to do is NOT a good idea so while I am intrigued by the design of the SHIPS program-it also helps that everyone who I would want to work with in the Stanford Soc department is affiliated with that program (yet the methodology requirements in particular are not as rigorous-as a person who is more inclined to qualitative methods, I really really do not want a mandatory 4-course statistics sequence-having barely made it through a similar sequence a decade ago).

 

But thanks for the suggestions-someone else had mentioned NYU on another thread so I am looking into it (along with the sociology program itself). Just wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving any stone uncovered...my failure to do my due diligence at 22 resulted in a bad decision so looking to avoid a similar mistake.

[michigan girl]

If you want to focus on higher education as your primary research topic, consider doctoral programs in higher education. Stanford, UCLA, and USC are the top California schools that come to mind with ranked PhD programs in higher education.

Edited September 20, 2013 by michigan girl