Math BS => Sociology PhD?

[yaymath]

Facts:

1) I'm a math major. This is because I like proving stuff better than sitting in lab spilling mercury on things.

2) I really like sociology. Specifically I like the idea of doing research and getting statistics and coming up with neat models about human society. Which means I want to be a grad student in sociology, but I have no idea what I want to do after that.

3) I go to Caltech. We don't really have a sociology program here. But even if we did I would still probably want to be a math major because I like proving stuff better than writing essays.

Questions:

a) Will it hurt me that I'm not getting a BS in sociology? How much? I was thinking maybe I could salvage my app by saying I can use math to build cool models of stuff.

What do sociology PhDs do after they graduate, aside from academia?

c) I'll have at least two papers before I graduate, but they're in a completely unrelated field (fruit fly stuff). Will they help my application?

d) How can I demonstrate my interest in the field (aside from taking classes, which I'm already going to do?)

Thank you for your advice!

[hoobers]

a) Will it hurt me that I'm not getting a BS in sociology? How much? I was thinking maybe I could salvage my app by saying I can use math to build cool models of stuff.

No, it won't hurt you. If you apply to the right kind of department, one that has people doing mathematical sociology (Cornell, Irvine, maybe Stanford, maybe Harvard, maybe Duke), it would actually help you. It's pretty rare to have people with strong math backgrounds apply to Soc programs, so it makes you valuable.

What do sociology PhDs do after they graduate, aside from academia?

A number work on government policy, usually in non-profits. A larger number work on the fringes of academia, like in business schools (organizational theory/economic socilogy) or medical schools (medical sociology/epidemology). It looks like there may be a career path opening up for math-heavy sociologists to work in internet companies (Yahoo just hired Duncan Watts, who was a prof at Columbia, to lead one of their research groups) -- though this is certainly an odd path at this point.

c) I'll have at least two papers before I graduate, but they're in a completely unrelated field (fruit fly stuff). Will they help my application?

Yes, absolutely. It just helps to show that you can do research.

d) How can I demonstrate my interest in the field (aside from taking classes, which I'm already going to do?)

Read up on the literature and talk about why it interests you and how you can contribute to it. If you don't know how to track down the right literature, go talk to your school's librarian for social sciences (I know it seems weird, but it totally works, I promise -- it's actually their job to help you find stuff). Mention to them that you are interested in mathematical sociology. Or if you want to take it the web route, just look for people who do mathematical sociology, social networks, and maybe quantitative methodology, in top departments, and read the stuff they wrote recently. There was also a callout for computational social science in "Science" a few months ago: http://www.iq.harvard.edu/blog/netgov/2 ... _on_c.html . Any of the authors of that piece who are sociologists would be a good place to start. You could actually try emailing them with questions, too -- some might respond. Math people in sociology tend to really want more math people to go into sociology.

Good luck!

[ewurgler]

I would add that you look at programs that are really strong in deomography (UNC and Penn both have big population centers). That is a stats-heavy subfield that may interest you.

In addition to catching up on the literature, make sure you begin to explore the types of social issues/problems you want to research. Math skills are great, but they want to have someone who has ideas about application.

Also, you have to be able to write, period. Even if you are quantitative, you need strong writing skills. Take a writing-intensive soc theory course, and then see if you still like it.

[michigan girl]

I would also recommend Michigan. They have a top-ranked demography/population studies program. Their sociology program also leans more quantitative (this is particularly good news if you love statistics). You may also want to check out the Ford School of Public Policy (http://www.fordschool.umich.edu) for MPP and doctoral study. Some of the required courses there are calculus, statistics, econometrics and microeconomics.

[dirkduck]

I think if anything having a Math BS is a plus. I heard from some professors when I was applying that many sociology departments like to "steal" and convert students from other disciplines. Additionally, I think having a strong quant. background is very desirable for a lot of sociology programs, which will be pretty much implied with a math BS.

[yaymath]

Thanks for the help guys! I guess I just have to apply to the right programs then.

Good luck with grad school and stuff

[deckard]

You might want to check out the literature on social networks. That's one area where maths is used quite extensively in sociology, and is much more interesting than the usual regression analysis.

Look up Harrison White's work, he's in Columbia right now.

[doctoraldude]

based on your background & interests, I think you'll find agent-based modeling interesting - so you might want to build on that for an application.

Caveat: a lot of soc profs dont believe in the validity of agent-based models to explain social facts - so you'll have to be selective in choosing the right depatments

And yes, harrison white's work is nice as well (I wish I had time to read more )

[hoobers]

Look up Harrison White's work, he's in Columbia right now.

Harrison White is awesome, but I think he's not taking on any more students. He's turning 80 next year...

[misterpat]

Facts:

3) I go to Caltech. We don't really have a sociology program here. But even if we did I would still probably want to be a math major because I like proving stuff better than writing essays.

You better start liking writing essays if you plan on being a grad student.

Questions:

a) Will it hurt me that I'm not getting a BS in sociology? How much? I was thinking maybe I could salvage my app by saying I can use math to build cool models of stuff.

No, you might even have an edge on some sociology majors, given that most department knows sociology isn't a very rigorous major. I'm pretty sure the ASA's website has something about how departments need to make sociology a tougher major in order to better its reputation. This is why like 1/4 of college athletes major in sociology.

What do sociology PhDs do after they graduate, aside from academia?

Mostly academia. I'm pretty sure most people at least go in planning to do academia, but then end up doing other stuff afterward. Someone on this board will probably disagree with me on this one, but they are probably the exceptions to the rule.

c) I'll have at least two papers before I graduate, but they're in a completely unrelated field (fruit fly stuff). Will they help my application?

Was this your last semester? Why don't you take a Sociology course so that you can have a Sociology writing sample? Even something in Poli Sci, Econ or History would be better than natural science (if that's what you speak of).

d) How can I demonstrate my interest in the field (aside from taking classes, which I'm already going to do?)

Hmm. I suppose you could do outside reading and try to make it obvious you know what you're talking about in your statement of purpose. Read books by the faculty members of the depts you apply to.