So, what does your research say? (Social Science)

[Sagnik_G]

Hello everyone!

So, I'm at a stage in my life where I'm swinging on a vine and letting the wind blow me from every direction to the other, as I try to decide what areas I should specialize in. My current undergraduate major is Political Science, though I'm planning on doing my Master's in International Affairs.

My areas of research interest are three as of now: Peace and Conflict Studies, International Human Rights, Evolving bilateral relations and the significance of international organisations.

If any of you peeps are from a Social Science and particularly a political science background and are in the same position I am, or are wading through your Graduate school or Doctorate already, I'd love to hear what you chose as your topic of research and why. 

Thanks!

[Rockerika]

I'm in a similar situation, my PhD research is in many ways going to be dependent on what combination of my interests are represented by the faculty in my PhD department.

I'm finishing my MA in Political Science and looking at PhD programs. I know my main specialization is going to be theory (hoping to get into Berkeley to do their Critical Theory designated emphasis during my PhD). However, because the theory I'm interested in is poststructural and critical theory, it becomes more difficult to find someone to work with in a program that's right for me. This makes my second emphasis and ultimate research project dependent on the schools I get into and the professors that I might be able to work with. Given the schools I'm applying to, I'm most likely going to make my PhD minor International Relations simply because it is the most theory related subfield, and focus on doing my dissertation on a theoretical topic.

That being said, if I get into somewhere with a strong poststructural/critical theory presence and a strong American Political Development presence, I might make my second subfield American Government and focus on APD, then write my dissertation as an APD project with a genealogical theoretical basis. I think this is the better option, but requires the faculty presence to put together a solid dissertation committee.