Sociology of Education PhD advice

[ray164]

Hello everyone. My research interest is in education. It seems like the job market for full time faculty positions is low. So I'm assuming that pursuing a PhD in Sociology of Education would allow me to apply to either sociology or education faculty positions. As compared to if I got a PhD in purely education, I would only be realistically considered for education faculty positions. (Please let me know if my assumption is incorrect.)

One program that piqued my interest was Teachers College's "Sociology and Education" PhD program (http://www.tc.columbia.edu/education-policy-and-social-analysis/sociology-and-education/). However according to US News, Teachers College sociology ranking is 74 (http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/teachers-college-at-columbia-university-196468). So would sociology faculty hiring committees look down on the "Sociology and Education" degree from Teachers College? Or would it be fine since the program also features faculty from the Department of Sociology of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University (ranked 12 by US News)? Other programs that feature Sociology of Education degrees are Stanford's Graduate School of Education and NYU.

My last questions are would I be more marketable if I pursue a PhD in Sociology of Education, a PhD in JUST education, or a PhD in JUST sociology? 

[COGSCI]

PhD program is more about your research goals and fit with your supervisor. TC is a great school for education and if you publish in sociology journals while you are studying at TC , you should be just as competitive as other sociology graduates. You can also have a faculty member from Columbia sociology department in your committee so that you can make that connection. 

I would urge you to apply to sociology phd programs as well as education phd programs because it is difficult to get a fully funded PhD offer from TC.

[ryanflannery]

I strongly recommend a PhD in the sociology of education, it keeps the doors open for both fields and doubles your chances.

If you Google Raewyn Connell and Karl Maton you will see that both professors hold a PhD in pure sociology.

Karl teaches the sociology of education in the Sociology Faculty.

Raewyn teaches sociology in the Education Faculty.

Because both scholars are associated with the sociology of education, they can and do teach subjects and supervise student in both faculties.

I am passionate about this topic, as my supervisor writes in the Sociology of Education and I am doing my EdD in the sociology of education.

Example

http://media.wix.com/ugd/654734_7e3b5f6f19484c79a1af47891c9e689a.pdf

[ChiuanJing]

You may take a look at UW-Madison. My current supervisor specializes Sociology of Education and graduated from there. There's still some professors doing that topics. He highly recommends me as well.