Sociology

The doctoral degree programme in Sociology prepares students for academic and analytical careers in their chosen areas of interest. Students acquire the ability to think theoretically as well as empirically, which allows them to identify and analyse important social and demographic processes and trends. They are also encouraged to broaden their knowledge of literature and deepen their ability to reflect critically on scholarly literature as well as social reality. Graduates of the programme can use a wide variety of methods and produce creative scientific work.

The doctoral programme in Sociology (with concentration in Population Studies) prepares experts with high ability of both theoretical and empirical thinking enabling them to identify, describe, analyze and possibly also predict significant social and demographic processes and trends; especially trends related to the size, structure and spatial distribution of human populations, human settlements, and social and economic infrastructure and its planning and utilization. The programme develops students’ ability of creative research work for academic as well as non-academic fields. It equips them with factual knowledge, broad methodological skills and ability to critically and reflexively examine data of varying nature and from various sources. This ability shall reflect also the interaction various stakeholders, including users of archived surveys, professional as well as less skilled recipients of research reports, demographic and statistical data.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Analyse various forms of social behaviour, social institutions, processes, and relationships;
• Conduct independent empirical research and produce original scientific work both within and outside of academia;
• Reflect critically on both the expert/scientific literature and social reality;
• Identify, describe, analyse and possibly also predict important social and demographic processes and trends;
• publish results of their research in academic press;
• present research results to a professional audience.

This study program prepares highly qualified experts for careers in academic as well as non-academic fields including expert jobs in central and local governments, public administrative bodies, private businesses (especially in the sphere of marketing, advertising, market research, publishing and the media in general), and not-for-profit organizations (such as NGOs, social movements, parties, educational institutions, health service organizations etc.); in general for expert systems and for the needs of the welfare state.

Practical training is not an obligatory part of the study plan.

Submitted dissertation thesis is a piece of original scientific research.

Dissertation demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in sociology.

The thesis must have a clear structure and it must be logically consistent (it should have the form of a monograph rather than of a research report). Dissertation research and thesis needs to broaden and thus shift the existing knowledge in the given field, it should advance the development of sociological theory.

Standard range of the study is given between 42 000- 51 000 words or 316 000–386 000 characters, spaces included (approx. 180-220 standard pages ). While quality, coherence and content take priority, it is strongly recommended that this length range be respected.

Thesis can be submitted in English language.

Dissertation thesis needs to include original and published (at the time of defence) research results (see the article 31 of the MU Study and Examination Regulations).