The Department of Sociology and Social Work is involved in the following research groups:
Childhood and society
Institutional Ethnography
Social studies didactics and educational research
Social welfare and welfare services
Sociological theory development and analysis
Admission requirements
The applicant must hold a master's degree or equivalent in social work, sociology, social studies or equivalent (sub-) disciplines. The degree must normally comprise a minimum of 90 ECTS credits in subjects related to the (sub-) disciplines mentioned above, of which 30 ECTS credits must be from the 4th or 5th year of study. Previous knowledge in social science methodology must be documented.
See also Supplementary regulations for the PhD degree at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Programme components
The PhD specialisation is organised to be completed in a three-year period. The first year is devoted to coursework and the beginning of the thesis work. The coursework component comprises a core course in professions and professional relations, courses in research methods and one or more elective specialisation courses related to the subject of the thesis.
The coursework is divided into two main areas, Theory of Science and Methodology and specialisation courses. In total, the coursework component consists of 30 ECTS credits, in addition the thesis comprises a total of 150 ECTS credits.
Methods and Philosophy of Science courses. A minimum of 15 ECTS credits are required in research methods and theory of science. The mandatory course ME-631 Researching Social Sciences: Philosophical and Methodological Foundations (10 ECTS credits) is offered to all candidates at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The purpose of the elective methodology courses is to provide PhD candidates with a solid methodological foundation for the thesis work.
ME-638 Advanced Methods in social science research on digitalization - given in cooperation with the research school DIGIT in collaboration with OsloMet.
Core courses, mandatory. SO-600 Professions and Professional Relations (5 ECTS credits). The course will provide the students with insights into changes and characteristics of the development within the field of professions. In light of societal changes, the course aims to investigate and discuss possible implications and challenges for professional work and relations. The focus is on historical and contextual factors which affect professional understanding and practice. The course will have a broad, research-based approach and include professional-sociological perspectives, philosophical analyses and phenomenological studies of people and relations.
The course is typically offered biannually as a combination of seminar-based instruction on campus with paper and PhD-student presentations.
Specialisation courses, electives.
SO-601 Reflective Processes in Professional Practice (5 ECTS). The course is given in collaboration with the University of Stavanger.
The French Tradition: From Durkheim to Deleuze (5 ECTS).
Elective courses are subject to approval from supervisor and the PhD committee. Specialisation coursework is provided both internally and in collaboration with other PhD programmes at UiA as well as PhD-networks nationally and internationally. When relevant, it will be possible to arrange independent readings courses for individual candidates in specialised areas of interest and competence. Course completion will require writing a scientific paper.
The coursework component will normally be completed in the first 2-3 semesters of the PhD programme. In addition to courses offered at UiA one may choose courses from other institutions subject to approval from supervisors and the PhD committee.
If applicable, the candidates are encouraged to apply for admission to a research school including PROFRES or others and find relevant courses with these.
Read more on the active research schools
Thesis
The thesis project will be initiated in parallel with the coursework, guided by the appointed supervisor(s). Thesis seminars will be organised to support the candidates in developing their thesis work and will give the opportunity to present and discuss with other PhD candidates and faculty. The thesis may be a monograph or article-based. An article-based thesis should include a minimum of three articles meeting the standards for publishing in peer review journals, plus an introductory binding text ('kappe') that presents and brings together the various parts of the thesis. This text is expected to discuss issues related to theory, methods or research ethics that are not discussed in-depth in the articles. Co-authorships and book chapters will normally indicate more than three units (articles etc.), and at least one article should be sole authored.
Contact persons for the specialisation
- amanda.machin@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 15 50
- cecilie.mawdsley@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 23 82