Doctorate in Sociology
Presentation
The doctoral program in sociology, with substantial support from two major Sciences Po laboratories (the Centre for the Sociology of Organizations and the Sociological Observatory of Change), and et The Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE), is designed to provide:
- the theoretical foundations and most recent developments in international sociological analysis;
- opportunities to specialize in fields of sociology: public policy, consumption, culture, education, employment, exclusion, markets, risks and health, segregation, stratification, social uses of time, cities, etc.;
- deep, high-level quantitative and qualitative methodological work based on fieldwork and data, with the support of leading experts;
- an international and comparative scope of training;
- tailored support at the research centers from a strongly committed and internationally recognized academic team.
Objectives
The doctoral program in sociology trains excellent sociologists for both academic and university careers, as well as careers as experts in major public and private organizations and NGOs.
Skills targeted
The program provides both theoretical and practical sociological research and analytical skills, as well as high-level expertise in various methodological tools.
Research centre support
The programme draws on support from Sciences Po's two sociology research centres, which host PhD students:
- Centre for the Sociology of Organisations (CSO): the centre is key to the French school of sociology of organisations, developing creative thought on private, public, market and non-market regulations from research on organisations, markets and occupational groups. The centre was founded by Michel Crozier and is headed by Christine Musselin, research director at CNRS.
- Observatory for Social Change (OSC): researchers here study transformations in contemporary societies, such as social stratification, intergenerational relations, migrations, the spatial dimension of inequalities, lifestyles, socialisation and deviance, and educational policies and dynamics. The centre was founded by Henri Mendras and is headed by Alain Chenu, Professor at Sciences Po.
PhD students interested in political sociology or public policies can also join the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE), a Sciences Po research centre that uses a multidisciplinary approach to explore political issues such as European integration and the relationships between policy and politics. The centre is headed by Renaud Dehousse, Professor at Sciences Po.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The PhD in sociology is open to students from Sciences Po Masters in Sociology as other students with a master's level degree (for more details, see admission conditions).
The three thesis years
During the next three years PhD students are mentored and included in the research centres, where they take part in the research, and participate in three seminars:
- "Current trends in sociology research" provides a thematic overview of contemporary sociology research with prominent contemporary authors;
- a specialty seminar organised by the research centre allows students to regularly present work;
- workshops on advanced methods.
Thesis writing takes place at the research centres or international partner universities. Partners include the Max Planck Institute Cologne, the Stockholm Centre for Organizational Research, Northwestern University (Chicago), Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, and Oxford.
Beyond these partnerships, students may seek invitations from renowned institutions at foreign universities in Europe, North America (Harvard, Columbia, etc.), Brazil (IUPERJ: Instituto Universitário de Pesquisas do Rio de Janeiro), China (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing), etc.
Students may also earn a dual PhD with the International Max Planck Research School.
The PhD in sociology is awarded after completing these three years.
Teaching staff
The teaching staff made up of internationally recognized sociologists. While teaching benefits from outside Sciences Po, the core of the teaching team comes primarily from Sciences Po research centers.
- Martin Aranguren, Chargé de recherche CNRS (OSC)
- Jérôme Aust, chargé de recherche FNSP (CSO)
- Carlo Barone, professeur des universités, IEP de Paris (OSC)
- Philippe Bezes, chargé de recherche CNRS (CERSA)
- Daniel Benamouzig, chargé de recherche au CNRS (CSO)
- Henri Bergeron, chargé de recherche au CNRS (CSO)
- Emilie Biland-Curinier, professeure des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Olivier Borraz, directeur de recherche au CNRS (CSO), Directeur du CSO
- Dominique Boullier, professeur des universités en sociologie à Sciences Po (medialab)
- Philipp Brandt, Associate professor en sociologie (CSO)
- Sylvain Brunier, Chargé de recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Patrick Castel, chargé de recherche FNSP (CSO)
- Alain Chenu, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (OSC)
- Marie-Emmanuelle Chessel, Chargé de recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Philippe Coulangeon, directeur de recherche au CNRS (OSC)
- Renaud Crespin, chargé de recherche CNRS (CSO)
- François Dedieu, chargé de recherche à l'INRA (CSO)
- Didier Demazière, directeur de recherche au CNRS (CSO)
- Marie-Laure Djelic, professeure des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO), co-directrice de l'Ecole du management et de l'innovation de Sciences Po
- Marta Dominguez, Associate professor en sociologie (OSC)
- Sophie Dubuisson-Quellier, directeur de recherche au CNRS (CSO)
- Emanuele Ferragina, Asssitant professor, Sciences Po (OSC)
- Pierre François, directeur de recherche au CNRS (CSO), doyen de l'École doctorale de Sciences Po
- Erhard Friedberg, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Martin Giraudeau, Asssitant professor, Sciences Po (CSO)
- Olivier Godechot, co-directeur du MaxPo et directeur de recherche CNRS (OSC)
- Léonie Henaut, chargée de recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Sukriti Issar, Associate professor en sociologie (OSC)
- Jean-Noël Jouzel, chargé de recherche au CNRS (CSO)
- Hugues Lagrange, directeur de recherche au CNRS (OSC)
- Bruno Latour, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris
- Jeanne Lazarus, chargée de Recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Emmanuel Lazega, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Patrick Le Galés, directeur de recherche au CNRS (CEE), doyen de l'École urbaine
- Claire Lemercier, directrice de recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Vincent Lepinay, associate professor dans le département de sociologie et chercheur au médialab.
- Laurent Lesnard, chargé de recherche au CNRS (OSC)
- Emmanuelle Marchal, directrice de recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Christine Musselin, directeur de recherche au CNRS (CSO)
- Etienne Nouguez, chargé de Recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Marco Oberti, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (OSC)
- Sylvain Parasie, professeur de sociologie à Sciences Po, medialab
- Jérôme Pélisse, professeur des universités, IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Olivier Pilmis, chargé de Recherche CNRS (CSO)
- Edmond Préteceille, directeur de recherche au CNRS (OSC)
- Ettore Recchi, professeur des universités en sociologie, Observatoire Sociologique du Changement (OSC), directeur des étudesdoctorales en sociologie
- Anne Revillard, Associate professor, Sciences Po (OSC)
- Gwenaële Rot, professeur des Universités à Sciences Po (CSO)
- Sean Safford, professeur à Sciences Po (CSO)
- Mirna Safi, Associate professor (OSC), directrice de l'OSC
- Yannick Savina, ingénieur d'études statisticien CNRS (OSC)
- Jen Schradie, Assistant Professor at Sciences Po (OSC)
- Denis Segrestin, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Jean-Noël Senne (EN), Research Fellow - Research Institute for Development (IRD)
- Michael Storper, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Pierre-Eric Tixier, professeur des Universités à l'IEP de Paris (CSO)
- Agnès Van Zanten, directeur de recherche au CNRS (OSC)
Admission to a PhD
Tuition fees
Des aides à la mobilité sont proposées aux doctorants pour participer à des colloques et pour effectuer des travaux de terrain et des séjours d'études à l'étranger.
See Tuition Fees
PhD Students
- Consult the list of CSO doctoral students
- Consult the list of OSC doctoral students
- Consult the list of CEE doctoral students
- Consult the list of Medialab students
- Consult the list of CERI students
Contacts and students reception
Head of doctoral studies in Sociology: Ettore Recchi, Full Professor at Sciences Po
Responsable administrative : Carine BOUTILLIER
- E-mail : carine.boutillier@sciencespo.fr
- Tél. : +33 (0)1 45 49 59 82
- Fax : +33 (0)1 42 22 40 26
Accueil des étudiants : Ecole Doctorale de Sciences Po - 199, boulevard Saint-Germain - 75007 Paris (3ème étage) - Bureau 324 - Du lundi au jeudi de 9h30 à 11h30 et de 14h30 à 16h30 - le vendredi de 9h30 à 12h30