Academic Director: prof. Agnese Vitali
Deputy-Director: prof.Chiara Bassetti

Duration: 3 years
Official languages: English

Educational aims

The PhD in Sociology and Social Research, offered by the Department of Sociology and Social Research of the University of Trento, aims at educating highly qualified researchers 
who will be able to apply their knowledge and skills in an interdisciplinary fashion, by conducting social research at universities, research centers and beyond.

Besides providing a solid foundation in the discipline, including a broad range of advanced quantitative, qualitative, and computational research methods, the Programme places a strong emphasis on theoretically-driven empirical sociology. The curriculum comprises a set of common mandatory courses in the first year, plus a series of specialized courses and elective seminars in the second year. Topics covered include classical and contemporary sociological theories, research design, advanced research methods, research ethics as well as substantive issues. Students are encouraged to engage with the varied set of theories, approaches, and methodologies available within the social sciences. The program also offers courses on academic writing and classes where doctoral students are instructed to use software tools for quantitative, qualitative, computational and/or network analysis.  The Programme also offers courses on academic writing as well as classes where doctoral students are instructed to use software tools for quantitative, qualitative, computational and/or network analysis.

The PhD program provides students with a dynamic research environment and significant opportunities for skill and career development including courses featuring international visiting scholars. Doctoral students are also encouraged to participate in conferences, workshops, summer/winter schools and to spend a minimum of 3 months conducting research abroad, a practice actively encouraged and financially supported. 

Research subjects

• Analysis of social change
• Analysis of social networks
• Analysis of migratory processes
• Analysis of collective actions
• Change in value systems
• Demography
• Computational sociology
• Cultural sociology
• Sociology of communication and interaction studies
• Sociology of the family
• Gender studies
• Economic sociology and labor market studies
• Organizational and workplace environment studies
• Social stratification and inequality studies
• Political and electoral studies
• Welfare and social policy studies

Scientific Areas

SPS/07 - Sociology and Social Research
SPS/08 - Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
SPS/12 - Legal Sociology, Deviance, and Social Change
SPS/04 - Contemporary History
SECS-S/04 - Demography
SECS-S/04 - History of Philosophy
M-STO/02 - Modern History
M-STO/05 - Medieval History
SPS/09 - Geography
SECS-P/02 - General and Social Pedagogy
ING-INF/05 - Computer Science
M-DEA/01 - Design and Analysis of Architecture