Sociology

Guarantee

Prof. Ing. Ondřej Císař, Ph.D.

Program description:

The doctoral program in Sociology at FSV UK prepares students for a career in both basic and applied research at a university, a scientific or research institute, or any other institution whose work requires a high degree of theoretical and methodological education in sociology or related fields. The PhD program in Sociology at FSV UK is open to anyone who has completed a master's degree (or equivalent). It provides students with postgraduate education and research training at both the Faculty of Social Sciences and at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and students are thereby exposed to a wide range of research topics and given real opportunities to directly participate in the work of research teams. In this respect, the program is the result of the synergy of two major sociological centers. The core of the degree program rests on the theoretically relevant research that defines basic research in the social sciences. Research projects are thus informed by contemporary debates in the field of sociology and seek to make significant contributions to them. In line with the current understanding of the role of the social sciences, emphasis is also placed on the social relevance of the projects being developed (see more in Graduate Employment Information below).

*** Please note that these conditions are not yet in force for 2024/2025 and are in the process of being approved. ***

The admissions process and evaluation criteria:

Applications must be received no later than 30 April 2024 and must be submitted either electronically via the Study Information System or by post to the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Smetanovo nábřeží 6, 110 01 Prague 1.

The admissions process has two rounds: In the first round, the committee will assess the application and the candidate's dissertation project, and based on this assessment will decide whether the applicant will be invited to the second round, which takes the form of an oral examination (a discussion of the applicant’s dissertation project and professional focus).

Applicants will be informed of the results of the first round of the admissions process by 17 May 2024. Only those applicants whose dissertation projects achieve a score of 30 or more out of a possible 50 points will be invited to the oral examination, which will take place between 10 and 19 June 2024.

The student’s application will be evaluated primarily on the basis of a written research project submitted by the student outlining the planned doctoral dissertation. The proposal should at the very least include the following:

• a substantive definition of the dissertation topic and a specification of the research objective,
• the expected results and contribution of the research,
• the current state of knowledge (contextualization of the project in the literature),
• how the research objective will be analytically addressed (methodological design),
• the link to the research priorities of the institute and its staff,
• the expected timetable for the project,
• a list of references used,
• a summary (approximately 300-400 words).

As part of the application, the applicant shall include a list of scholarly writings prepared or published, data on participation in sociological research, and other data that can be used to assess the applicant's readiness for the program. If invited to an interview, the applicant will also submit their master’s thesis for the committee's review.

Criteria for the assessment of the admissions test:

https://fsv.cuni.cz/en/admissions/phd-programmes/sociology

Information on graduate employment:

Graduates of the doctoral study program are qualified to perform and teach basic and applied scientific research at a university or research institute or in other areas that require a high degree of theoretical and methodological training in sociology. As professionals, they are able to recognize, research, and analyze social problems in our society, to observe them in their development, and to compare them with other societies. Graduates possess the requisite theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills and are able to apply theoretical guidelines to interpret information, categorize this information, analyze it using standard methods, and present the results in accordance with the questions asked and the requirements of their workplace. In this respect, they are able to respond to the demands not only of an academic environment, but also of any organization that requires people with the ability to analyze and present analytical results in a coherent way. Graduates are capable of critical reflection and looking beyond the obvious. This enables them to not only respond to a given assignment – for example, from corporate clients – but also to think "outside the box" and ask new questions. They are able to contribute to teamwork and publish research results with their target group in mind. They have the skills to prepare scientific papers that fulfil the structural requirements of such work, but are equally able to adapt a report to the requirements of a government agency, the non-profit sector, or a commercial company.