From October 2008, UCC is offering a structured PhD in Social Science – the PhD (Social Science). For a full programme description, please see http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKH81/#d.en.58920

The PhD (Social Science) is a four year (full time) structured PhD aimed at graduates of sociology, social policy, applied social studies, government, politics, anthropology and cognate disciplines who wish to pursue research in the general areas of globalisation, policy analysis, civil society, the state, active citizenship and culture.

The aim of the programme is to produce highly skilled social researchers who can contribute to the development of society and the public sphere either as autonomous social research professionals, or as cutting edge academic social theorists, or as critically informed leaders in civil society, statutory or market organisations.

The PhD (Social Science) offers a modular programme that equips graduates with theoretical, policy analysis and applied research skills to doctoral level commensurate with highest international standards.

The programme is funded by the Irish Social Sciences Platform under PRTLI4, and is housed within UCC’s Institute for Social Science in the 21st Century, a PRTLI4 funded partner within ISSP.

The PhD (Social Science) supports students to avail of opportunities to attend specialist winter, spring and summer schools offered within Ireland and internationally. For example, in 2008/2009, students attended a Winter School in Advanced Research Methods in the University of Limerick. They also have the opportunity to attend the UCC Spring School in Theory and Philosophy for the Arts, Humanitites and Social Sciences offered by the UCC School of Philosophy and Sociology; as well as a Summer School in Political Anthropology in Florence, Italy organised by the International Political Anthropology Association (see www.ipa3.com ) - schools to which the PhD (Social Science) programme is a partner. Students may also take postgraduate modules from partner institutions within the graduate education programme of the Irish Social Sciences Platform.

The programme also facilitates students to take generic skills modules within the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Science’s Graduate School (under the auspices of Dr. David Ryan):

http://www.ucc.ie/en/graduatestudies/current/PostgraduateSkillsTraining/SkillsModulesintheCollegeofArtsCelticStudiesandSocialScience/

The programme

The PhD (Social Science) comprises three parts taken over a total of four years. Part I and Part II are taken over one year each respectively. Part III is taken over two years. Students undertake 60 credits of modular courses in year one; 30 credits in year two; with 270 credits accruing to their PhD thesis, which is developed throughout the programme with the support of the modular courses.

The programme’s pedagogical approach encompasses seminars, masterclasses and residential winter, spring and summer schools. This is to maximise opportunities for the exchange of ideas and expertise amongst students, faculty and international speakers; develop a supportive student cohort experience; and to be responsive to the strengths of an already skilled group of adult learners.