Sociology

The substantive focus of the PhD program is the organization and development of contemporary societies, both in a comparative context and with particular reference to Canadian society. The breadth of offerings within each field of specialization makes it possible for doctoral students to pursue research on a wide range of specific topics.

The Department offers a collaborative PhD, with a specialization in Political Economy. Six units in the university participate in this collaborative program: Canadian Studies, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Policy and Administration, Sociology and Anthropology. A collaborative specialization in African Studies is also available.

Capital Advantage

As home to many governmental and non-governmental institutions, Ottawa provides exceptional institutional resources upon which our students can draw in their research and learning. The nation’s capital also houses a variety of library, archival and museum collections that provide unique opportunities for those interested in the anthropological study of material culture, art, ethnohistory and historical texts.

Fields of Specialization

• Applied Social Research
• Cultural Studies
• Stratification and Power
• Theory and Methodology

Faculty Research Highlights

• Aaron Doyle – critical criminology; risk, insurance and security; surveillance
• Neil Gerlach – social theory; cultural studies; biosecurity
• Justin Paulson – Marxian critical theory; social movements; political economy
• Daiva Staisulis – citizenship studies; migration; transnationalism