PhD in Sociology - Economy and Society in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The Sociology Graduate Field accepts approximately 6-7 PhD candidates annually, maintaining a total enrollment of around 40 students. These graduate students receive guidance from over 30 distinguished sociology faculty members across Cornell University, many of whom hold primary appointments in the Sociology Department. Candidates may seek mentorship from any faculty member within the Graduate Field. Prospective students should examine faculty research specialties and consider contacting relevant professors, though admission decisions are made holistically rather than for specific faculty collaborations.

During their initial year, sociology doctoral students complete core theory and methodology courses before selecting two specialization areas from the options provided. These concentrations allow students to build expertise, choosing either two major focus areas or one major and one minor area.

Following first-year coursework, students undertake two concentration exams and develop a Qualifying Paper - an original research article suitable for journal submission. Successful completion leads to Doctoral Candidacy, typically achieved by the third year. The subsequent phases include developing a dissertation proposal, conducting dissertation research, and defending the final work.

Economic sociology at Cornell examines markets, firms, property systems, and labor through sociological frameworks. While acknowledging economic theories of rationality, this approach emphasizes social relationships and institutional contexts. Faculty research explores capitalism's evolution, trust in economic systems, classical sociological foundations, legal-economic interactions, entrepreneurial studies, and labor market structures.