PhD in Sociology - Health and Aging in Tallahassee United States | Florida State University

The Sociology Department provides advanced degree programs culminating in either a Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Our core mission is to equip graduate students with the skills to become scholars capable of producing groundbreaking research, while offering foundational training that supports both independent and team-based research aligned with each student's career aspirations. Alumni frequently obtain positions as university faculty at research institutions and liberal arts colleges, or as research specialists in government and non-profit organizations. The Applied Social Research MS and Sociology MS with an Aging and Health specialization can be finished within one year when starting in Fall. Degree specifications and program policies are detailed in the regularly updated Sociology Graduate Studies Guide.
Our Health and Aging specialization covers topics including medical sociology, elder care, sexual wellness, positive aging, lifespan health patterns, health disparities, stress and psychological wellbeing, gender-specific mental health, family dynamics, reproductive health, population health studies, community health influences, and public health analytics. Eight distinguished faculty members—Barrett, Burdette, Carr, McFarland, J. Taylor, M. Taylor, Ueno, and Waggoner—contribute to this focus area. Their published work examines self-perceived aging, gender-related depression patterns, infant health outcomes, chronic illnesses, disability trajectories, intersectional health determinants, community and faith-based health factors, educational impacts on lifelong wellness, veteran health issues, and sociocultural influences on genetic research, allergy prevalence, and maternal care.