PhD in Sociology- Migration in East Lansing United States | Michigan State University

Over 215 million individuals (3% of the global population) reside outside their birth countries, with projections suggesting this figure will double by 2050. Nearly 1 billion people (13% of the world's population) have crossed administrative borders at least once. Migration facilitates the exchange of ideologies, identities, religious beliefs, political views, and various social, economic, and cultural characteristics. The MSU Department of Sociology serves as a leading hub for research, education, and community engagement on migration, transnationalism, and diaspora studies. Faculty members at MSU's Sociology Department rigorously analyze both the drivers of human mobility and the diverse populations involved, along with their effects on origin and destination communities. MSU migration experts employ diverse sociological approaches, including visual sociology, cultural studies, historical examination, ethnographic research, demographic analysis, and survey studies. Their migration research has received funding from organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the Social Science Research Council, with findings featured in domestic and international news outlets.
The sociology PhD program provides comprehensive training in sociological theory and methods while allowing specialization in key disciplinary areas. Although no language proficiency is mandatory, students may pursue foreign language study when relevant to their research focus and professional growth, as determined in consultation with their advisory committee.