PhD in Sociology - Race and Class Inequality in Riverside United States | University of California, Riverside

The Sociology Department at UC Riverside provides a focused program in Race and Class Inequality studies. This concentration explores how racial and socioeconomic disparities impact social structures, economic systems, political landscapes, and public health across local and international contexts. Participants analyze systemic disparities through the lenses of both socioeconomic status and racial identity, investigating theories of oppression while examining how racial concepts develop and influence societies. The curriculum covers racial dynamics, systemic discrimination patterns, and their wide-ranging effects on communities and global relations. Methodologically, the program incorporates diverse analytical techniques and theoretical perspectives. Students are actively supported in pursuing independent research projects under faculty guidance, with emphasis placed on innovative thinking and rigorous scholarship.
This interdisciplinary focus bridges two fundamental sociological dimensions. The systemic organization of societies along racial and economic divisions - and the resulting barriers to equity - influences nearly every facet of sociological inquiry and related social sciences.

The Race and Class specialization intersects with multiple Sociology concentrations including Social Theory, Institutional Analysis, Gender Research, Criminology, and Political Economy - all of which engage with inequality issues. Campus-wide collaborations extend to Ethnic Studies, Gender Research, Historical Analysis, Political Science, and other disciplines. The program maintains affiliations with research centers like UC Mexus and the Center for Study of the Americas, while also connecting with UC system initiatives including the Pacific Rim program and labor research institutes.