PhD in Sociology - Demography in College Park United States | University of Maryland, College Park

The Sociology Graduate Program primarily prepares students for a Ph.D., though it also offers an M.A. option for those pursuing a master's alongside doctoral studies or leaving before completing their PhD. The curriculum focuses on four specialized fields: Demography, Political Sociology, Social Psychology, and Social Inequality & Mobility. Approximately 50% of our Ph.D. graduates secure faculty positions at academic institutions, while the other half enter research, administrative, or consulting roles in government agencies or private organizations. Being situated in the Washington, D.C. region provides exceptional research career prospects for our alumni.

Demography, the science of population studies, has long been a cornerstone of our Sociology Department. This specialization emphasizes social demography—examining how societal influences shape population trends—while maintaining foundational training in core demographic components: birth rates, migration patterns, and mortality. Our research explores the reasons behind reproductive choices, migration timing, and lifespan variations, along with their societal impacts. We also investigate connections between demographic shifts and family structures (like marriage and divorce rates) and workforce participation. A key focus involves analyzing population disparities across gender, ethnic, and racial groups, with research spanning both U.S. and international contexts, including developing nations.