PhD in Sociology - Social Movements and the State in College Park United States | University of Maryland, College Park

The Sociology Graduate Program is tailored for those pursuing a Ph.D., though students can also earn an M.A. either while progressing toward their doctorate or by exiting the program early. The curriculum focuses on four specialized fields: Demography, Political Sociology, Social Psychology, and Social Inequality & Mobility. Roughly half of our Ph.D. graduates secure faculty positions at academic institutions, while the other half pursue careers in research, administration, or consulting within government agencies or private organizations. Being situated in the Washington, D.C. region provides exceptional research opportunities for our alumni.

At the University of Maryland, the Social Movements and the State specialization leverages faculty strengths in collective action, activism, and political processes. This area explores themes like civic participation, policy networks, political economy, and global social movements, bridging departmental research with interdisciplinary collaborations across campus. Faculty expertise extends to Development and Social Stratification, Environmental Sociology, Military Sociology, Race and Ethnicity, Social Demography, and Social Psychology.