The prime objective of a PhD in Social Sciences is to provide advanced education and training in the social sciences disciplines. Its aim is to provide training for students who intend to pursue professional careers as teachers and researchers.
Selected majors/areas of research for a PhD in Social Sciences include
Anthropology
Archaeology
Communications
Culture
Demography
Economics
History
Human Geography
International Development
International Relations
Linguistics
Media Studies
Philology
Political Science
Psychology
Social Work
Students in a social sciences doctoral program must pass a written and oral qualifying exam and then complete and formally defend a doctoral dissertation based on original research. In general, all social sciences PhD programs require that successful candidates for the degree demonstrate:
The ability to conduct independent research at a high level, leading to completion of a dissertation which is defended before a committee of scholars. Because examinations given as part of a PhD curriculum assess expert knowledge, they are created and evaluated by a committee of experts, each of whom holds a PhD degree
Proficiency in the tools necessary to carry out this research, including but not limited to computer skills, bibliographic competence, and reading of one or more foreign languages
Mastery of general and specific subject matter in the field of study before a committee of scholars
Part- and full-time study options, along with various delivery modes - residential programs, distance education programs and online programs - are also available. North American PhD programs in social sciences welcome foreign students. However, fluency in spoken and written English is critically important.
