Development Sociology Ph.D. (Ithaca)

Field of Study

Development Studies

Program Description

The Ph.D. program emphasizes community, regional, and state organizations, as well as the world system and development processes in these contexts. The program offers preparation for research, for the application of sociology in public-service work, for development work in the United States and other countries, and for college teaching in sociology, rural sociology, and related fields.

For the Ph.D. degree, students are expected to demonstrate (1) a thorough knowledge of social theory, with special emphasis on theories in their major concentration, (2) knowledge of previous and current research pertinent to the concentration, and (3) knowledge of multiple research methods, with special emphasis on research design, data collection, and analytical techniques relevant to study in the concentration.

Students are admitted into the M.S./Ph.D. program, unless they have submitted a previous Master's thesis for approval by the department. Although the field awards an M.S. degree, it is expected that students earning the M.S. degree will pursue the Ph.D. degree. The M.S. degree offer a thesis or a papers-based option.

Research and study opportunities
Faculty in the field rely on a wide range of domestic and international funding to support research and graduate students. Some field members use New York State Agricultural Experiment Station funding to support studies of sustainable agricultural practices; small-town growth and decline; employment trends in non-metropolitan areas; the social organization of agriculture; multi-county and regional development; environmental problems; and the social impact of advanced agricultural techniques.

Research abroad includes studies of small-farmer agriculture in the context of globalization, processes of village and regional development, political ecology, and social demography. Students and faculty members are actively conducting research in South America, Latin America, China, Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Many of these studies deal with the relationship of agricultural production to social organization, the conditions of growth (and marginalization) for communities and regions, and the relation of demographic trends to all of those.

Members of the field also participate in International Agriculture programs, in the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and in the area studies programs for Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Several of those programs have supported dissertation research overseas. The department is also home to the Polson Institute for Global Development, which funds assorted working group research initiatives in the U.S. and abroad.

Although most doctoral dissertations are based on field-collected data, the field and the university have rich secondary-data resources for the study of New York State and the United States, located in the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research (CISER) and the various libraries on campus.

Contact Information

Mann Library B61
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY  14853

Concentrations by Subject

• development sociology (minor)
• methods of social research (minor)
• population and development
• rural and environmental sociology
• state, economy, and society

Tuition

$20,800

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadlines:

Fall, Jan. 1; no spring admission

Requirements Summary:

• all Graduate School Requirements, including the TOEFL Exam or IELTS Academic Exam for non-native English applicants
• three recommendations
• GRE general test (Optional for 2021-2022 admissions cycle)

Completion of a master's degree in sociology or a closely related field at an institution of recognized standing is prerequisite to acceptance in the Ph.D. program.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the field of Development Sociology engage in theoretical and applied research, teaching, and outreach on the causes, dynamics, and consequences of social, cultural, political and economic change.
The program offers preparation for academic careers in Sociology, Rural Sociology, and related fields, and for careers in applied Sociology, including development work in the United States and other countries.
For the Ph.D. degree, students are expected to demonstrate (1) a thorough knowledge of social theory, with special emphasis on theories in their academic concentrations, (2) comprehensive knowledge of the body of work that is pertinent to their concentrations, and (3) knowledge of multiple research methods, with special emphasis on research design, data collection, and analytical techniques used in the discipline.

Research and study opportunities

Faculty in the field rely on a wide range of domestic and international funding to support research and graduate students. Some field members use New York State Agricultural Experiment Station funding to support studies of sustainable agricultural practices; small-town growth and decline; employment trends in non-metropolitan areas; the social organization of agriculture; multi-county and regional development; environmental problems; and the social impact of advanced agricultural techniques.

Research abroad includes studies of small-farmer agriculture in the context of globalization, processes of village and regional development, political ecology, and social demography. Students and faculty members are actively conducting research in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Many of these studies deal with the relationship of agricultural production to social organization, the conditions of growth (and marginalization) for communities and regions, and the importance of demographic processes in influencing and responding to economic opportunities and constraints.

Members of the field also participate in International Agriculture programs, in the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and in the area studies programs for Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Several of those programs have supported graduate students' research overseas. The department is also home to the Polson Institute for Global Development, which funds assorted working group research initiatives in the U.S. and abroad.

Although most doctoral dissertations are based on field-collected data, rich secondary-data resources are also available for the study of New York State and the United States, as well as a large number of other countries in the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research (CISER) and the various libraries on campus.
 
Learning Goals

By the time you graduate from our program, you should be able to analyze the world as a sociologist. This means that you will be able to synthesize sociological knowledge and apply it to today’s problems. You should be able to think independently and generate research that makes a substantial contribution to the field.  We offer courses that foster foundational skills in both theory and method, and we provide courses that teach specialized skills in sub-areas that are central to Development Sociology.  You should be able to use what you learn here to enter a career in academia, in the public or private sector, or in development practice.

Students in our field must be able to convey the results of their research in writing and through their spoken abilities. You will be given ample opportunity to prepare your research for presentation in coursework and eventually at conferences. It will be important to organize material for a clear and concise presentation and to adhere to time guidelines. When you are ready to present your work at professional meetings, we will encourage an in-house public presentation first, so that you can receive constructive feedback on the substance or your work and your presentation style.

It is critical that Sociologists be aware of and able to adhere to ethical guidelines regarding the conduct and dissemination of their research, whether the research is an individual project or a collaborative one. Students in our program must take part in Institutional Review Board (IRB) training and any research involving human subjects must receive IRB approval before it is begun.
 
Proficiencies

A candidate for a Ph.D. in Development Sociology is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in theory and method and to be able to make original and significant contributions to the field upon completion of her/his degree. 

Proficiencies that are required to be demonstrated by the candidate:

Make an original and substantial contribution to the discipline through the following:

• Demonstrate your understanding of the field of knowledge in our discipline
• Be able to identify new research opportunities 
• Be able to identify an important research question
• Think critically and creatively
• Synthesize knowledge and apply in important innovative research 

Acquire and communicate advanced research skills

• Synthesize existing knowledge
• Master existing quantitative and qualitative research methods 
• Master oral and written communication skills for conveying information clearly and effectively

A commitment to advancing scholarship

• Gain and maintain familiarity with core knowledge and advances in the field