PhD Programme in Sociology

Name of Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences

Name of the Doctoral College

The Doctoral College of Sociology

Scientific discipline

Sociological Sciences

1.

Form of the recruitment procedure.

Qualifying examination

1) an evaluation of the research project
2) an oral examination
3) an assessment of scientific and teaching activity prior to commencement of training at the Doctoral School

2.

Content of the qualifying examination

List of issues for the exam:

·     Basic concepts of sociology.
·     Society in macro and microstructural view.
·     Sociological theories: basic assumptions and theorems.
·     Basic problems of detailed sociologies.
·     Contemporary theories of social change.
·     Sociological approaches to globalization.
·     Culture and identity.
·     Conceptualization and design of social research.
·     Key debates in contemporary social research methodology.
·     Quantitative and qualitative approaches to data analysis in sociology.

3.

Recommended literature

·        Babbie Earl (2017, 7th edition or earlier) The Basics of Social Research, Boston: Cengage Learning.
·        Berger, Peter (2011) Invitation to Sociology. A Humanistic Perspective, Open Road Media.
·        Cresswell, John (2019) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, London: Sage.
·        Denzin, Norman., Lincoln, Yvonna (2011) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 4th edition, London: Sage.
·        Giddens, Anthony, Sutton P. (2017 or earlier) Sociology, London: Polity Press.
·        Mills, C. Wright (2000) The Sociological Imagination, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
·        Ritzer, George, Stepinsky, Jeffrey (2018) Sociological theory (10th edition), London: Sage Publications.
·        Roberts, Kenneth (2009) Key concepts in sociology, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
·        Silverman David (2017, 5th edition or earlier) Doing Qualitative Research, Sage: London.
·        Turner, Johnatan H. (2002) The Structure of Sociological Theory. Wadsworth Publishing

4.

Assessment criteria

Specific assessment criteria

1) EVALUATION CRITERIA OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT:

·      formulation and justification of the research problem: the correctness of posing the problem in the context of ongoing debates in sociology, the significance of the issues addressed, the novelty of the proposed research (0-10 points)

·     conceptualisation of the research problem, including grounding in the theory in the field of sociology, the adopted conceptual apparatus (0-10 points)

·     literature review: the presentation of the state of knowledge and research, adequacy and timeliness of sources (0-5 points)

·     methodology: the adequacy of the research methods and techniques used, their use in the proposed research (0-10 points)

·     research plan: including a description of the research tasks and their purpose (assumed effects), together with the work schedule (0-10 points)

·     feasibility of the project: evaluation of the feasibility of the research and its impact on extending the frontiers of existing knowledge (0-5 points)

TOTAL for the RESEARCH PROJECT: 0-50 points

2) ORAL EXAMINATION:

·     two questions on general knowledge of sociology according to the given list of topics;

·     a question on the research project presented, covering one of the following:

1)   the methodology of the proposed research,

2)   research problem, including its justification, topicality, importance for the development of the discipline, connections of specific questions and hypotheses,

3)   the topic/area of research undertaken, including e.g. the state of theory, literature on the subject, research conducted.

Each question is graded on a scale of: 0-10 points

TOTAL FOR THE EXAMINATION: 0-30 points.

3) SCIENTIFIC AND TEACHING ACTIVITY

Evaluation on the basis of submitted documents, including:

·     reviewed scientific publications, with particular emphasis on publications indexed in SCOPUS and Web of Science databases,
·     participation with presentations in national and international scientific conferences,
·     participation in research projects,
·     activity for the popularization of science,
·     activity in student scientific circles, etc, 
·     teaching at a higher level,
·     other

TOTAL for SCIENTIFIC AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES: 0-20 points.

the minimum number of points required for a successful outcome of the recruitment procedure

60

5.

Language of the recruitment procedure

English language

6.

Required documents

1. an application with information on the planned topic of the doctoral dissertation and the name of the proposed supervisor;

2.  an application for admission to the School of Doctoral Studies printed from the IRK/IRC system, signed by the candidate, together with consent to the processing of personal data for the purposes of the admission procedure and possible training at the School;

3.  a photocopy of the diploma of completion of second-cycle studies or long-standing master’s studies or equivalent, together with the original to be presented for inspection in order to confirm its conformity by the university, or in the case of beneficiaries of the “Diamond Grant” programme - a photocopy of the diploma of completion of first degree studies (together with the original to be submitted for inspection in order to confirm conformity by the university) or a certificate from their Dean’s Office on completion of the third year of uniform master’s studies together with a certificate confirming the status of a Diamond Grant beneficiary. Diplomas obtained abroad require legalisation or an apostille;

4.  a written opinion of a scientific supervisor selected from among independent scientific workers of the Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Wrocław on the dissertation project together with a declaration of taking the candidate under scientific supervision;

5.  a preliminary project of research carried out for the purposes of the doctoral dissertation;

6.  certificate or certificate confirming the command of English language at B2 level or equivalent (FCE, TOEFL, IELTS 5.5-6.5, BEC Vantage and other equivalent international certificates); candidates for whom English was the language of instruction at the previous level of education or is the native language are exempt from the obligation to present a certificate;

7.  documents confirming previous scientific and didactic activity, including a list of publications (with copies), scientific conferences (with certificates of participation), as well as documents confirming research, didactic, student and popularization activity;

8.  a statement of a candidate for the Doctoral School at the University of Wrocław, including the information whether or not he/she has a doctoral degree, whether or not he/she is an academic teacher or researcher, whether or not he/she is a doctoral student at another doctoral school of the University of Wrocław or another doctoral school.

9.  a confirmation of payment of the enrolment fee.

Foreigners additionally submit:

1.    a translation into Polish of their diploma or other document entitling them to study at the Doctoral School. The translation must be certified by a Polish sworn translator entered in the list of sworn translators kept by the Ministry of Justice, a sworn translator from the EU (if there is a sworn translator institution in a given country), or a Polish consul;

2.    a photocopy of a document confirming legalization of residence with the original to be presented for inspection to confirm that it is a true copy of the original.

It is possible for a candidate to be admitted to the entrance examination without a photocopy of a document confirming the legalization of his/her stay and to submit it only in the case of a positive result of the entrance examination.

7.

Additional information

Education at the College is conducted in English. The documents indicated in point 6. should be submitted in Polish or English. The exception is the document in para. 6.3, which must be primarily translated into Polish.