Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/
The Ph.D. programme in sociology resonates with the larger envisioning of AUD, which seeks a dialogue between the ideal of equality, social justice and critical thinking. Through a doctoral degree in Sociology at AUD, a scholar will be able to map the social reality in its complexities, arriving at a research question with the help of the taught courses as well as guided readings to actually doing the research- engaging with the field. Recently, the understanding of multi-sited-ness of the field has evolved new methods of both choosing the field and engaging with/in the field. It has resulted in the transformation of the discipline from within. The doctoral programme at AUD intends to sensitize the scholars to these new explorations, changes and challenges. The PhD research scholars in sociology will benefit immensely from the inter-disciplinary focus of research and teaching that Ambedkar University encourages.
The PhD programme in sociology aims to produce research scholars, who are capable of creative and critical engagement with the contemporary world through their research, transforming the way one engages with and re-imagines the social. The faculty intends to create an environment for cutting edge research in social sciences, with a disciplinary focus in sociology with an inter and trans-disciplinary orientation. Our research students will be able to draw from the varied academic interests and specializations of the faculty, not only in the School of Liberal Studies but from across the university. In keeping with the inter and trans-disciplinary focus of the university, the students will be encouraged to take courses, do research/seminar papers and generally participate in the vibrant academic pursuits of the AUD campus.
Broad Tentative research Areas*
* This is a dynamic and indicative list contingent upon the availability of the faculty in the given area.
Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/
COURSE WORK
Candidates admitted in the PhD programmes are required to complete 16 credits of course work during a period of two semesters. In the first semester, two core courses of 4 credits each will be Theoretical Issues in Sociological Research and Methods and Techniques in Social Research. In the second semester, two 2 credit courses on Guided Reading and Workshop on Academic Writing will be transacted together with a 4 credit Elective course which the PhD scholar can choose from those offered by Sociology faculty SLS as well as outside of the Programme or School.
Participation in course work presumes a scholar’s residence in Delhi region during the officially recognised academic year/ sessions and the scholar’s regular attendance of classes and related academic activities.
Courses:
First Semester
1) Theoretical Issues in Sociological Research - 4 credits
2) Methods and Techniques of Social research - 4 credits
Second Semester
3) Guided reading course GRC - 2 credits
4) Workshop on Academic writing - 2 credits
5) Elective course - 4 Credits
Brief Description of course(s)
I. Theoretical Issues in Sociological Research (TISR)
Compulsory, 4 credits
This course builds on foundational/canonical theory courses, ordinarily transacted at the master’s degree programme that largely centres on individual thinkers and perspectives. The course, recognizing the need for a sound theoretical backdrop in higher research, aims to address some of the key epistemological issues in the Social Sciences and engage with them at a more discursive level. The debates surrounding recurrent themes such as binaries of objectivity-subjectivity, structure-agency, individual-social, positivism-subjectivism, etc. will form the core of this course. The objective of the course is to expose the scholars to various theoretical frameworks of social analysis that emerges through these debates.
The evaluation scheme will include writing seminar papers, Book reviews, individual or group presentations.
II. Methods and Techniques of Social Research (MTSR)
Compulsory, 4 credits
This course is visualized as a value addition to the craft and techniques of doing research that are taught in the master’s degree programme. It is intended to equip the scholars with requisite expertise in handling the toolkit of social sciences research and the challenges involved in executing the skill sets in a field situation. The course will cover both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, depending upon the specific requirements of the scholars’ research. This course will also discuss issues related to social science research ethics and protocols.
III. Guided Reading Course (GRC)
Compulsory, 2 credits
This course is a unique segment in the programme structure given that it is not going to be transacted in a regular class room setting in lecture mode. It aims to be a guided reading course, enabling the scholar to shape her/his proposal by exploring the literature available on that area. This course is visualized as a prelude to survey/review of literature as part of the scholar’s research. This will be conducted under an academic advisor* which will be assigned to each scholar at the time of joining in the first semester itself. The scholars will be expected to present their work which may be co-evaluated by at least one more faculty member other than the designated academic advisor. Participation in fortnightly seminars will be a critical space to facilitate the culture of peer review and interaction of faculties.
IV. Workshop on Academic Writing (WOAW)
Compulsory, 2 credits
Globally, Social sciences research, especially its presentation, has been following a set of standard conventions and format. WOAW attempts to familiarize the Ph.D. scholars to different aspects of academic writing and oral and written presentation styles, including the skill to decipher subtle nuances and the complexities of reading a text and analyzing it. The workshop format of the course transaction is intended to cater to this operational aspect of research.
V. Elective course (4 credits)
Depending on the usefulness and the individual research need, electives from Sociology SLS, other /Programmes/ schools at AUD may be taken in consultation with the Supervisor. Courses that are on offer in MPhil programmes in Development Studies, Women and Gender Studies, History, Development Practice may be on offer to Sociology doctoral scholars as their Elective course depending upon its availability and willingness of the course co-coordinators to include scholars from other disciplines over and above the specified number of students in the course.
* Academic Advisor may later become his/her supervisor
Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/
All research programmes are geared to promote research and train students with objective to be a good researcher. The outcome of all these programmes is to create a cadre of good scholars.
Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/Institute with 55% marks or an equivalent grade. A relaxation in marks of 5% or an equivalent relaxation of grade is allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non- creamy layer, Delhi)/ differently-abled categories (DOPT/UGC list) and the relaxation of 5% to the categories mentioned above are permissible based only on the qualifying marks without including the grace mark procedures.
Meeting the eligibility criteria alone will not ensure admission. It will be dependent on overall performance in research proposal, entrance test and interview.
APPLICATION
At the time of submitting the application form a Statement of Purpose as well as Research Proposal need to be submitted. The Statement of Purpose should include a well articulated argument as to why the candidate wishes to pursue research at AUD. The SOP should not exceed 500 words. The applicants are required to submit a written research proposal clearly delineating the tentative research theme/focus/area which the applicant proposes to study not exceeding 2500 words. There will be 25%weightage assigned to the research proposal. The research proposal document should give a background of the proposed research, its broad questions/ objectives and a brief description of the relevant conceptual frameworks. Each proposal will be put through plagiarism-check software and plagiarism, if found, will be a ground for summary disqualification of the application.
ENTRANCE TEST & INTERVIEW
Eligible candidates will be short listed for the written test. The written entrance test will be of 50% weightage. The examination will among other things test research methodological understanding of applicants. Only candidates qualifying in the written examination will be called for the interview. The interview shall be based on the courses that the candidate has done till the Master’s level, the statement of purpose and the research proposal submitted.
A provisional admission to the PhD programme will then be offered to the candidates on the basis of combined merit of the written entrance exam (50% weightage), research proposal (25% weightage) and interview (25% weightage).
SUPERVISORY ARRANGEMENT
A Supervisor from the Sociology Faculty of SLS shall be assigned to each PhD scholar. A Research Advisory Committee (RAC) consisting of at least three members including the Supervisor, co supervisor (if any) and one/ two more faculty members, of which at least, one should be outside of the school / University would be constituted for each PhD scholar before the end of the course work. The RAC will periodically review progress of the research work of the doctoral candidate and also make recommendations as may be required to ensure that the scholar completes all requirements of course work.
The research scholar shall appear before the RAC at least once in six months to make a presentation of the progress of his/her work for evaluation and further guidance. The 6-monthly progress report signed by all the members of RAC shall be submitted by the Supervisor to the Standing Committee Research (SCR) of the academic council through Research Studies Committee (RSC) of the school with a copy to the research scholar.
Co‐supervisory arrangements are possible with experts and scholars outside the School or even outside AUD on the conditions that they have recognised academic credentials, and the RSC of the School should be convinced that the involvement of the co-supervisor would significantly enhance the quality of the scholar’s research.
STIPEND: The stipend will be paid as per the existing AUD norms.
JOURNEY OF PHD CANDIDATE
The minimum period for completion of PhD, including coursework period is three years, and maximum is 5 years. More details regarding rules governing PhD programmes at AUD are available in the AUD REGULATIONS CONCERNING DEGREES OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.), 2017 and all scholars will be guided by the said regulations. Each scholar will be expected to provide a six monthly progress report throughout the duration of the PhD enrolment after successful completion of coursework within 12 months of enrolment. After completion of the course work, the scholar will be required to make a presentation and defend the research synopsis. The scholar will also have to make a pre- submission presentation to be arranged by SLS RSC. Finally, there will be a viva-voce examination in which the scholar will defend PhD thesis in the presence of AUD supervisor, co‐supervisor (if any), thesis examiner and other invited experts.
Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/
| COURSE CODE | NAME | NO. OF CREDITS |
| SLS3SC301 | Theoretical Issues in Sociological Research | 4 |
| SLS3SC304 | Workshop on Academic Writing | 2 |
| SLS3SC303 | Guided Reading Course (GRC) | 2 |
| SLS3SC302 | Methods and Techniques in Social Research | 4 |
Candidates seeking admission in PhD programme must have Masters degree from a recognised University/Institute with 55% marks or an equivalent grade. A relaxation in marks of 5% or an equivalent relaxation of grade is allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non- creamy layer, Delhi)/ differently-abled categories (DOPT/UGC list) and the relaxation of 5% to the categories mentioned above are permissible based only on the qualifying marks without including the grace mark procedures.
