Political Science and Sociology
Attività ricerca
The PhD programme in Political Science and Sociology features a multidisciplinary profile and a methodologically pluralist approach. The program is taught entirely in English and is highly internationalized, both in terms of the student body and the faculty's expertise. It combines structured coursework with attentive supervision of research projects. The duration of the programme and its associated scholarships is four years.
Following European best practices in the field, the programme closely integrates theoretical and empirical work, with a keen focus on historical, institutional, and cultural specificities.
The main research areas are listed below: Democracy and Social Movements: This area examines social movements, civil society, participatory democracy, political violence, and new media through both political science and sociological lenses.
International Political Economy: This pillar focuses on the transformations of capitalism, specifically economic internationalization (globalization, European integration, global industries, finance, migration), changes in labor (digitization, industrial relations, new forms of conflict and inequality), and the governance of these processes through policies, institutions, and collective action at national, international, and subnational levels.
Comparative Politics, Gender and Politics, and Political Communication: Research interests in this area cover political institutions, parties, interest groups, civil society, and public opinion from comparative, gender-sensitive, and communication-focused perspectives. Particular attention is given to actors, democracy, and public policy, including the role of new media and emerging technologies.
Despite its recent establishment, the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences has already built a solid international reputation for academic excellence. In addition to standard coursework, the Faculty’s activities are enriched by numerous international conferences, research workshops, summer schools, and guest lectures.
Attività didattica
The programme consist of courses and seminars. Each year, PhD candidates submit a study plan to the PhD Faculty Board, outlining their teaching and research activities for the upcoming academic year.
During the first year students are required to attend and pass 5 compulsory and 2 elective courses, for a total amount of 7 courses, each one of 20 hours. From the second to the fourth year, PdD candidates are required to attend and pass 3 elective courses per year.
At the beginning of the first year, a supervisor is assigned to each PhD candidate. Throughout the four-year program, students are expected to participate in the seminars offered by the School and to undertake study and research periods at Italian or foreign institutions.
At the end of each academic year (except for the final one), students undergo an assessment interview to review the study and research activities carried out. This interview takes place before a committee appointed by the PhD Faculty Board. Successfully passing this evaluation is a requirement to maintain both the placement and the scholarship, and to be admitted to the following year.
For evaluation purposes, the candidate must submit a written report detailing Teaching and research activities completed and results achieved, Participation in seminars, conferences, and other scientific initiatives, any publications produced.
For admission to the final year, this report must also include a detailed description of the current progress of the research project.