Download DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAM APPROVAL
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL
Program Title: PhD in Applied Sociology
Check as Appropriate:
Graduate _X_ Undergraduate___
College/School:
UMass Boston College of Liberal Arts
Dean:
Donna Kuizenga, PhD
Department:
Sociology
Chair:
Russell K. Schutt, PhD
Submission Date:
January 30, 2011
Proposed Starting Date:
09/01/13 (depending on resource allocation for faculty,
office space, and research assistantships)
Degree to Be Awarded:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Russell K. Schutt, PhD, Chair, Department of Sociology
Donna Kuizenga, PhD, Dean, College of Liberal Arts
DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
DRAFT
I.)
Purpose and Need
The University of Massachusetts Boston’s Department of Sociology in the College of
Liberal Arts seeks to establish a PhD Program in Applied Sociology. In doing so, the
department will add to its current strengths, increase opportunities for external funding,
and support the university’s strategic plan to become a major research university by 2025.
In addition, a PhD program will improve the department’s ability to recruit faculty with
the strongest scholarly potential and graduate students who aspire to the highest levels of
professional accomplishment, as well as ensure the most supportive environment for both
research and instruction.
The Department of Sociology has the largest enrollments of any academic department at
UMass Boston, with more than 1,000 students in three majors—sociology, criminal
justice, and social psychology—and in our current two graduate programs (an MA in
Applied Sociology and a Graduate Certificate Program in Forensic Services). Our
growth to this size reflects both the sustained popularity of the subjects about which we
teach and our ability to respond to our changing social and academic environments. We
began our undergraduate major in Criminal Justice more than ten years ago in response to
increasing popular interest in this major and the rapid growth of related career
opportunities. We began our MA in Applied Sociology 25 years ago as the need for
graduate-level preparation in social science increased and the opportunities for
sociological research applied to current issues multiplied. More recently, we launched
our Forensic Services Graduate Certificate Program as government agencies recognized
the particular difficulties encountered by mentally ill persons within the criminal justice
system and sought assistance in understanding this problem and training professionals to
respond to it. We have managed our growth in each of these programs, as well as in our
majors in sociology and social psychology, by recruiting highly qualified faculty
members. Our proposed PhD program will build off our strengths in our MA program by
ensuring rich faculty lead seminars as well as applied internship opportunities for
students, maintaining supportive ties with other related academic departments and
employers in the Boston area.
Our proposed PhD program is designed to build on our department’s record of
accomplishment maintaining high standards in order to ensure our success. Once again,
our environment has changed in fundamental respects. The use of sociological research
in program design, implementation and evaluation has multiplied in the last 25 years.
The number and sophistication of research methods and sensitivity to the research quality
have increased many times. The complexity of the social world that sociologists study
has grown exponentially due to processes of globalization, immigration, diversification,
and crises at the sociopolitical, public health, economic and environmental levels. It is
abundantly clear that those who would help to solve the problems of tomorrow must
develop today a sophisticated understanding of the social world and a high level of
mastery of social research methods.
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
II.)
Alignment with Institution’s Mission
This proposal represents the sociology department’s response to our changing
environment and to UMass Boston’s overall Strategic Plan to extend our efforts in light
of these changes. Our PhD program will build on the substantive strengths of our faculty
in criminal justice, health and health services, and immigration; it will offer advanced
training in research methods and social theory; it will engage students in applied research
in the community and in interdisciplinary investigations of social issues. As it improves
in these ways our connections with and contributions to the larger community, it will also
enhance the support we provide to our current students and faculty. We will expand our
successful graduate seminar on teaching and prepare our advanced PhD students to teach
successfully undergraduate courses. Extending our extensive experience with our MA
students, we will engage PhD students in innovative research projects and as coauthors
on applied reports and scholarly articles. We will incorporate within our PhD program a
new Graduate Certificate Program in Survey Research, thus providing rigorous training
in the most widely used social science method and ensuring supportive relations with
UMass Boston’s highly regarded Center for Survey Research. Our doctoral degree
recipients will leave UMass Boston well prepared for successful careers in applied
settings as well as qualified for academic jobs if this becomes their focus. Their legacy
will include increasing the capacity and research opportunities of the department through
faculty research and scholarly productivity as well as teaching assistance that will support
our undergraduate program. Specifically, students undertaking doctoral study will
provide teaching assistance to large sections (TAs), teach their own seminars in a
mentored way (TAIIs), lead vertical research teams for student and class projects, and
advise undergraduates.
The University’s strategic goals through the year 2025 include increasing graduate
enrollments and offerings, particularly at the doctoral level, and increasing levels of
external funding and scholarly productivity. The sociology department is well situated to
contribute to achievement of these goals with an innovative doctoral program focused on
key urban institutions and social problems. Our existing MA program has a strong
research methods core, a social theory requirement, and substantive concentrations that
would need only to be expanded, rather than created de novo, in order to achieve an
innovative and attractive doctoral program focused on research about pressing social
problems. Current accomplishments of our faculty in the areas of external funding and
scholarship have been possible in part due to successful mentoring relationships with our
MA students; these relationships would grow in depth and duration with the addition of
doctoral students and so would support even greater success with grant proposals and
scholarly publications.
UMass Boston has also committed itself to global diversity in our student body and to
international connections in our scholarship. The Department of Sociology has already
distinguished itself in this respect, with seven of the current 17 tenured and tenure-track
faculty (41%) having significant international experience and engagement in scholarship
that is global in its scope. The international character of our faculty will ensure
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
introduction of diverse international perspectives into our PhD courses and research on
global issues by our faculty, as well as recruitment of a diverse international student
body.
III.)
Alignment with System’s Priorities
A.) Workforce needs
Our PhD in Applied Sociology will meet demonstrated workforce needs of the
nation and the Commonwealth, it will be relatively unique in the local area and in
the United States as a whole, and it will complement rather than compete with
existing doctoral programs at UMass Boston.
The American Sociological Association documented a 95% increase in advertised
openings in Sociological Practice positions between 2008-09 and 2009-10, even
as opportunities in the academic job market declined (Spalter-Roth, Jacobs,
Scelza 2010). Furthermore, sociology PhDs working in applied settings earn
more money and find greater satisfaction in their jobs than do doctoral graduates
in non-applied settings (Spalter-Roth et al, 2010). The National Academy of
Sciences and the National Science Foundation concluded that skills attributed to
applied sociology’s focus on methods including research, grant writing,
organizing information, interpreting and analyzing data, and writing reports are
marketable and necessary in today’s economy (Van Vooren, Spalter-Roth, Scelza
2009). In consequence, the NAS/NSF proposed that universities develop applied
sociology programs that have a strong disciplinary foundation accompanied by
internships and research experiences to prepare students for non-academic careers
in businesses, non profits and government agencies. This would be a central
feature of our Applied Sociology PhD program.
Prior to the start of the PhD program, we expect to launch a Graduate Certificate
Program in Survey Research in collaboration with UMass Boston’s Center for
Survey Research. Our certificate program proposal highlights the strong demand
for advanced training in survey research and courses in this program will become
part of the required and elective methods courses in our PhD program. We
anticipate that some of the survey research certificate students will become
applied sociology PhD students, and we know that potential PhD students
throughout the world will be attracted to our program because of the specialized
training and practical experience it will offer in survey research.
Accountability has become a concern of both state and national government
officials and agencies. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts now expects that
state-funded agencies and programs adopt evidence-based programs and collect
data to document their outcomes. Similar criteria have been mandated at the
federal level for social service, health care, criminal justice and educational
institutions. Advanced training in research and the substantive issues that social
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
programs address is required to develop the type of evaluations that these criteria
anticipate. Building on our successful record of training at the Master’s level, our
PhD program would provide such advanced training and so prepare our students
to assess needs, evaluate programs, advance their research oriented careers, and
analyze related social processes in a wide variety of settings.
Finally, there are very few PhD programs in Applied Sociology elsewhere in the
nation. Two new PhD programs with an applied focus are at Louisville and
Central Florida. Other programs with some special focus in Applied Sociology
are at Baylor, University of Maryland (in Gerontology), George Mason
University, and the University of Arizona. None of these programs has the set of
substantive concentrations that we will offer and the limited number of such
programs indicates that there would not be much competition for students with an
interest in applied programs in these areas.
B.) Contrast with other programs in the area
None of the sociology PhD programs in the Greater Boston area define
themselves as “applied” programs. Most are traditional PhD programs that train
students for positions in academic settings, including UMass Amherst, Boston
College and Boston University. Northeastern University’s PhD in Sociology has
very general areas of focus –globalization, urban sociology, gender, inequality,
and conflict and violence. None of these universities include a professional
survey research organization and thus none can offer the advanced training in
survey methods that we will provide to PhD students through our collaboration
with UMB’s Center for Survey Research and our new graduate certificate
program. Our program will emphasize training in applied research techniques,
the body of substantive knowledge and theoretical perspectives required to
understand social processes related to criminal justice, health and health services,
and immigration, and the application of research, through internship and applied
research experiences, to social problems in these substantive areas.
C.) Contrast with other programs at the university
Currently, the Department of Psychology has the only PhD programs in the
College of Liberal Arts. The Clinical Psychology PhD program trains clinical
psychologists, with a focus on the clinical needs of individuals and the theory and
methods required to understand and investigate these needs. Applied sociologists
use a wider range of methodologies, including survey and comparative research,
to address group and larger social processes, in addition to individual behavior
and attitudes. The new Developmental and Brain Sciences PhD program recently
approved by the Board of Trustees and awaiting Board of Higher Education
approval focuses on scholarship and research in neurosciences and human
development, neither of which overlap directly with the types of courses that our
PhD program will include. There will be opportunities for cross-listing advanced
statistics courses with both Psychology PhD programs and to some elective
opportunities with substantive courses in these programs. In the near future, a
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
PhD in Applied Linguistics and a MA in Applied Economics will begin in the
College. Here again, this provides opportunities for shared elective courses,
particularly in statistics and policy. We would also welcome their students in our
elective courses.
The McCormack Graduate School of Global and Policy Studies’ PhD in Public
Policy focuses on political economy and policy making. Substantive courses
focus on the generation and application of policy in diverse areas, but generally
lack a sociological analysis of the generation of problems or the social processes
that affect responses to public policies. There is some overlap in the types of
research and statistical skills taught in the program with what would be required
in doctoral level training in sociology and we expect that we would cross-list
some methods courses with the McCormack School. Nonetheless, the Public
Policy PhD is not primarily oriented to applied research and does not offer the
range of methods courses that will be available in our program. The McCormack
School’s Gerontology PhD program also includes courses in methodology that
overlap with those we anticipate in applied sociology; in fact, one of our courses,
Qualitative Methods, is currently cross-listed with Gerontology and we expect
additional such cross listings. However, all of the substantive courses in the
Gerontology PhD Program focus on aging and so cover different content than
those we expect to offer. Neither McCormack PhD program has an internship or
applied component similar to the one we envision for our program.
Finally, we have found some potential for collaboration with the graduate
program in Nursing. Students in the Nursing MS program have taken courses in
our Forensic Services Graduate Certificate Program. Nurses preparing to work in
emergency rooms have an interest in our health and crime related courses as
electives. In turn, some of our students may be interested in health policy courses
in the Nursing PhD Program.
IV.)
Major Resource Implications
PhD programs range from total post-BA credit requirements of 72 to 96. We
propose a 78-credit hour (minimum) PhD program, including a 12-credit
dissertation requirement. Our current MA program is 36 credits, so we would
be adding 45 credits (12 of which would be earned for the dissertation). The
courses added for the Survey Research Certificate would be included within
the additional courses that we would offer for doctoral students.
A.) Network and Research Initiatives
We are forming an advisory board composed of research and program
directors in state, local and private agencies like those that are likely to hire
our graduates. Most of the advisory board members have collaborated on
research projects with sociology faculty and will continue to offer applied
research experiences to our doctoral students.
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
We anticipate our new survey research certificate program will strengthen our
ties with the Center for Survey Research and will lead to the type of
collaborative research proposals that resulted in some of the largest
extramural research grants that UMass Boston has received (with sociology
faculty member Sue Gore). Current and recent externally funded research
projects led by sociology professors Hartwell, Bersani, Morabito, Benson and
Schutt will each be facilitated by access to doctoral student research assistants
who will develop more advanced skills and be available to work on research
projects for longer periods of time.
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
B.) Proposed PhD course of study (in addition to 36-hour MA)
1.) Comprehensive Exam
2.) Four core courses (12 credits)
 One course in theory/policy (3 credits)
 Three required courses in methodology and statistics (9 credits)
3.) Two courses (6 credits) in one of the following areas of emphasis:
 Immigration, Institutions and Inequalities
 Criminology and Criminal Justice
 Health/Mental Health
4.) Four elective courses (12 credits)
Elective courses may include substantive courses in one’s area of
emphasis and in other areas of specialization, as well as additional courses
in methods, statistics and theory. Students may take up to two elective
courses (6 credits) outside sociology, chosen in consultation with and
approval of their faculty mentor and the graduate director.
5.) Special Qualifying Exam (in area of emphasis)
6.) Dissertation Seminar (3 credits)
7.) Dissertation (12 credits)
Both the special field exam and the dissertation must focus on the
candidate’s substantive area of concentration.
C) Admissions Criteria
Students will be selected on the basis of the quality and relevance of their
prior education and their research and career interests. Applicants will be
expected to have a Master’s degree in sociology or a closely related field. For
students admitted to our MA program, PhD program acceptance will be
contingent on completing course work and passing the comprehensive exam
prior to admission, while individuals who seek to begin the PhD program
after having completed another MA program must document completion of an
equivalent exam or submit a score on the GRE Sociology subject test. A GPA
of at least 3.2 at the undergraduate level and 3.5 at the MA level will be
required. All applicants must submit GRE scores obtained within the
previous three years. Three letters of recommendation and a personal
statement must document the applicant’s academic capabilities and interest in
applied sociology. Applicants with undergraduate majors and/or MA degrees
in other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
D.) Faculty and Staff (including TA/RAs)
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
To offer the PhD in Applied Sociology, we would require two additional fulltime professors in addition to the half-time survey research hire. Similar to
other PhD programs on campus we anticipate supporting 6 PhD level graduate
assistants (in addition to our MA assistantships) for a first-year total cost of
$120,000 (in subsequent years it is expected that faculty grant funds or
perhaps a training grant would reduce this sum) We would also require one
additional full-time professional staff person at $41,000 per year and an
ongoing operating budget of $7,500 per year for basic computer equipment.
The program will also require space and teaching loads reflective of the
intensive mentoring required by faculty mentoring dissertations. Course load
reductions (CLRs) will be allocated to support the program based on
documented faculty role on dissertations and other support activities.
CSR Program Professor
2 new FT faculty positions:
Staff person:
6 graduate assistants*
CTF operating dollars:
Year 1
60,000
160,000
41,000
120,000
7,500
Total Cost
388,500
Year 2
60,000
160,000
41,000
240,000
7,500
508,500
Year 3
60,000
160,000
41,000
360,000
7,500
628,500
*Assistantship cost multiplies each year for 3 years with addition of
successive cohorts, but costs will be reduced by external grant support.
Given faculty experience in obtaining grants, we anticipate that many students
would receive support as research assistants with extramural funds. In
addition, the department’s large number of undergraduate courses
(approximately 70 sections each semester) ensures continuing need for
teaching assistants and so we expect that university funds will be available to
support TAs for our PhD students (extending the level of support available
currently to our MA program). We also expect at least three advanced PhD
students to work as lecturers each year, thus reducing our reliance on adjunct
faculty members and incurring no additional cost to the university.
V.)
Conclusions
The addition of an Applied Sociology PhD program will strengthen the
university’s contributions to understanding our increasingly complex social world
and to developing solutions to some of the most pressing social problems
emanating from our world. These contributions will be manifest in our externally
funded projects, in our scholarly publications, in our engagement with public
agencies, and in the careers of our students. We look forward to the opportunity
to help the University of Massachusetts Boston achieve in the 21st century its
rightful place as a global leader in intellectually rigorous and socially relevant
graduate research and training.
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DRAFT Stage I Proposal, PhD in Applied Sociology
VI.)
References
Spalter-Roth, Roberta, Jerry A. Jacobs and Janene Scelza. 2010. Still a Down Market:
Findings from the 2009/2010 Job Bank Survey. American Sociological
Association. http://www.asanet.org/research/2010_Job_Bank_Brief.pdf
Van Vooren, Nicole, Roberta Spalter-Roth and Janene Scelza. 2009. From Programs to
Careers: Continuing to Pay Attention to the Master’s Degree in Sociology.
American Sociological Association.
http://www.asanet.org/research/MastersDatabriefJuly2010.pdf
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