Didactic work and Doctoral Credits

The PhD course in Sociology and Social Research aims to train scholars and practictioners able to carry out qualified activities of social analysis and research - theoretical and empirical - at universities, public institutions, private subjects and the third sector, for basic research purposes and support to the design of policy actions and devices. Researchers able to analyse contemporary social and cultural change processes on the basis of a close integration between theory and empirical research. Specifically, the PhD aims to achieve three main training objectives

- transmit advanced skills in relation to the theoretical and methodological foundations of sociology

- to transmit advanced skills in relation to the construction of the research design (quantitative-qualitative) and the use of the most advanced methodologies and techniques of social research, both quantitative and qualitative

- transmit the ability to combine theoretical and empirical, technical and substantive knowledge through the critical analysis of research projects on emerging social phenomena, also in order to support policy makers.

To this end, a theoretical-analytical and technical-methodological preparation is offered, through a training project that combines in-depth study of the main theoretical paradigms of contemporary sociology and of the most up-to-date quantitative and qualitative social research methodologies and techniques. A training programme aimed at providing PhD students with the tools to realise original investigations, theoretically oriented and empirically grounded, on a wide range of aspects of contemporary societies, through the comparison of different situations and social contexts, also in an international perspective, thanks to the performance of research periods abroad.

Consistent with the specific and transversal objectives of the course, the following products and outcomes are expected of doctoral students - to write at least one essay in the three-year period of attendance, to be submitted for publication to scientific journals in the sector; - to develop an original, theoretically oriented and empirically grounded thesis; - to present the thesis at a national or international conference; - to publish at least a summary of the thesis or a second essay in the two-year period following the award of the doctorate. The College will take steps to encourage the publication of the thesis and the submission of the scientific products produced by the doctoral students to the most appropriate publishing venues.

All the research and analysis activities of the doctoral students are periodically and constantly monitored by the Collegio dei Docenti.

The PhD programme in Sociology and Social Research tends to favour the elaboration of theses on topics that have or may have a relevant impact on emerging social problems at transnational, national and/or local level. With this in mind, the PhD will take care to publicise the research products by encouraging actions to return the results and their operational implications to institutions (inter- and transnational, national and/or local) and/or the social actors involved.

The main thematic areas of the PhD in Sociology and Social Research include: social change and inequalities;  the governance of welfare policies; migration and social inclusion processes; labour transformations; climate change and ecological transition; social innovation; media and digitalisation processes; cultural practices and policies; the public sphere, democratic and participatory processes, and changes in civil society; the sociology of deviance, criminology and victimology; social research methodology.

Doctoral Credits (CD)
Starting from the 40th cohort, the University of Bologna introduced a system to measure the educational and research activities of its doctoral programs through the so-called Doctoral Credits (CD).

The CD quantifies the workload required of doctoral students in research, training, and teaching activities necessary to obtain the Doctoral degree. In terms of training, the CD is equivalent to the University Educational Credit (CFU), which is the equivalent of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credit. Doctoral students are required to earn 60 CDs per year, corresponding to 1,500 hours of activity, with each CD representing 25 hours of the doctoral student's commitment. This annual workload is relevant solely for the calculation of the CDs.

Each program allocates the total number of CDs (180 CDs for three-year programs) among the following categories:

  • Research activities, comprising between 65% and 80% of the total (research must be predominant but not exclusive): Each program determines its own percentage within this range.
  • Disciplinary training, transversal training, extracurricular training, and dissemination: The program sets the minimum number of CDs to be earned for each of these activities (and, where applicable, also the maximum value). The minimum value cannot be zero.
  • Teaching and tutoring activities: The minimum number of CDs for these activities may be zero.