Program design

The Amsterdam School PhD program is designed to provide the top 10% of candidates with the training, and experience to develop and communicate original scholarly contributions in the fields of  sociology, political science and anthropology. The program offers specialized training in the fundamentals of sociological, anthropological and political science theory and methods, substantive areas of knowledge, the conduct of research, and the teaching and application, as well as skills in academic writing. The program includes requirements that prepare candidates for careers as sociologists, political scientists and anthropologists, it is designed to offer the best candidates an opportunity to specialize in a field of choice, while at the same time providing an in-depth and multi-disciplinary training in general social sciences. An original and self-directed research project usually signals the real beginning of sociologists’, anthropologists’ and political scientists’ professional activities. Graduate candidates formulate and conduct the research on their own, but in close consultation with a committee of advisors. In addition to an individually-developed research effort, it is the policy of the school that students do at least one assistantship in ongoing research within the Amsterdam School.

 

Objectives of the PhD Study Program

Those who defend their PhD thesis will dispose of the capacities:

• to have thorough knowledge of a subject related to the research specialization of the graduate student
• to have a grasp of the discipline' s contemporary literature
• to identify important theoretical and social problems in the candidate’s research field, translating these into researchable questions
• to employ theories and methods in the candidate’s area of research.
• to translate these questions into an adequate research design
• to collect and analyze original, primary research data
• to collect and analyze secondary data bases (optional)
• to publish in refereed scientific journals
• to develop new insights or important supplements to existing knowledge of the field of study on the basis of an overall view of the major issues and the holes and gaps in the theoretical and empirical knowledge

 

Program objectives:

Programme objective 1: Broad erudition and thorough familiarity with social-scientific theoretical literature are primary requirements for staff members and PhD candidates.

Programme objective 2: Each subject is studied over a certain period of time; this involves the use of secondary literature on relevant prior developments in order to provide insight into the phenomena as processes.

Programme objective 3: Specific studies must be based on familiarity with relevant secondary sources about societies other than the ones that are the primary object of research. Each researcher should participate in a research group which gathers data on different societies.

Programme objective 4: Each research project must be based on a specific set of data gathered for this particular research and processed in a way that manifests a grasp of the research methods.

Programme objective 5: Specific research projects should be situated within the context of more comprehensive social configurations.

 

Required Course Work

Components	Length in hours
Three PhD courses during the first year of the PhD program (compulsory)	402
Two “short intensive courses” (not compulsory, but usually attended)	134
PhD clubs 1st through 4th year (compulsory)	96
Staff seminars 1st year (compulsory)	72
Presentation at the staff seminar (3rd year, compulsory)	152
Individual supervision (contact hours, 1st year)	48
Individual supervision (2nd through 4th years)	144
8th month progress report	304
19th month progress report	76
31st month progress report	76
40th month progress report (as thesis chapters)	16
Total	1,522

 

Since 2004, all PhD candidates are required to take the Theory in Action and Methodology Clinic courses. The Methodology Clinic remained largely unchanged. The Theory in Action course was designed to deal with the structural problems PhD candidates had with the nexus of theory and empirical data by focusing on the use for theory in deciding what data to collect, how to analyze them and how to turn analysis into contributions to theory development and to debates central to the field of study.

Meanwhile, following candidate evaluations, the course further evolved by putting less emphasis on training ‘intellectual craftsmanship’ (C. Wright Mills) and more on the substance of the theoretical debates that are central to ASSR research interests.  Also, assignments for the Methodology Clinic were changed, where necessary, so as to more precisely tailor them to the research design to be produced in the 8th month paper. These changes were decided upon late 2006 and implemented in 2007. 

In order to enable PhD candidates to spend more time on course tailored to their research work, the choice for the third large, compulsory course remained open to their own choice and a new type of course was introduced, the (non-compulsory, but usually attended) Short Intensive Courses. These are proposed and compiled by members of a research program together with the PhD candidates, on initiative of either PhD candidates or senior scholars. They need approval by the Board. In many cases, teachers from outside the institute, including international scholars, are involved in the teaching. Since 2006, a steady stream of Short Intensive Courses is taking place; it is now annual routine to invite both staff and PhD candidates to come with proposals. 

As their third course, PhD candidates may choose from:

• two Short Intensive Courses;
• a language course (if important for gathering material – sometimes relevant for anthropological research outside the Netherlands);
• one or several parts of the Social Science Research Masters programme, e.g. to remedy remedies in advanced research methods and techniques, or to acquire some substantive knowledge on a particular area;
• when appropriate, a course offered at another institute inside or outside the Netherlands.

 

Supervision

The ASSR offers a training and guidance plan during the first, second and third years of the PhD program. The plan is drafted following consultations between the PhD candidate and his or her thesis advisor and subsequently submitted for approval to the executive director of the Amsterdam School.

PhD candidates receive four evaluations during the PhD program, in the 8th, 19th, 31st and 40th months. Each evaluation is produced by three evaluators, who in all cases include the thesis advisor and second reader.

 

Permanent evaluation of educational quality

The ASSR has identified the following aspects:

• Quality and speed of the individual PhD curriculum
• Quality of the guidance provided
• Quality of the course sections of the program, especially the PhD courses
• Quality of the final product of the program, i.e. the PhD thesis and the interim products, especially publications in renowned scholarly journals.
• Quality of the program in terms of yield and average PhD duration.

Re 1. Quality and speed of the individual PhD curriculum

In the four evaluations stated above, the evaluators are asked specific questions. The evaluations are discussed by the ASSR Executive Board and the periodic instructors’ assembly. The Executive Board decides whether or not the PhD curriculum will continue and determines any additional requirements or suggestions.

Re 2. Maintaining the quality of the guidance

The first Education and Guidance Plan (2nd month) establishes the agreements between the PhD candidate and thesis advisor about the guidance procedure. Subsequent agreements and adjustments are identified through the 2nd Education and Guidance Plan (10th month). This plan addresses the PhD candidate’s opinion about the quality and intensity of the guidance provided. This subject recurs at the 31st month evaluation. The PhD candidate then submits a confidential report to the executive director stating his or her opinion of the quality and intensity of the guidance provided. The individual concerned and the executive director discuss the situation and examine whether additional measures are necessary.

Re 3. Course evaluations

All courses are evaluated. Evaluation forms completed anonymously are sent to the executive director. The curriculum is adjusted based on their contents. In translating the evaluations into program changes, the ASSR education committee is expected to assume a more central role.

Re 4. Quality of the progress reports, PhD theses and articles

The quality of the work by the PhD candidates is based primarily on the four evaluations. The evaluators report their findings to the ASSR executive board and the periodic instructors’ assembly.

In additional to the formal evaluation opportunities, the quest for quality maintenance focuses on individual PhD candidates during reviews of his or her work at one of the PhD clubs (discussing thesis chapters) and during the compulsory presentation at the ASSR staff seminar (3rd year of the program).

The ASSR tries in increasing measure to encourage PhD candidates to disclose their research results in articles and scholarly journals as well as in their PhD thesis. This issue figures prominently on the consultation agenda between thesis advisors and PhD candidates according to the ASSR Education and Guidance plan.

Re 5. PhD completion rates and average PhD duration

PhD completion rates and PhD duration are ongoing subjects of interest at the ASSR. Comparisons with other research schools and PhD completion rates abroad reveal that the average PhD completion rate at the ASSR is good. The ASSR is less satisfied with the speed at which PhD theses are completed. Despite the rigid evaluation policy, few PhD candidates manage to defend their thesis within 4.5 years after starting their PhD research. The ASSR is contemplating new measures. Ideas presently on the agenda include reintroducing the grant system, tightening progress requirements and becoming more involved in monitoring trainee research assistants after their period of appointment has lapsed.

 

Degrees and career goals

Students in our programme are working towards a PhD.

The University of Amsterdam Doctorate degrees are awarded on the basis of research and the completion of a thesis. Examination is by assessment of the thesis and includes a public defence concerning the thesis and the underlying.

A PhD thesis must form a distinct contribution to knowledge and show evidence of originality. At least in a modified version, the thesis must be suitable for publication as a book or as a series of scholarly articles.

 

Duration of the PhD programme

The Amsterdam School offers a structured programme of supervision for research degrees. Full-time students are expected to complete their PhD research within four years and to defend their thesis in a public ceremony a few months later.

 

Further Information

See under: PhD Catalogue