Find out more

Course objectives

The PhD aims to deepen theoretical and methodological background of social sciences, in particular for the analysis the processes of social change typical of highly complex societies. The training is based on the acquisition of competences and skills from sociology and applied psychology, supplemented by the contribution of anthropology, political science and social statistics. The interdisciplinary nature of the PhD programme together with its methodological focus and specific internationalisation experiences included in the programme, contributes to a unique training context for research, where students will be able to develop cutting-edge research on social and psychological phenomena in an innovative manner.

Educational activities

The structure of the training program integrates research activities, theoretical and methodological training, interdisciplinary seminars, and workshops, fostering constant interaction among different fields. The inter-, multi-, and especially transdisciplinary dimension represents a distinctive feature of the program, thanks to the presence within the Faculty Board of scholars from sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology, economics, and social statistics, who work together to develop innovative and cross-cutting research projects.

Research areas

The programme is structured in 2 curricula: one curriculum in Sociology and one in Applied Psychology, each of them characterised by a specific selection process and a dedicated teaching and research pathway.

The Sociology curriculum dwells in particular on three crucial areas of research in order to grasp the most significant discontinuities in contemporary societies:

Intercultural relations: mobility, religions, family, gender;
the relationship between society, technoscience and the media;
the relationship between institutional processes and the practices of production and reproduction of everyday life.
These three areas identify paths of study and theoretical reflection that can find multiple connections with many research themes, in the perspective of developing skills for the critical analysis and management of the processes that characterize today's contemporary complexity. Particular emphasis is placed on the cultural construction of social processes and practices; qualitative, quantitative and digital-based methodologies currently available in social sciences; comparative research approaches; internationalization of topics and research activities, through extended periods of research abroad.

The Applied Psychology curriculum focuses on the psychological processes that characterise the several spheres of individual, relational and collective life, with the aim of developing theoretical, methodological and applicative knowledge required to carry out evidence-based psychological research and interventions. The objectives are structured around a diversified spectrum of topics, including:
- the social sphere, with particular reference to the investigation of attitudes and behaviour, intergroup relations and various forms of prejudice, environment and culture, violence and perceptions of safety, individual dispositions, well-being and positive social relations, social
construction of meaning
- the work and organisational sphere, in relation to issues such as personnel selection, the centrality of work on a psychological level, organisational well-being;
- the clinical and dynamic sphere, in relation to personal and relational distress and suffering, couple and parenting relationships, preventive, support and psychotherapeutic interventions.
Particular emphasis is given to psychometric and methodological aspects, transversal to the various fields, involving training in relation to quantitative and qualitative methods, instruments for detecting and measuring psychological variables and constructs, formal models in psychology.

Professional Profile

The Sociology curriculum prepares PhD candidates for academic and research careers in the sociological and anthropological fields, facilitating their placement in universities, research centers, and public or private institutes. At the same time, the skills acquired enable access to strategic roles in urban planning, public policy evaluation, social and cultural project design, and community needs assessment. The training activities and specialized modules—such as those dedicated to public policy analysis, communication sociology, and digital methods—are designed to align with these opportunities, offering PhD candidates targeted preparation that is highly valuable on the job market.

The Applied Psychology curriculum develops advanced competencies for academic and research careers in social, work, and clinical psychology, with opportunities in both national and international contexts. Additional non-academic career pathways are also available: PhD graduates can work in healthcare and social-care settings, focusing on the design of preventive and therapeutic interventions, effectiveness evaluation, and psychological support for individuals, groups, and communities. Private companies and complex organizations represent further opportunities, thanks to expertise in organizational well-being, human resource selection and management, performance evaluation, and skills development. Courses in psychometrics, quantitative methodology, advanced data analysis, and evidence-based intervention design are central to preparing PhD candidates for these contexts, providing rigorous and up-to-date tools for addressing the challenges of applied work.

  Curriculum

• APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• SOCIOLOGY

  Other information

• Calls and Admissions
• Administrative information
• The International PhD guide