Course summary

The MPhil/PhD Sociology programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of research that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to sociology. You will begin on the MPhil, and will need to meet certain requirements to be upgraded to PhD status. The Department of Sociology was the first to be created in Britain and has played a key role in establishing and developing the discipline nationally and internationally. Recent UK research evaluations (through the Research Evaluation Framework) have confirmed our position as one of the leading Departments in the UK. We are committed to empirically rich, conceptually sophisticated, research and scholarship addressing topics of social and political urgency. While building upon the traditions of the discipline we play a key role in developing new intellectual areas, and addressing the social problems and ethical dilemmas that face a globalised society. LSE Sociology embraces a theoretically and methodologically diverse range of approaches. There are four research areas which constitute our strategic priorities and reflect overall a balance between "traditional" sociology and "innovation": economy, technology and expertise; politics and human rights; social inequalities; and urban sociology. Our teaching is informed by our commitments and by our active research in these areas. LSE Sociology will provide a learning environment in which you are encouraged to think critically and independently.