About the Doctoral Program

The aim of the doctoral program "Sociology and History of Social and Cultural Sciences" is the research-based interdisciplinary examination of the socio-historical conditions, structuring, institutionalization, dynamics and effects of scientific disciplines, research and ideas, including their theoretical and methodological concepts. The doctoral program is intended to support doctoral candidates from various disciplines who are working on a dissertation in the history of science at the University of Graz in the implementation of their dissertation projects and to integrate them into interdisciplinary and international research contexts.

The interdisciplinary doctoral program "Sociology and History of Social and Cultural Sciences" is aimed at doctoral students from all faculties of the University of Graz who are working on a dissertation with a focus on the history of science and who wish to write their thesis using theories and methods from sociology, the history of science and cultural studies.

The focus of the dissertations is on the sociology of science, philosophy of science, sociology of knowledge and history of science. Possible focal points include the social dimensions of science and research, such as institutionalization processes through journals, the formation of institutes, academic milieus, academic circles, social practices, habitus and biographies, power relations in the academic field, as well as cognitive dimensions such as ideas, concepts, theories, methods, metaphors, but also discursive dimensions and effects of ideas, theories or methods.

Doctoral students are supported in the implementation of their dissertation projects and integrated into interdisciplinary and international research contexts. The supervision program primarily includes the annual Spring School, a practice-oriented workshop. The participating doctoral students have the opportunity to present their work and its progress to other doctoral students and researchers. The lecturers actively support them in this. DP takes targeted measures to promote the scientific quality of dissertations, serves to internationalize education and aims to improve the career opportunities of doctoral students.