Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Sciences

Undertake a PhD in Social Sciences at Flinders

Understand social forces and power structures, globalisation and sustainability issues.

Pursue an advanced research project in social sciences and expand our understanding of the social, cultural and political forces that shape and steer the world today.

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Domestic Student

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Why undertake a PhD in Social Sciences at Flinders

Gain expertise in a specialised area of social sciences and become an international expert in your topic
Make a difference to the world. Your research has the potential to improve people’s lives by understanding the social forces and power structures, globalisation, and sustainability issues at play in the world today
Explore a fascinating research question that no one has answered before. You will have the opportunity to fill a gap in current knowledge or answer a previously unresolved issue in your field

Discover more about research at the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

Your career

A PhD in Social Sciences at Flinders provides a wide range of skills valued in all types of organisations and careers. It will enhance your analytical and communication skills, provide you with skills to quickly learn new concepts and adapt to change, and enhance your time management, organisation and resilience skills.

A PhD is a stepping stone to a career as a professional researcher in the public sector, think tanks, charities, universities, and private corporations. Individuals with PhDs in social sciences are highly sought after for various professions in public and private organisations and have found roles in writing, the law, public service, consulting, advising, teaching and publishing.

Potential occupations include:

Academic
Writer
Consultant or advisor
Professional researcher

Potential employers include:

Universities
Think tanks
Public sector
Charities
Private corporations

Potential research supervisors

Flinders Social Sciences academic staff are recognised as leaders in their fields both in Australia and globally. Our academic supervisors draw on their extensive knowledge and exciting research covering topics related to inequality, and sustainability.

Dr Laura Roberts

Women’s and Gender Studies

Dr Monique Mulholland

Sociology, gender and sexuality

Associate Professor Barbara Baird	Cultural politics and histories of sexuality and reproduction in Australia, abortion, feminism in Australia, 'intersectional' approaches to gender and sexuality issues, representations of children and 'the child', critical race and whiteness theories in Australian contexts, Indigenous studies, memory and representations of the past.
Dr Gareth Butler	Sustainable tourism development, community engagement, tourism mobilities, tourism and migration, socio-cultural impacts of tourism, independent travel, national parks.
Associate Professor Bev Clarke	Coastal climate adaptation, cultural ecosystem service evaluation, coastal management, community engagement, marine protected area management, natural resource management, environmental impact assessment, waste management, policy evaluation.
Dr Monique Mulholland	Gender and sexuality - post structural feminist theory, queer theory, theories of ‘normalisation’ and deviance/perversity, pornography, media and representation, non-normative sexualities. critical race theory - whiteness, decolonising methodologies, post-colonial theory, intersectionality, affecting change - private/public intimacies and the changing nature of sexual expression, sexualised popular and media cultures, youth cultures and youth sexualities, intergenerational negotiation and migrant communities.
Associate Professor Kris Natalier	Child and family policy, children, families, family law and social policy, gender, intimacy and relationships, marriage and intimate relationships, parenting, poverty and inequality.
Professor Sharyn Roche Anleu	Sociology of law, criminal justice system, socio-legal studies, emotions, courts and judicial officers, professions and occupations, gender and workplaces.
Associate Professor Udoy Saikia	Population studies, human development and wellbeing, multi-dimensional poverty analysis and sustainable development.
Professor Susanne Schech	Critical development studies, social and cultural geography of migration, international development, ethnicity and race studies.
Dr Michael Scott	Creative and cultural industries and urban governance.
Dr Laura Roberts	Gender studies, feminist philosophy and politics, post/decolonial theory, contemporary social movements, and feminist philosophies of technology.