The Ph.D. and the Institutionalization of American Sociology

• Published in: The American sociologist Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 37 - 45
• Main Author: Blasi, Anthony J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Secaucus, NJ Transaction Periodicals Consortium 01-12-2004; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 19th century; 20th century; Academic Departments; Academic discipline; Academic libraries; Americanization; Catholic schools; Colleges; Colleges & universities; Departments; Doctoral degrees; Doctoral Programs; Educational sociology; Higher education; History and organization of sociology; History instruction; History of Sociology; History, theory and methodology; Institutionalization; Institutionalization (Social); Organization of profession, research and teaching. Deontology. Sociology of sociology. Epistemology; Philosophy; Political sociology; Schools; Sociology; Sociology Education; Students; U.S.A; United States of America; Universities; United States Of America; Chicago Illinois; United States > US; Tennessee; Europe; University; Sociology teaching; Institutionalization
• ISSN: 0003-1232; 1936-4784
• DOI: 10.1007/s12108-004-1022-5

The institutionalization of doctorate programs in Sociology in US universities is studied. Data collected from several sources including biographies, histories of sociology, institutional histories, & university catalogs were analyzed to ascertain the beginnings of US Sociology's institutionalization movement. Three findings that trace Sociology's institutionalization back to the late 19th & early 20th centuries are identified, eg, the significant increase in the number of sociology professors who obtained doctorates from either domestic or foreign schools during the 1920s. Several processes that expedited Sociology's institutionalization during this period are subsequently highlighted, eg, the growth of certain universities' departments & the increased number of doctorate recipients who stayed with their original institution. It is concluded that a simple growth model provides an inadequate framework for understanding Sociology's development in US academia. 2 Tables, 5 References. J. W. Parker