The Department of Social Sciences offers a doctoral course in Social Anthropology in French and German.

In so doing, the Department also contributes to the development, enrichment and dissemination of scientific knowledge, and to the deployment and optimisation of knowledge and professional practices in the field of anthropology.

The social anthropology theses carried out within the Department tend to address subjects related to the specialist areas of the Department's professors of anthropology (specified below).

The Department of Social Sciences supports both fundamental research in social anthropology and research projects focused on action or application.

With regard to the CUSO doctoral programme, French and German-speaking doctoral students can enrol in the Swiss Graduate Program in Anthropology.

During the academic year, the professors of the Department organise research seminars with the Department's doctoral students. Candidates writing a thesis under the supervision of one of the Department's professors periodically present their work in these seminars and are able to get feedback from other researchers in the Department. Moreover, the professors organise meetings and/or theme study days for those doctoral students who are writing their theses in collaboration with other national or international research teams.

Professors who are eligible to supervise theses

• Prof. Véronique Pache Huber

Areas of specialisation:
– India
– Switzerland
– Political anthropology
– Interethnic relations
– Interculturality
– Caste
– Indian middle class
– Trading communities
– Matrimonial strategies
– Anthropology of childhood
– Generation
– Care
– Domestic workers

Theses can be supervised in French, German or English.

• Prof. Agnieszka Joniak-Lüthi

Areas of specialisation:
– China
– Central Asia
– Eastern Europe
– Infrastructure
– Technology
– Built environment
– Political anthropology
– Ethnicity and nationalism
– State
– Borders
– Territory
– Place/space
– Natureculture
– Space

Theses can be supervised in German or English.