Program Overview

Community Research and Action PhD

The PhD in Community Research and Action program is designed to train the next generation of scholars who are changing the world. Community Research and Action doctoral students are researching complex social justice issues that affect individual neighborhoods to entire populations.

Becoming the Change-Makers

Community Research and Action doctoral students are focused on researching solutions for today's most critical social issues, becoming leaders in their field.

Highlights of the Program

• Our innovative, inter-disciplinary program helps students gain research skills and learn about society's most pressing public policy challenges, including:
  • Educational inequality
  • Racial justice
  • Gender-based violence
  • Many more
• Our small classes allow our students to engage in interactive dialogues with each other and develop close relationships with our faculty who are top scholars in their field.
• Our faculty are experts and collaborate with students on cutting-edge research to help advance social justice and empower people across communities.
• Our excellent academics prepare graduates for rewarding careers in academia, research institutions, and policy organizations.

Our Community and Network

Our graduates are leaders in nearly every field of public and community service due to their talent and desire for change. They have made significant impacts in their careers, leveraging the skills and knowledge gained from the program to drive positive change.

Research Areas

The program encompasses a wide range of research areas, including but not limited to:

• Community Schools and Justice-Involved Families
• Community Protests Against Armed Groups
• Trauma Healing and the Emergence of Community Resilience
• Spatial-Temporal Clustering and Violence Dynamics in East and Central Africa

Events and Seminars

The program hosts various seminars and events, such as the CRA Lunch & Learn series, which features topics like:

• The IRB Process
• Community Schools and Justice-Involved Families: the "Surveillance-Support Paradox"
• Community Protests Against Armed Groups: Spatial-Temporal Clustering and Violence Dynamics in East and Central Africa
• Trauma Healing and the Emergence of Community Resilience: A Multilevel Theoretical Perspective

These events provide a platform for students, faculty, and guests to engage in discussions on critical social issues and research findings, fostering a community of scholars dedicated to creating positive change.