Presidential Graduate Assistantship (PGA) Position
Identity and Belonging in Sociology
The School of Social and Family Dynamics’s Sociology doctoral program invites applications for the prestigious Presidential Graduate Assistantship (PGA) program to start at ASU in Fall 2026.
The Presidential Graduate Assistantship (PGA) is a merit-based award created to support the recruitment, professional development and faculty mentoring of doctoral students in all fields whose research teaching and service will contribute to advancing the ASU Charter. The program creates opportunities to recruit and mentor doctoral students enrolling in an on-campus immersion degree program who offer great potential to advance into the professoriate and other careers. This program ensures our continued evolution as a premier public research institution with a fundamental responsibility to the communities that it serves. Students will be chosen and appointed to this program by their admitting academic unit.
Priority will be given to applicants with research interests focused on exploring identity and belonging across our six focus areas: Children, Youth, and Families; Health; Inequality and Power; Latinx Sociology; Law and Society; Race and Ethnicity. Areas of interest may fit in one or more of these foci, use a variety of sociological methods, and focus on the US or international contexts.
Pursue your doctoral degree at ASU as a Presidential Scholar in the School of Social & Family Dynamics
The Presidential Graduate Assistantship position offers:
Financial Support
Five years of funding (full tuition coverage, stipend, and health insurance), contingent upon satisfactory academic progress.
Research opportunities & mentorship
Opportunities to collaborate with our SSFD sociology faculty and our sociology affiliates. The PGA scholars will work with a mentoring team to develop an individual development plan tailored to their research interests and career goals. PGA scholars will also have access to peer mentors to help navigate the program.
Professional development
The PGA scholars will join a cohort of scholars across ASU and participate in specialized training, workshops, networking, and mentorship opportunities provided by the Office of Inclusive Excellence and the Graduate College. In addition, the Sociology program offers a monthly pro-seminar and a Sociology Graduate Student Workshare brown bag throughout the year.
To Apply:
The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025. Interest applicants should apply to our PhD program in sociology. For information on the application process and to apply, please visit Graduate Programs.
Note: All applicants whose proposed research interests align with our PGA focus on identity and belonging across our six areas will be considered for the PGA. Applicants may indicate interest in the Presidential Graduate Assistantship in their personal statement and should note the faculty mentor(s) that they would like to work with.
Informational Session:
Register to join an info session to hear more about the PGA in ASU Sociology! Friday Nov. 21st 10am MST (9am PST, 12pm EST).
Contact Us:
For questions, please contact the Sociology PhD Program Lead: [email protected].