The Sociology Department at UCSC is intellectually innovative, both in its interdisciplinary nature and in its commitment to inquiry that is engaged with the world beyond the university. The Ph.D. program leads to both academic and non-academic careers. The program is designed to educate students in sociological theory and methods and in the discipline's major substantive areas, while simultaneously exposing students to other arenas of intellectual inquiry that will aid them as they pursue their research questions and interests. After completing a group of required courses, students work closely with individual faculty members to design their course of study. The program leads to a Ph.D. in Sociology. The Sociology program at UCSC is a Ph.D. program, not an MA program. Students have the option of applying for a non-terminal Master's degree en route to the Ph.D. There are two parts to the core curriculum. The first part of the curriculum is a basic grounding in sociological theory and methods. The second part of the curriculum is exposure to research in three areas of concentration. These areas are: (1) globalization, political economy, and environment, (2) inequality and identity, and (3) culture, knowledge, and power. In addition, students are trained in multiple methods in preparation for conducting their own research.