Doctor of Social Science

The Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci, SScD, Dr. rer. soc. or DSS) degree is the highest degree offered by some universities in the field of social sciences, for which other universities confer a Ph.D.

Like the PhD, it is recognized^[1] as a terminal research degree that requires a substantial original thesis.

In North America, the only universities to offer a Doctor of Social Science are Royal Roads University in British Columbia, Canada, and Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware, United States.

Argentina

Provided by the National University of Luján^[2][3]

Australia

Provided by the University of Queensland^[4]

Provided by the University of Sydney^[5]

Canada

Provided by Royal Roads University^[6]

Finland

Provided by the University of Tampere^[7]

Provided by the University of Helsinki^[8] and at which, somewhat infelicitously, the terminal degree in Practical philosophy is awarded as a Doctor of Social Science (DSS),^[9] rather than a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

Germany

Provided e.g. by the University of Mannheim^[10] and by the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich.^[11]

Holy See

Provided by the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Hong Kong

Provided by the University of Hong Kong.^[12]

Ireland

The DSocSci is offered as a full-time qualification by:

• University College Cork^[13]
• Maynooth University^[14]

United States

• Formerly Offered by The New School for Social Research, but abolished
• Wilmington University,^[15] New Castle, Delaware
• The American University of Business and Social Sciences (AUBSS), California

United Kingdom

The DSocSci is offered as a full-time or part-time qualification by:

• Formerly offered by the University of Bristol, but abolished.
• The University of Leicester^[16]
• The Queen's University Belfast^[17]