Ph.D. programme in the Department of Sociology, University of Science & Technology Meghalaya was introduced in 2011 to facilitate and motivate research work on the recent development in Sociology. The programme was introduced to help researchers and also as a response to the demand from various groups of learners and different agencies to have substantive knowledge of contemporary social problems, debates and phenomena with a focus on their area of interest. The programme will enable the students to apply and innovate theory and methodologies according to the demand of their specific area of study and address important scientific problems with particular reference to the region. It will also help to develop substantive knowledge among the students on contemporary social issues, debates and phenomena with a focus on their area of interest. In the process it will also enable them to produce consistent, comprehensive and original pieces of academic writings of different length, genres and for varieties of audiences.