The Politics, Culture, and Society (PCS) workshop is a weekly training seminar of graduate students and faculty in the Sociology Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. PCS meets on Tuesdays at 12:30–2:00 in Room 8108, Sewell Social Sciences Building. Most sessions are devoted to relatively informal faculty or student presentations of work in progress, ranging from half-baked ideas to practice job talks, followed by discussion. Papers may be circulated in advance via the PCS email list.

We welcome research in a broad range of sociological subfields, including but not limited to political sociology, sociology of culture, economic sociology, comparative historical sociology, social movements, and sociology of race, though research in other subfields has been presented as well. Work presented can use any method. Most semesters we also host a guest speaker from outside of the department and frequently offer professionalization seminars about topics including conferences and submitting to ASA and the publication process. 

Visitors and newcomers are always welcome! Check out our calendar page to see all upcoming events.

Students may enroll in this seminar as Sociology 992 for 1 credit, which will be graded on a S/U basis. See the syllabus page. If you wish to enroll for 2 or 3 credits you must receive instructor permission and do extra work, including giving a presentation in the seminar.

Note to potential presenters and attendees: Our schedule is subject to change, and it is appropriate to ask whether we can reschedule if you have a need for a presentation slot to practice a job or conference talk. The calendar on this web site is kept updated.