MONARCH SWITZERLAND
MONARCH GLOBAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Doctor of
Social Science
DSS · INTERDISCIPLINARY DOCTORAL STUDY
Connect disciplines. Understand social complexity. Contribute to the public good.
Rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry, ethical reflection and individual faculty mentorship.
PROGRAMME BROCHURE · SEPTEMBER 2026 · 01 / 09
DSS
The Doctor of Social Science (DSS) at Monarch Switzerland is a fully online, part-time doctoral programme offered through Monarch Global Research Institute, with a standard duration of 36 months. Designed for experienced professionals and aspiring researchers, it enables doctoral study alongside a career without the need to relocate.
PROGRAM FACTS
| Institution | Monarch Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Department | Monarch Global Research Institute |
| Award | Doctor of Social Science (DSS) |
| Study Mode | Fully Online |
| Standard Duration | 36 Months |
| Study Format | Part-Time |
| Designed For | Experienced Professionals and Aspiring Researchers |
| Residency | No Relocation Required |
| Language | English |
| Institution Location | Switzerland |
This doctoral program may be completed fully online, including the doctoral defence. No relocation is required. Candidates may select an in-person doctoral defence when offered by Monarch.
A 60-month extended-duration pathway is available. Completion depends on research progress and fulfilment of the programme’s academic requirements.
DSS
Academic purpose
Understand society through
connected perspectives.
The DSS is a research doctorate devoted to complex social, organisational and policy phenomena. It connects the social sciences, humanities and management to examine the economic, cultural, political and institutional forces shaping human systems.
Candidates integrate theory, method and ethical reflection to advance scholarship and inform practice. Social justice, equity and responsible governance underpin inquiry into more inclusive, humane and resilient institutions.
Organisations & human systems
Explore organisational life, leadership and the social implications of institutional decisions.
Governance & public policy
Examine how policies, institutions and leadership shape public value and social outcomes.
Equity & social justice
Investigate inequality, inclusion and the ethical dimensions of social and institutional arrangements.
Culture & lived experience
Study meaning-making, human experience and cultural influences through context-sensitive inquiry.
Communities & social development
Examine community challenges, relationships and opportunities for responsible social change.
Interdisciplinary social thought
Bring theoretical traditions into dialogue to develop a coherent understanding of social complexity.
DSS
Learning outcomes
Develop your practitioner–scholar identity.
Applied social research
Use advanced qualitative and interpretive approaches to investigate complex social, organisational and human systems.
Contemporary social understanding
Examine patterns, tensions and dynamics through multiple disciplinary lenses.
Professional–scholarly integration
Connect experience and scholarly reflection to inform practice, leadership, social policy or institutional reform.
Reflexive analysis
Apply critical reasoning and contextual awareness to assumptions, evidence and interpretation.
Academic & applied writing
Produce coherent scholarly work for academic, professional and policy audiences.
Original contribution
Develop an original contribution within a clearly defined domain of social inquiry.
Who the programme is for
Reflective leaders in public and private organisations; NGO and civic professionals; consultants; policy practitioners; educators; and social innovators seeking rigorous interdisciplinary research.
DSS
Research progression
Six stages of doctoral inquiry.
01 · Prepare
Build foundations in research skills, theoretical integration and critical synthesis. Engage with social-science traditions and the philosophy of interdisciplinary research.
02 · Frame
Define a social concern across disciplines. Clarify its boundaries, significance and ethical implications with faculty mentors.
03 · Propose
Develop the research question, theoretical framework and methods. Formal proposal approval precedes the principal research.
04 · Investigate
Pursue the approved design through approaches such as comparative analysis, case study, ethnography or mixed methods, maintaining ethical and methodological coherence.
05 · Synthesise
Develop a doctoral manuscript presenting original insight, theoretical synthesis and implications for scholarship and practice.
06 · Present
Defend the contribution in a viva voce before a Review Committee, explaining the findings, originality and interdisciplinary significance.
Potential DSS research
Illustrative topics, refined through proposal development and supervisory review.
Trust and access to public services
How do institutional practices and community trust shape access to healthcare in underserved communities? Interviews and comparative case studies could connect governance, lived experience and social equity.
Leadership and inclusion during change
How do leadership practices influence employee voice and inclusion during organisational transformation? A comparative study could bring together organisational culture, power and responsible governance.
DSS
Study design & recognition
A flexible structure.
A rigorous scholarly purpose.
Individual faculty mentorship
Experienced scholars support theoretical clarity, methodological rigour and critical engagement throughout the research process.
Methods that fit the question
Milestone-based progression supports qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods where appropriate to the approved research design.
Remote & asynchronous
Study from your home country. The 36-month standard and 60-month extended-duration pathways support different professional and personal circumstances.
A global research environment
Engage with an international scholarly community, digital resources and academic exchange. Switzerland workshops are optional.
Ethical engagement
Consider the social consequences of research, with attention to equity, inclusion and responsible governance.
In-passing recognition
An M.Phil. in Research is awarded in passing upon DSS conferral when all doctoral requirements have been completed, recognising achievement in research design, theoretical synthesis and analysis.
Master-in-exit pathways
Subject to the relevant academic requirements, an M.Phil. in Research or M.Soc.Sci. in Social Research may provide a terminal exit pathway. These distinguish theoretical and methodological achievement from applied social analysis. Exit awards are not automatic.
DSS
Admissions & research context
Academic preparation.
Interdisciplinary commitment.
Applicants normally hold a recognised master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline and demonstrate the capacity for critical, reflective and independent research. Research, teaching, policy analysis or social engagement is advantageous, but not required.
Readiness and supervisory fit
Bachelor’s degree holders with significant professional or research experience may be considered on the Dean’s recommendation, with evidence of doctoral readiness. The Academic Board reviews alignment between research interests and supervisory expertise.
Intellectual curiosity, ethical awareness and a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry are central to the programme.
Monthly entry
Admissions are rolling, with programme starts on the first day of each month, subject to admission.
Social inquiry in context
Dr. Jérémie Zoungrana
RESEARCH THAT INFORMED THE DSS’S DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Zoungrana’s doctoral research at Monarch examined maternal mortality reduction in low-resource settings through Rwanda’s healthcare system. Statistical analysis and stakeholder interviews connected clinical and non-medical influences, including governance, leadership, cultural norms and institutional responsiveness.
His work helped inform the later development of the DSS, illustrating the relationship between interdisciplinary research and social development.
Discuss your research interests.
Explore your preparation and proposed direction with Admissions.
DSS
Programme faculty
Experience, scholarship
and individual mentorship.
Professors attached to the Doctor of Social Science programme include Dr. Jeffrey Henderson and Dr. Louise Delaney.
Dr. Jeffrey Henderson
PROFESSOR OF CSR & BUSINESS ETHICS
Dr. Henderson’s academic interests span corporate social responsibility, Austrian economics and Catholic social theory. He holds doctorates in Business Research and Political Economy, alongside an MBA from Nijenrode University. His teaching background includes Grenoble Graduate School of Business and McGill University. Senior roles in commercial real estate and consulting inform his engagement with the relationships between business, institutions and society.
Dr. Louise Delaney
PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP
Dr. Delaney researches leadership, innovation culture and organisational performance in multinational environments. She holds a dual PhD in Business Research / Doctorate in Leadership and an M.Phil. in Business Research from Monarch, together with an MSc in Innovation and Technology Management. More than twenty years in leadership roles with U.S. technology multinationals in Ireland inform her connection between academic inquiry and contemporary organisational practice.
YOUR NEXT CONTRIBUTION
Connect your experience
with social inquiry.
Explore the Doctor of Social Science at Monarch Switzerland. Discuss your research interests, academic preparation and supervisory fit with our Admissions Office.
Apply to the DSS →Discuss your research interests →
Monarch Switzerland
Monarch Global Research Institute
Doctor of Social Science (DSS)
Current DSS programme information →
Doctoral Program Key Points Guide →
SEPTEMBER 2026 · PROGRAMME BROCHURE · 09 / 09
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