after completing his phd, ragin joined the faculty at indiana university bloomington. he left indiana university in 1981. he worked on the faculty of northwestern university from 1981 to 2001. he was also a professor at the university of oslo in norway from 1998 to 2001. from 2001 through 2012, he was a professor of sociology and political science at the university of arizona. he began his position as chancellor's professor at the university of california, irvine in 2012.