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[professorplum]

I had an experience similar to the OP's, and I took a different track than that suggested by most of the posters. In my first two years in a program, all three professors working in a specific subfield left the school, because the department had decided that it no longer valued that subfield. I found someone willing to take me on, but required that I would have had to change my subfield. I chose to leave and reapply elsewhere, in a related but different field. (Instead of studying underwater basketweaving with metal in a Basketweaving Department, I'm now studying underwater basketweaving with reeds in a department of Reed Science. [I like the fieldwork, okay?!?)

I had to move down a tier of schools, and the job opportunities are different. I still want, desperately, to be an academic, but Basketweaving grads were limited to academic jobs and Reed Science grads tend to gravitate to industry/consulting. I won't be able to get an academic job at a top-tier school, probably, but I'm so much happier and more productive in my current situation. If I'd stayed in a place with no support or respect for my subfield, I wouldn't have finished my degree. All of the posters make great points, but it's worth considering whether you'll be happy enough to finish your degree where you are. If you won't be, then everything else is moot, IMHO.

[nikolite]

I wholeheartedly agree with verysneaky (Taking notes actually...).

I am going through similar circumstances.  The advisor I wanted is not here as I thought, and the second choice is completely unavailable for this first year.  Also, not many courses in my area has been or will be offered this year.  Looks like the sample list of past courses was a bit off for this year.  I too feel I was advertised to a little deceptively regarding support in my subfield.   

Either way, I make the most of the situation.  Listen to what others are saying. I've attached myself to two professors that have interests different from mine (well, at least one of them; the other has a little background), but they both give me very good advice and can still converse about the basics of the topics I am interested in.  Just because someone specializes in X doesn't mean that they don't have any knowledge or at least common sense experience with the marketability or feasibility of Y.  I think this has worked better in my favor because their comments and suggestions (coming from outside of the research area) help me to think more broadly about the subject and consider new approaches or angles I hadn't before. 

I'm also making sure to take all the basic courses (theory, methods, etc.) in each subfield before I make a sure decision on what I want to dissertate on--and this has helped substantially.  My original interests morph with the new information I take in.  I'm a little more flexible and open in that regard, in which case you might have it a little harder if you are adamant about the details of what and how you want to research this early on.

I introduced an idea for a research paper to one of my profs (who had no clue about it or any work in the area at all) that I was very interested in and I wanted to possibly publish in the future (a dream, of course, but I like to dream). And he said to teach it to him.  That's the approach I took.  He gave me a lot of guidance but what's exciting was that I had synthesized ideas from separate courses, and so no one really seemed to have explored it yet, so no footsteps I can follow in.  So far, it hasn't been too difficult.  I just talk to other profs as well--everyone so far has had different, interesting feedback to give.   

[kbatulli]

I am in my first year of a Ph.D. program in the humanities at an R1 University. When I applied and went on the campus visit, it seemed that the department was more focused on my subfield than it actually is.  While, on the surface, it seems that my interests meshed with particular faculty members but, after getting to know the faculty members and their work more thoroughly, it turns out we really have little in common research-wise.

You have been humbled (?) and feel insecure.  You need to trust someone where you are to acclimate.  When you become a small fish in a big pond, there is a lot of room to move around.  Investigate faculty and course offerings in other departments.  Socialize.  Your research is ostensibly interdisciplinary, if I remember correctly.

Change your learning strategy and summarize what you took from each of your seminars.  Then apply it to one of your pet projects.

You will notice I have said roughly the same thing SD did.

You're certainly right to point out that one needs to be self-reliant in addressing lacunae in his or her graduate education, but it's hard to deny that it is optimal to work in an environment (by way of profs, fellow grad students, and resources) conducive to one's particular scholarly interests. It also seems valuable to have an established prof. working in your specific sub-field (as opposed to any prof in the discipline who may know only peripherally about your research specialty) speak for the quality of your work when job hunting.

I was in the OP's situation a few years ago, and opted for a transfer to a dept. more focused on my own line of research. Decision to do so hasn't been regretted.

[boston]

I had an experience similar to the OP's, and I took a different track than that suggested by most of the posters. In my first two years in a program, all three professors working in a specific subfield left the school, because the department had decided that it no longer valued that subfield. I found someone willing to take me on, but required that I would have had to change my subfield. I chose to leave and reapply elsewhere, in a related but different field.

This was my experience as well, almost exactly. When my preferred subfield was unceremoniously dropped from my previous program, I made arrangements to apply to different grad schools. Although I may have finished one or two semesters sooner if I would have stayed at the same school, I never regretted my decision to leave. I am much happier in a department that specializes in my specific subfield. I can now take courses in my subfield, teach courses in my subfield, and work with professors and peers who share very similar research interests. To the OP, it is not impossible to stay in a program that does not cater to your subfield, but it will make your road to success more challenging.

[reesespeanutbutter]

FTR, I think the people on this thread have given excellent advice.  Some people are more blunt than others, but that's the beauty of life--we all have different communication styles.  I could add my own experience, which has involved making my way in a department that doesn't focus much on what I discovered I was really interested in, but the others pretty much covered that.  

Only interesting thing I have to add is that the DGS in my dept. has been a couple of different profs since I've been here, and it's never been a go-talk-to person.  We're expected to forge that relationship with other profs--I just assumed that was one of those things that is different from institution to institution.

Good luck, OP.  I wish you the best.