Concentration
This concentration provides students an opportunity to engage in the interdisciplinary study of Critical Theory, an influential movement in philosophy and social thought. Critical Theory works to blur the traditional distinctions between "pure thought" and "material practices" - social, textual, political, historical, and economic relations. What designates a certain course as Critical Theory does not depend on the objects one analyzes - which are found across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and even natural sciences - but on methods that bridge these disciplines. Critical Theory questions the frameworks of understanding and conceptual hierarchies we rely on to explain the world; explores the historical conditions of contemporary thought; and reflects on the connections between cultural and political phenomena.
Critical Theory Concentration
Structure of Concentration
A concentration in Critical Theory consists of five (5) courses and one (1) course or project that involves a major research paper. At least three (3) of the five courses counted toward the concentration must be selected from the list of Core Courses. No more than three (3) of the five courses may be taken in any single department.
The major research paper must focus primarily on Critical Theory and must be completed in the senior year or after the student has taken four CT courses-whichever comes first. Students may fulfill this requirement by completing: (a) a departmental senior seminar that requires a major paper engaging with Critical Theory; (b) a departmental Honors project focused on Critical Theory; or (c) an equivalent research paper or project approved in advance by the program coordinator (e.g. an independent study with a participating faculty member; a Keck summer research project); or (d) with the approval of the course instructor, an approximately 20-page long paper for one of your five CT courses.
All courses and the activity in which the student will produce the major research paper should be selected and developed as part of a coherent plan in consultation with an advisor from the steering committee, and must be approved by the director of the program. A copy of the final project should also be supplied to the program director.
Core Courses focus directly and in a sustained manner on the founders and architects of Critical Theory, including its background traditions of thought. These courses offer a basic understanding of the genealogy, purpose, and philosophical/historical/intellectual background of Critical Theory, and provide students with the fundamental conceptual framework and terminology of the field.
- ART 264 - Contemporary Art and Theory
- ART 394 - Topics Course*
- ENGL 212 - Introduction to Literary Theory
- ENGL 235 - A Kafkaesque Century
- ENVI 274 - Spinoza's Eco-Society: Contractless Society and Its Ecology
- GERM 271 - "Dead White Men" in the Era of Antiracism
- GERM 273 - German-French Dialogues in Critical Theory: Marx-Freud-Sartre-Lacan
- GERM 274 - Spinoza's Eco-Society: Contractless Society and Its Ecology
- GERM 275 - Theoretical Approaches to European and American Cinema
- GERM 276 - Marx, the Imaginary, and Neoliberalism
- GERM 277 - Metaphysics in Secular Thought
- GERM 278 - Marx, Religion, and Biopolitical Race
- GERM 279 - Value: The Bad, the Ugly, and the Cheap
- GERM 294 - Topics Course*
- GERM 365 - A Kafkaesque Century
- GERM 394 - Topics Course*
- SPAN 394 - Topics Course*
- INTL 367 - Postcolonial Theory
- MCST 271 - "Dead White Men" in the Era of Antiracism
- MCST 273 - German-French Dialogues in Critical Theory: Marx-Freud-Sartre-Lacan
- MCST 275 - Theoretical Approaches to European and American Cinema
- MCST 276 - Marx, the Imaginary, and Neoliberalism
- MCST 278 - Marx, Religion, and Biopolitical Race
- MCST 279 - Value: The Bad, the Ugly, and the Cheap
- MCST 388 - Advanced Research Topics*
- PHIL 300 - 20th Century Continental Philosophy
- PHIL 311 - Philosophy of Language
- POLI 160 - Foundations of Political Theory
- POLI 274 - Spinoza's Eco-Society: Contractless Society and Its Ecology
- POLI 276 - Marx, the Imaginary, and Neoliberalism
- POLI 277 - Metaphysics in Secular Thought
- POLI 278 - Marx, Religion, and Biopolitical Race
- POLI 294 - Topics Course*
- RELI 256 - Marxism, Anarchism, and Religion
- RELI 276 - Marx, the Imaginary, and Neoliberalism
- RELI 277 - Metaphysics in Secular Thought
- RELI 278 - Marx, Religion, and Biopolitical Race
- SOCI 272 - Social Theories
- WGSS 300 - Worlds Upside Down: Revolutions in Theories and Practices
*Please refer to the Critical Theory website for semester-approved topics courses
Elective Courses either use critical-theory-oriented approaches or address specialized subfields within Critical Theory. They offer students a chance to acquire more detailed mastery of specific topics in the field of Critical Theory, as well as to gain exposure to the broader array of its applications in contemporary discourse.
- AMST 294 - Topics Course*
- AMST 300 - Critical Legal Studies
Depends on semester-based topic - ANTH 294 - Topics Course*
- ANTH 487 - Theory in Anthropology
- ART 253 - Transnational Surrealism: Art, Photography, and Film
- FREN 446 - The Animal and the Human in the French Enlightenment
- GERM 230 - Green Germany
- GERM 366 - Cinema Studies
- INTL 335 - Global Generosity
- INTL 294 - Topics Course*
- INTL 394 - Topics Course*
- MCST 110 - Texts and Power: Foundations of Media and Cultural Studies
- MCST 266 - Cinema Studies
- MCST 321 - Cultures of Neoliberalism
- MUSI 155 - Music and Freedom
- MUSI 425 - Late Beethoven and Critical Musicology
- PHIL 294 - Topics Course*
- PHIL 394 - Topics Course*
- POLI 260 - Contemporary Political Theory
- POLI 261 - Feminist Political Theory
- POLI 265 - Work, Wealth, Well-Being
- POLI 266 - Medieval Political Thought
- POLI 320 - Global Political Economy
- RELI 194 - Topics Course*
- RELI 235 - Theorizing Religion
- RELI 311 - Ritual
- RELI 394 - Topics Course*
- RUSS 151 - "Things Don't Like Me:" The Material World and Why It Matters
- SOCI 194 - Topics Course*
- SOCI 150 - Prius or Pickup? Political Divides and Social Class
- SOCI 290 - Islam and the West
- SOCI 294 - Topics Course*
- WGSS 200 - Feminist/Queer Theories and Methodologies
- WGSS 220 - Feminist Reconstructions: Indian
Depends on semester-based topic - WGSS 240 - Comparative Feminisms: Whiteness and Postcolonialisms
- WGSS 315 - Comparative (Neo/Post) Modernities
- WGSS 330 - Democracies, Feminisms, Capitalisms
*Please refer to the Critical Theory website for semester-approved topics courses
Students are encouraged to take courses on Critical Theory during their study abroad. Up to one course credits may be counted toward the completion of the concentration with the advance approval of the program director.
Students may search for courses currently being offered and affiliated with the Critical Theory concentration through both the Class Schedules on the Critical Theory website and the Searchable Class Schedule within 1600grand.
Students may also earn credit toward the Critical Theory concentration by conducting an independent study with one of the professors affiliated with the Critical Theory concentration.