Critical Theory and Social Justice
Overview
Critical Theory and Social Justice (CTSJ) is fundamentally interdisciplinary, drawing on ideas from across traditional academic disciplines. "Critical" refers to various bodies of theory and method: Marxism, psychoanalysis, the Frankfurt School, deconstruction, critical race studies, queer theory, feminist theory, postcolonial theory, and intersectionality that interrogate the essentialist assumptions that underlie social identities. "Social justice" refers to an extra-juridical concept of fairness that is focused on exposing and ending social inequalities. The aim of the CTSJ Department is to promote understanding of how categories such as "race," "sexual orientation," and "nationality" help people recognize and combat some injustices and hinder them from recognizing and combating others.
The department's course offerings are divided into three levels:
- 100-level classes teach students how to think critically about a wide range of topics, including race, gender, sexuality, and nationality.
- 200-level classes teach students how to participate in a seminar, including how to contribute to class discussion and how to research and write a scholarly paper.
- 300-level classes teach students a major body of critical theory or a research methodology.
Major Requirements
The major in Critical Theory & Social Justice requires eleven courses (44 units). These eleven courses must include: one course at the 100 level, one course at the 200 level, two courses at the 300 level and two methods courses. Additionally, all students are required to take the Junior Seminar, the Senior Seminar, and the Social Justice Practicum.
COURSEWORK
| | One course at the 100 level | 4 units |
| | One course at the 200 level | 4 units |
| | Two courses at the 300 level | 8 units |
Introduction to Critical Theory
Majors are required to take CTSJ 100 before their junior seminar.
| CTSJ 100 | Introduction to Critical Theory | 4 units |
Junior Seminar
| CTSJ 390 | CTSJ Junior Seminar: Interventions | 4 units |
The Junior Seminar will be offered during the spring semester. CTSJ 100 is a prerequisite. Students planning to travel abroad during their junior year should do so in the fall semester and may seek approval of the department chair to have one study abroad class count as a CTSJ elective. All requests must include the following: the course syllabus, all assignments completed for the particular class, and the proper completed form from either IPO or the Registrar's Office.
Senior Seminar
| CTSJ 490 | Senior Seminar in Critical Theory - Social Justice | 4 units |
The senior seminar will be offered in the Fall semester. This workshop is designed to guide seniors through their comprehensive project, due at the end of the semester.
Two 4-unit methodologies courses
Additional Electives
Students must complete two additional CTSJ electives.
Social Justice Practicum
A minimum of four units. Credit for the social justice practicum may be earned through participation in a departmentally approved internship and enrollment in the practicum course.
Second-Stage Writing Requirement
Students majoring in Critical Theory and Social Justice satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by completing the Junior Seminar (CTSJ 390) or the Social Justice Practicum.
Comprehensive Requirement
In their senior year, students majoring in Critical Theory and Social Justice are required to complete a comprehensive project concerning a topic of the student's own particular interest. Students will complete their comps during CTSJ 490: Senior Seminar in the fall semester of their senior year. Each student is directed to consult with at least one CTSJ professor in addition to the professor teaching the senior seminar. The final version of the comprehensive project is due on the last day of the fall semester. A typical project culminates in a 20- to 25-page paper. The department is open to critical projects of comparable length that employ other media from students formally trained in those media. A comprehensive project earns the grade "Pass with Distinction" if the department faculty determine that it is of the quality publishable in the CTSJ Journal or another journal in the fields embraced by Critical Theory and Social Justice.
College Honors
Students majoring in CTSJ must be nominated during their senior year by a CTSJ faculty member to be considered for Honors. Nominations will be reviewed by the CTSJ department faculty, who will consider the nominee’s excellence as a CTSJ major by examining a number of factors such as: major GPA, quality of the comprehensive project, experiential learning, and engagement with community-based learning and research. Nominees must meet the minimum overall GPA of 3.25 set by the College for Honors. Students interested in being considered for Honors may apply during the first semester of their senior year to enroll in CTSJ 499: Honors Thesis, which is an independent study, by conferring with their academic adviser and the instructor of CTSJ 490: Senior Seminar. Permission to enroll in CTSJ 499 does not guarantee that the student will receive Honors; the student’s completed comprehensive project will be considered along with the additional criteria listed above in consideration for the designation of Honors.
Minor Requirements
The minor in Critical Theory & Social Justice requires five courses (20 units) taught in the CTSJ Department.
| | One course at the 100 level | 4 units |
| | One course at the 200 level | 4 units |
| | One course at the 300 level | 4 units |
Additional Electives:
Choose two approved courses from the CTSJ Department only.
Transfer Credit Policies
The CTSJ Department policy on transfer credit conforms to College policy. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for details.
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Courses
Critical Theory and Social Justice Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Heather Lukes, chair
Associate Professor
B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Mary Christianakis
Professor
B.A., M.Ed., University of California, Los Angeles; M.A., Loyola Marymount University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Glenn A. Elmer Griffin
Professor
B.A., Pacific Union College; Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary
On Special Appointment
Viviana MacManus
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor
A.B., Occidental College; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
Kai Small
Non-Tenure Track Instructor
A.B., Occidental College; M.A., University of California, San Diego