Professors—Anton, D'Agostino, Heather, Jenkins, Kassiola, Kobashigawa, Longmore, Luft, Nichols, Oñate, Pinderhughes, Rivera, Schechter
Associate Professors—Biella, Carillo, Ferreira, Martel, Quesada, Steir, von Wahl
Assistant Professor—Willoughby-Herard
Lecturers—Gerson, Nutting
Minor in Critical Social Thought
Critical social theory challenges contemporary forms of political-economic power. In classes and internships, Critical Social Thought draws from Marxism, socialism, anarchism, the Frankfurt School, radical environmentalism and anti-consumerism, postmodernism and post-structuralism, globalization studies, feminism, queer theory, post colonial and subaltern studies, disability studies, critical race theory, theories of art and visual representation and other systems of thought that pay attention to the questions of power and exploitation in world politics, culture, economics and the formation of identities.
The minor seeks to address the way that so much of contemporary social thought is uncritical. It is guided by the belief that a better world is possible and that social thought has an important role in outlining the form such a world might take and identifying the agents who might be capable of bringing it about.
Critical social thought serves as a foundation in critical theory that can be applied to a variety of disciplines in the social sciences, humanities and the arts. Critical social thought can be pursued in conjunction with any number of majors enriching and diversifying these fields of study including but not limited to sociology, human sexuality studies, psychology, history, philosophy, women studies, raza studies, ethnic studies, political science, international relations, criminal justice etc. In addition, critical social thought can help establish skills that will be useful in post-graduate careers ranging from careers in social activism and social work, to politics, law, health care, policy and many others.
Each student shall, in consultation with a faculty adviser, develop an individual program of 18-21 units. Students may also take an internship program in political activism or other related areas in conjunction with these classes to count towards the minor.
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
| Program | Units | |
| Introduction--Overview of the tradition of critical social thought | ||
| CST 300 | Introduction to Critical Social Thought | 3 |
| Core--Select at least two courses from the Theory and Pedagogy field. | ||
| Theory and Pedagogy | 6-8 | |
| SOC 394 | Topic in Advanced Research Methods | |
| CST 400 | Topics in Critical Social Theory [any CST 400 title] | |
| HUM 410 | The Modern Revolution | |
| HUM / PHIL 413 | Arendt | |
| HUM 430 | Postmodern Criticism | |
| HUM 440 / PHIL 409 | Heidegger | |
| PHIL 330 | Political Philosophy | |
| PLSI / PHIL 355 | The Politics and Ethics of the Consumer Society | |
| PLSI 351 | Political Theory: The Classical Tradition (4) | |
| PLSI 352 | Political Theory: Reformation to Nineteenth Century (4) | |
| PLSI 353 | Political Theory: The Twentieth Century (4) | |
| PLSI 360 | Development of American Political Thought (4) | |
| PLSI 370 | Classical Marxism (4) | |
| SOC 272 | Social Inequality (4) | |
| Electives--Choose at least two courses from at least two of the following fields: • Identity and Resistance • Globalism, Empire and Social Movements • Culture as Critical Social Thought An approved internship may be substituted for 3-4 units of electives. |
6-8 | |
| Identity and Resistance | 3-4 | |
| ANTH 588 | Anthropology and Human Rights | |
| ANTH 569/ |
Cross Cultural Sex and Gender | |
| ANTH/ |
Anthropology of Women | |
| CST/ |
Racism: Cross-Cultural Analysis | |
| HIST 490 | A History of Disability in America | |
| HUM/ |
North and South American Cultural Expression | |
| HMSX 455 | Sex, Power and Politics | |
| HUM 360 | Styles of African Cultural Expression | |
| HUM 415 | Contemporary Culture | |
| GPS/ |
Peace Law and Human Rights in the US | |
| PLSI 381 | Political Theories of Sexuality | |
| RAZA 415 | Political Economy and Raza | |
| RAZA 575 | Raza Culture and Identity | |
| RAZA 660 | Chicano/Latino Politics | |
| WOMS 160 | Women, Politics and Citizenship | |
| Globalism, Empire and Social Movements | 3-4 | |
| CST 585 | Multinational Corporations and World Cultures | |
| GEOG 571 | Geography of Africa | |
| GPS/ |
Introduction to Global Peace Studies | |
| HIST 386 | Soviet Russia, the West, and the Cold War | |
| HIST 390 | European International History, 1918-1945 | |
| HIST 400 | History of Modern European Imperialism | |
| HIST 476 | American Environmental History | |
| HIST/ |
Social Change in Latin America | |
| IR 307 | Culture and Globalization | |
| IR/ |
Gender, Equality and Politics: A Comparative Perspective | |
| IR/ |
Modernization and Third World Countries | |
| PHIL 435 | Human Rights in a Global Perspective | |
| PLSI 354 | Politics, the Environment, and Social Change | |
| RAZA/ |
Gendered Borders: Latinas and Globalization | |
| URBS 514 | Sustainable Environmentalism and the Cities | |
| URBS 515 | Race, Poverty and the Environment | |
| Culture as Critical Social Thought | 3-4 | |
| ANTH 327 | Anthropology and Film (4) | |
| ART 403/ |
Queer Art History | |
| ART 501 | Art and Politics of the 20th Century | |
| ART 501 | Art in the 1980s: The Postmodern Dilemma | |
| ART 501 | Women and Art: 20th- 21st Centuries | |
| ART 501 | Three Women Artists: 20th Century | |
| BECA/ |
Women and Media | |
| CINE 305 | Film and the Holocaust | |
| CINE 308. | Third Cinema | |
| CINE 373 | Film and Society | |
| CINE 342 | Documentary Film | |
| DANC 350 | Dance Aesthetics | |
| MUS 505 | Music of World's Peoples | |
| MUS 511 | The Roots of Rock | |
| COMM 525 | Sexual Identity and Communication (4) | |
| COMM 697 | Performance Theory and Practice in Communication (4) | |
| TH A 407 | Popular Theatre | |
| TH A 691 | Advanced Multicultural Production Workshop | |
| Capstone course required of all minors: This is a supervised individual or collective project working with the Critical Social Thought faculty. | ||
| CST 680 | Integrative Project in Critical Social Thought | 3 |
| Minimum total | 18-21 | |