Our MA in Critical Studies

The Critical Studies Program offers an immersive exploration into how scholarship can confront and reshape the systems that govern our world.

This program not only grounds students in theoretical frameworks but also emphasizes the development of practical skills in research, argumentation, and critical analysis.

With dedicated mentorship, students hone their abilities in critical thinking, research methodologies, and academic writing—skills that are highly valued across various professional fields. The program exposes students to a wide array of critical perspectives and lenses, encouraging them to engage deeply with complex social issues.

Students gain hands-on experience through presenting research, facilitating public dialogues, and collaborating with diverse organizations. Many also take on teaching assistantships, where they assist in undergraduate courses and further their understanding of pedagogical practices.

Engage with pressing topics such as social justice, media literacy, and the impact of emerging technologies, all while contributing to the ongoing discourse on creating a more equitable future.

Critical Lenses

In the Critical Studies program, students adopt an interdisciplinary approach to examining society, history, culture, and the arts, with a strong focus on power structures, ideologies, and social constructs. Students engage deeply with today’s most pressing issues, including those related to race, gender, class, and sexuality.

A few critical lenses we apply to these issues include:

• Feminism

• Queer Theory

• Critical Race Theory

• Post-Colonialism

• Affect Theory

• Disability Studies

• Cultural Studies

• Environmental Criticism

These diverse perspectives equip students with the tools to critically analyze and address the complex challenges of contemporary society.

Dual Degree Option

In the dual degree program, students have the opportunity to earn both an MA in Critical Studies and an MFA in either Visual Studies or Print Media within three years. This unique program blends the analytical depth of an MA with the intensive creative practice of an MFA, providing students with a comprehensive perspective on art and culture.

Through this integrated approach, students develop the ability to critically analyze their own work and the work of others, while gaining a profound understanding of the cultural, social, and historical contexts that shape contemporary art. Additionally, the program prepares students to teach at the college level, equipping them with both the scholarly and practical expertise needed to educate and inspire the next generation of artists and thinkers.