CRITICAL SOCIAL THEORY
An introduction to many key movements and thinkers within Critical Social Theory. Explores the changing histories and presents of the field through a range of primary works from philosophy, critical theory, and geography - paying particular attention to the points where social theory intersects with problems of space and place. Covers classic problems in social theory ranging from theories of the political-economic constitution of the social (Marxism) and its extensions into the culture (the Frankfurt School) to a range of mid- to late-twentieth-century epistemological interventions framed around questions of difference and identity. Recent contestations and reformulations that have surfaced across ontological, decolonial, non-human, algorithmic, and other reimaginings and extensions of the social are examined.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Junior standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Humanities or Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2023 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the history of and key perspectives in Critical Social Theory. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Read and research theoretical scholarship. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify effective strategies for developing and conducting theory-driven research. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain approaches to researching socio-spatial topics. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Write and edit academic theoretical research. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Describe the nuances of the key debates in Critical Social Theory. Audience: Graduate 7. Identify the key issues in recent socio-spatial theory and the implications for, refractions through, and/or reactions by broader contemporary intellectual movements. Audience: Graduate 8. Design and complete theoretical/critical scholarship. Audience: Graduate 9. Guide classroom discussions. Audience: Graduate 10. Develop a personalized set of approaches to mediating challenging geographical, critical and theoretical concepts for a broad range of learners. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the history of and key perspectives in Critical Social Theory. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Read and research theoretical scholarship. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify effective strategies for developing and conducting theory-driven research. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain approaches to researching socio-spatial topics. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Write and edit academic theoretical research. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Describe the nuances of the key debates in Critical Social Theory. Audience: Graduate 7. Identify the key issues in recent socio-spatial theory and the implications for, refractions through, and/or reactions by broader contemporary intellectual movements. Audience: Graduate 8. Design and complete theoretical/critical scholarship. Audience: Graduate 9. Guide classroom discussions. Audience: Graduate 10. Develop a personalized set of approaches to mediating challenging geographical, critical and theoretical concepts for a broad range of learners. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027