Learning Goals

The learning goals of Critical Social Thought are:

• Interrogate pressing social and cultural issues outside of traditional disciplinary boundaries.
• Analyze the relations of power in knowledge production and social life.
• Apply interdisciplinary methodology informed by an array of critical traditions.
• Conduct independent research on a self-designed course of study.

Faculty

This area of study is administered by the Department of Critical Race and Political Economy:

Kristie Ford, Professor of Sociology and Critical Race and Political Economy

Lucas Wilson, Professor of Economics and Critical Race and Political Economy on the Ford Foundation

David Hernández, Associate Professor of Latinx Studies and Critical Race and Political Economy

Ren-yo Hwang, Associate Professor of Gender Studies and Critical Race and Political Economy

Vanessa Rosa, Associate Professor of Latinx Studies and Critical Race and Political Economy, On Leave 2024-2025

Maria Abello Hurtado, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Critical Race and Political Economy

Pilar Eguez Guevara, Visiting Assistant Professor in Critical Race and Political Economy

Alexis Holloway, Mount Holyoke Fellow and Visiting Instructor in Critical Race and Political Economy

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 40 credits:

¹

Students enroll in CRPE-392/GNDST-392 to fulfill this requirement. In the event that there are insufficient numbers of graduating seniors to fill this class, students will complete their capstone projects through independent study or in another 300 level seminar. The capstone project is a thesis, research paper, performance, or multimedia project that serves as a culminating intellectual experience of a self-designed course of study.  Normally this project will be completed in the capstone seminar.

Other Requirements

• Declaring the major. Students who wish to major in critical social thought will meet with the program chair to discuss their major interest and to select two advisors from the program faculty.
• Proposal. Submitted after completion of CRPE-205 and prior to declaring the major. Students must submit a 2-3 page proposal that identifies the focus of their course of study, explains its genesis and significance, and includes an annotated list of the courses they have and intend to take for credit in their major. Students will submit the proposal to their two advisors for approval before submitting it to the chair.

Additional Specifications

• The Critical Social Thought major and minor are available only to students who entered the College before fall 2023. Students entering fall 2023 or later should instead refer to Critical Race and Political Economy (CRPE).
• No more than a total of 8 credits of independent study (CRPE-295 or 395, or before fall 2023 CST-295 or 395) may be counted toward the major in addition to 8 credits of CRPE-395 senior thesis work.
• Students who declare a critical social thought major automatically fulfill the College's "outside the major" requirement.

Requirements for the Minor

A minimum of 20 credits:

Other Requirements

• Declaring the minor. Students who wish to minor in critical social thought shall meet with the program chair to discuss their minor interest and to select an advisor from the program faculty.
• Proposal. Submitted after completion of CRPE-205 and prior to declaring the minor. To declare the minor, students must submit a 2-3 page proposal that identifies the focus of their course of study, explains its genesis and significance, and includes an annotated list of the courses they have and intend to take for credit in their minor. Students will submit the proposal to their advisor for approval before submitting it to the chair.

Additional Specifications

• The Critical Social Thought major and minor are available only to students who entered the College before fall 2023. Students entering fall 2023 or later should instead refer to Critical Race and Political Economy (CRPE).
• No more than a total of 4 credits of independent study (CRPE-295 or 395, or before fall 2023 CST-295 or 395) may be counted toward the minor.

Courses Meeting Requirements for Critical Social Thought