General Information

The Unit for Criticism is an interdisciplinary clearinghouse for faculty and graduate students interested in cultural criticism and critical theory. The Unit cooperates with regular, degree-granting academic departments in coordinating a body of course offerings in criticism and theory. We also sponsor a number of on-campus activities that bring together a diverse range of scholars, not only from various departments on campus but from around the world. Students who've attended (or participated in) Unit events in the past have frequently remarked that the Unit's commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship has introduced them to theoretical paradigms, authors, faculty members, and other students that they would never have been exposed to otherwise. Finally, new as of Spring 2006, the Unit for Criticism is pleased to offer a fellowship to the summer School for Criticism and Theory at Cornell University, click here for video clip and more information about the program.

There are two ways in which graduate students can become affiliated with the Unit for Criticism.

1. Unit Affiliation: Students can submit the Unit Student Application Form, which, upon acceptance as a Unit Affiliate, allows access to various programs sponsored by the Unit.
   
   
2. Unit Certification: Unit Certification requires a more formal program of study, similar to a minor, allowing students to add the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory Certification to their CVs and job application letters. Certification is offered in conjunction with existing degrees at both the masters and doctoral levels. Since this is not a separate degree program, students must be accepted for graduate study by a major department and fulfill all the requirements for their major degree.

   Certification requirements:

   -Four Unit-approved courses with critical theory content, 2 of these outside of your department.
   -Attendance at 16 Unit events, such as seminars and colloquia.
   -A 4-5 page reserach prospectus that clarifies the role of critical theory in your research project, usually submitted at dissertation commencement.
   -Substantial writing sample, such as a seminar paper or dissertation chapter
   -Completed application form.

For more information, contact the Unit director.