Critical Theory Designated Emphasis Open House

January 26, 2024

Join The Program in Critical Theory's faculty and students for a panel discussion about the Designated Emphasis (DE) in Critical Theory. All UC Berkeley PhD students interested in applying to the DE are invited to attend.


Thursday, February 15, 2024 | 5:30 - 7 PM

330 Wheeler Hall


Serving nearly 100 graduate students across 25 departments, the DE enables graduate students already enrolled in UC Berkeley PhD programs to obtain certification of a Designated Emphasis specialization in Critical Theory. The DE offers courses that range from the nineteenth-century notion of critique to the Frankfurt School and other twentieth­-century currents to contemporary Critical Theory, including postcolonial theory, critical race theory, and forms of queer, feminist, and trans studies. Rather than produce a single, orthodox vision of Critical Theory, the program at Berkeley builds out from these crucial inherited traditions to engage global formations and emerging crises.

In addition to programming and events, enrollment provides the opportunity to participate in working groups and offers dissertation fellowships for late-stage PhD candidates.

Applications to the DE in Critical Theory are due Friday, March 15, by 4 pm. All students enrolled in PhD programs at UC Berkeley who have not already taken the QE are eligible to apply. To learn more about the application process and access application forms, please visit our website.

Event Accessibility

330 Wheeler Hall is wheelchair accessible. Please view this website for more details about accessing Wheeler Hall. If you require an accommodation for effective communication or mobility access, please contact Patty Dunlap at pattydunlap@berkeley.edu.