Critical Theory (Graduate Certificate)
Sharpen agile thinking and writing that help you tackle complex, hands-on problems. Pursue this interdisciplinary graduate certificate on its own or alongside a graduate degree, adding a philosophical dimension valuable to more specialized programs.
Quick facts
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Critical Theory graduate certificate description
The graduate certificate program in critical theory provides you with advanced study in critical and contemporary theory. It promotes the skills required to use and interpret concepts from continental philosophy and theoretical trends from the last two centuries. The program also offers tools for engaging critically with society and for producing new cultural texts and ideas.
Critical theory encompasses a broad range of disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and technical and physical sciences. You have access to a wide variety of courses that apply toward the certificate.
Why earn a critical theory graduate certificate at ASU?
Ground your studies in a required core course covering contemporary critical theories, then select four electives to build a plan of study shaped by your research, teaching or professional interests. A culminating portfolio lets you synthesize what you've learned and demonstrate how critical theory will inform your future work.
If you are an eligible nondegree student or working professional, you can pursue the certificate as well, and you can combine it with another eligible graduate certificate through ASU's Master of Advanced Study pathway.
Additional details
You can connect with peers through the official organization representing graduate students in the Department of English. The Department of English at Arizona State University is one of the largest and most interdisciplinary in the U.S. The Department of English belongs to The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at ASU, which is listed in the Top 20 for humanities research according to the National Science Foundation.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
15 credit hours and a portfolio
Required Core (3 credit hours) Electives (12 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0 credit hours)
ENG 502 Contemporary Critical Theories (3)
portfolio (0)
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Students will be able to recognize and apply the affordances and limitations in the applications of foundational concepts of critical theory.
- Students will be able to apply the paradigms of critical theory to develop original research projects.
- Students will be able to build on, qualify or challenge claims in critical theory.
Students will be able to recognize and apply the affordances and limitations in the applications of foundational concepts of critical theory.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information International students who need an F1 or J1 visa first need to apply to and be accepted into a graduate degree program before being considered for the certificate program. International students residing in the U.S. on other types of visas must adhere to all Graduate College policies and procedures regarding admission to be considered for admission to this certificate program. The graduate certificate in critical theory is available to all ASU graduate students irrespective of their major, as well as to nondegree graduate students and working professionals provided they meet eligibility criteria. Sample majors include English; women and gender studies; art history; and arts, media and engineering. Eligible applicants must have taken two courses in critical theory or a related field at the upper-division undergraduate level (such as ENG 401 Topics in Critical Theory) or at the graduate level (such as ENG 502 Contemporary Critical Theories). The statement of purpose should be approximately 300 to 600 words and address the following:
An applicant whose native language is not English and has not graduated from an institution of higher learning in the United States regardless of their current residency must provide proof of English proficiency. Applicants should note that official scores must be sent to ASU for the application to be processed.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling* |
*A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.
Explore expanded study opportunities
Students can complete two graduate certificate programs and combine them into a Master of Advanced Study degree, giving ultimate flexibility to build their own master's degree. Interested students can learn more about MAS requirements and the admission process.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this critical theory graduate certificate prepares you for
Writers and other content professionals are in demand today, not only in traditional print media, but also on digital platforms. Critical theory provides valuable skills in logical argument and conceptual analysis that are useful across the media spectrum, from scholarly writing to popular magazines and websites with social, cultural and political themes. Students of critical theory are increasingly involved in multimedia work and technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and in both academic and commercial innovative institutional ventures, such as tech startups.
Career examples include:
- analyst for cultural tech company
- content provider for social media
- freelance cultural critic (on- and offline)
- grassroots activist
- instructor in critical theory, cultural studies or media studies
- political strategist or campaign worker
- writer in marketing and advertising
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Department of English
|
RBHL 170
enggrad@asu.edu
480-965-3168
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
