Interdisciplinary Program in Critical Theory
Northwestern University
The Interdisciplinary Program in Critical Theory (IPCT) offers a thorough introduction to critical theory through a structured, interdepartmental curriculum. Over 200 students from relevant departments participate in Northwestern’s Interdisciplinary Cluster in Critical Theory. The Cluster offers opportunities for graduate student accreditation through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Critical Theory. It offers a number of forums and venues for intellectual exchange between graduate students and faculty with related interests in different departments and programs. It facilitates reading groups, workshops, study abroad programs, and other opportunities for graduate students, and it offers a coherent program of interdisciplinary coursework at Northwestern.
Among the activities regularly organized by the Cluster are: welcome and end of year events for new graduates, faculty-graduate book dialogues, annual Critical Theory in Critical Times workshops, annual events organized by Northwestern’s Cornell University School of Criticism and Literary Theory fellowship awardee, visiting speakers including lectures and a workshop with our Max Kade visiting professors, an annual tri-university Fall doctoral institute rotating between Northwestern University, the University of Frankfurt and the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, and further annual doctoral workshops with visiting faculty and graduate students through several inter-university international cooperations.
Northwestern also offers the Berlin Program in Critical Theory, which affords up to five highly qualified advanced graduate students from a wide variety of disciplines a unique opportunity to spend an academic year in Berlin, familiarizing themselves with research in different areas of interest to critical theory broadly conceived. During the Fall quarter, the critical theory professor from Northwestern University will lead a research seminar at the Center for Social Critique at Humboldt University focusing on questions of current concern in contemporary critical theory. After attending the seminar, the visiting graduate students from Northwestern participate in the research colloquium with the CSC director while conducting their research at Humboldt University. The critical theory professor from Northwestern, who will teach the research seminar in the Fall of 2026, will be the Harold H. and Virginia Anderson Professor of Philosophy, Cristina Lafont.
Northwestern’s Department of German offers a Graduate Program in German Literature and Critical Thought.
The IPCT also offers an Undergraduate Minor in Critical Theory. Through the undergraduate-initiated and organized Critical Theory Research Workshop, the minor benefits from an active undergraduate research culture. It offers a fortnightly series of workshops by invited graduate speakers, and an annual lecture from a visiting speaker. The minor is also associated with the popular undergraduate Paris Program in Critical Theory, Literature, and Media, which offers undergraduates the unique opportunity to spend a quarter studying in Paris. In the Program of Comparative Literary Studies, undergraduates can also complete a major with a concentration in critical theory.
Contact Information
Cristina Lafont, Director
Alejandra Uslenghi, Associate Director
Crowe Hall 4-103, 1860 Campus Drive,
Evanston, IL
United States https://criticaltheory.northwestern.edu/
criticaltheory@northwestern.edu
(847) 491-3864
Region
North America
Academic Program
Certificate (includes emphasis, specialization, or concentration)
Non-Degree
Year Established
2001