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Major:  The major in Critical Theory and Social Justice requires ten classes (40 units), including at least one at the 100 level, one at the 200 level, two and the 300 level, one class that counts as experiential learning, and the Senior Seminar (CTSJ 490).

Major with topical emphasis:  A student may (or may not) choose to major in Critical Theory and Social Justice with an emphasis in one of three areas:

• Critical Race Studies (R)
• Postcolonial Theory (P)
• Queer Studies (Q)

To graduate with an emphasis, a student must fulfill the requirements of the major (see above) and at least five of the student’s ten major classes must be recognized by the Department as counting toward one particular emphasis.

Minor:  The minor in Critical Theory and Social Justice requires five classes (20 units), including at least one at the 100 level, one at the 200 level, and one at the 300 level.

Junior Writing Requirement:  Students majoring in Critical Theory and Social Justice satisfy the final component of Occidental College’s college-wide writing requirement by submitting a portfolio by the eighth week of spring semester of the junior year.  A portfolio consists of two essays, one a research paper (typically written for a 200-level CTSJ class) and one an analytical essay (typically written for a 300-level CTSJ class).

Senior Comprehensive Requirement:  In their senior year, a student majoring in CTSJ is required to complete a comprehensive research/writing project concerning a topic of the student’s own particular interest.  Each student works with an advisor from CTSJ; a student may also work with affiliates or other faculty as arranged with his or her advisor.  Students are guided individually by these faculty in both the formulation and completion of the project.  Typically, a project culminates in a 15-20 page paper, due around the 8^th week of the student’s final semester.  An especially successful comprehensive paper will qualify a student to graduate with distinction.

Honors:  Students who have met College requirements for honors may undertake a more ambitious comprehensive project.  Interested students are instructed to see the relevant pages of the College Handbook and consult with the department chair for details.  If a student meets the College and Department requirements, he or she may submit a proposal to conduct an honors research/writing project.  If the department approves the proposal, the student will be allowed to register for CTSJ 499: Honors Thesis during the student’s penultimate semester.  The student uses CTSJ 499 to write a complete draft of an honors thesis.  The final version, typically a 40-50 page paper, is due around the 8^th week of the student’s final semester.  An especially successful honors thesis will allow a student to graduate with distinction, as well as with honors.

Classes

The department’s course offerings are divided into three levels:

• 100-level classes teach students how to think critically about a wide-range of topics, including race, gender, sexuality, and nationality.
• 200-level classes teach students how to participate in a seminar, including how to contribute to class discussion and how to research and write a scholarly paper.
• 300-level classes teach students a major body of critical theory or a research methodology.

Students are required to work with an advisor to design a plan of study, and advisors will direct students to begin with one or two classes at the 100-level before moving on to take three or four classes at the 200-level, and then three or four at the 300-level.

See the College Catalog for a complete list of courses.