Programs with Cultural Studies/Theory Emphasis?

[frauleinlayla]

I've been focusing mostly on theory (specifically intersections of gender, queer, and disability theories) in my MA, but now I'm having trouble declaring a period focus. I'm a Contemporary kind of gal, and I've finally realized that what I really need is a program with a strong theory and/or cultural studies emphasis. I wish there were more places that actually offered a Cultural Studies PhD... but no such luck. I'm also looking at CompRhet PhDs with cultural studies emphases.

Suggestions, anyone? The list I have is pitifully short.

(By the way, I'm new here, and I can't believe I didn't know of this site earlier! Looks incredibly helpful!)

[YagglesSnaggles]

On 11/7/2009 at 8:52 PM, frauleinlayla said:

I've been focusing mostly on theory (specifically intersections of gender, queer, and disability theories) in my MA, but now I'm having trouble declaring a period focus. I'm a Contemporary kind of gal, and I've finally realized that what I really need is a program with a strong theory and/or cultural studies emphasis. I wish there were more places that actually offered a Cultural Studies PhD... but no such luck. I'm also looking at CompRhet PhDs with cultural studies emphases.

Suggestions, anyone? The list I have is pitifully short.

(By the way, I'm new here, and I can't believe I didn't know of this site earlier! Looks incredibly helpful!)

I had a discussion with a professor about this the other day. What is the difference between theory/ cultural studies and trad. literary studies when the latter is increasingly invested in looking beyond literary works to discern stuff about the books anyways. Cultural Studies=everything is pretty much a text right? And literary studies= literature is the subject, and everything else is important for the ways it shapes/ defines/ influences literature, blah.

Well last year I tried to go the cultural studies route, and as you point out there are few schools, relatively speaking, that offer this as a specialization. For my SOP, for instance, i tried to say that I was pretty much interested in a lot of stuff--the a-conventional, unique mindset type of guy. I think I went wrong in this sense, meaning I tried to curtail my interests to Cultural Study specific stuff, when in reality, even in cultural studies you have to narrow it down.

With that said, I will get to your question. The few schools that do offer Cultural Studies seem to be those middle of the pack ones that are appealing to a lot of people because they figure they are neither aiming too high nor too low. These schools end up being actually more competitive because of this, and also because they draw in people from a range of interests. I have no idea what your credentials are, but in my focus I am narrowing down my interests back into the literature specific realm and from there I will hopefully be able to culturalize my specialty. There are many literary programs that have extremely large and diverse faculties, and I figure I will not be precluded from exploring my non-conventional interests once I get in.

Anywhere you go you go there will be high exposure to "theory."

Disability Studies is an interesting field, and sometimes it falls under American Studies, another option you might want to consider.

With that also said, here are some cultural studies-ish schools.

Pitt

Carnegie

WUSTL

Many of the Suny Schools (Buffalo permits its students a great degree of freedom)Although, there are many many horror stories about this place.

Washington

Stony Brook has a pretty popular CS program, and several more.

[Mondo]

"Many of the Suny Schools (Buffalo permits its students a great degree of freedom)Although, there are many many horror stories about this place."

Would you mind sharing the horror stories at Buffalo (or other SUNY programs)? Are they funding-related?

[YagglesSnaggles]

On 11/17/2009 at 7:17 PM, Mondo said:

"Many of the Suny Schools (Buffalo permits its students a great degree of freedom)Although, there are many many horror stories about this place."

Would you mind sharing the horror stories at Buffalo (or other SUNY programs)? Are they funding-related?

admitting many Ph.D Applicants to Master's program with no funding. it has been said that these students are treated in keeping with the fact they are admitted solely to fund the Ph.D admits.

[circumfession]

On 11/18/2009 at 6:01 AM, YagglesSnaggles said:

admitting many Ph.D Applicants to Master's program with no funding. it has been said that these students are treated in keeping with the fact they are admitted solely to fund the Ph.D admits.

I'm not sure that this information was entirely accurate. I was admitted into Buffalo's PhD program 2 years ago, and had a good look at their numbers.  I'm not sure that fairness/accuracy has much to do with the application process. (That's a jab at the insanity of admissions in general, not at your comment regarding Buffalo. The very best and the very worst students tend to fare as expected, but many students in "between," with quirky interests and/or weak spots tend to face a far more aleatory process). The number of applications from 2 years ago was 180, which seems pretty "accurate" compared with similar numbers at similar programs (ranking-wise, also interest-wise).

As for how students are treated, this will vary widely depending on who you speak with. My partner completed an unfunded MA at Buffalo, and used his education there as a springboard into a top 5 Ph.D program. All of his close friends among his MA cohort landed good (funded) offers, including another student who ended up at a top 10 program. Sure, he had to prove himself during his time as an MA, and went out of his way to attend meetings, go to readings, etc, etc, but that's a part of graduate school life in general. There were certainly MA students who treated themselves as second-class citizens, but it is almost a choice (out of fear, perhaps?) on their part, rather than they receive this treatment from the program. Many of the MA students, for example, choose to NOT sit at the table, and rarely--if ever--spoke up in class discussion. But the very fact that they do take classes with the PhD students, and have access to the same professors already (to me) suggests that they are given the opportunity to level the playing field. Most, to put it bluntly, can't or did not take advantage of it. That's understandable (for obvious reasons, most MA students know a bit less going into the program than their PhD counterparts), but doesn't merit the sort of complaints that I think you're suggesting.

This isn't to say that Buffalo doesn't have its problems: as a SUNY school, it is facing drastic funding cuts (like the UC's). In the past year (since my partner left), the program accepted a far smaller PhD cohort and a far larger MA cohort, and this may affect the quality of class discussions/camaderie. I have no idea if it actually does: it's pure speculation on my part. There is some dissent within the program (which is hardly unique: most programs have some internal fractions). Buffalo's job record can be problematic: the legendary freedom to do what you want is quite accurate, but unless you force yourself to make some pragmatic moves (picking fields that can be legible to a job committee, learning your languages, etc), you can end up being unhireable...but that's a choice that's largely in your hands, as a graduate student. All those are issues that might be best assessed during your (admitted student) visit, so if I were you, I wouldn't let that stop me from applying anyway. It definitely is one of the best places to study cultural studies/theory.

I'd also add to this list:

UI-Chicago 

UC-Irvine (you might also want to look into Irvine's cultural and theory program, though you'll need a pretty strong theory background to be competitive)

Oregon? (many cultural studies student seem to have this on their list, but I don't know its reputation)

UT-Austin

WUSTL

CUNY

Duke (Lit or English)

[theunnamable]

This was very helpful, thanks.  As an addendum, Irvine's Culture and Theory program isn't accepting applications this year.  I quote from the website: "Due to the current budget situation, Culture and Theory will be suspending admission for the 2010-2011 academic year. Apologies for any difficulties this may cause. Please contact Arlene Keizer or Francine Jeffrey with any questions."