Universities nationwide to offer ‘Critical Whiteness Studies’ courses.
Courses on Critical Whiteness Studies Offered at Colleges Across the Country
Get ready for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, as several colleges across the country are offering courses on “Critical Whiteness Studies,” an offshoot of Critical Race Theory.
University of New Mexico
The Department of English Language and Literature at the University of New Mexico will be hosting a “Critical Whiteness Studies” course in Fall 2023. Students in this course will have the opportunity to learn about whiteness as an ideology of supremacy and domination. Click here for more information.
University of Colorado, Denver
The University of Colorado, Denver offers a course titled “Problematizing Whiteness: Educating for Racial Justice.” This course delves into Critical Whiteness Studies, providing a deeper analysis of race that takes into account the experiences of people of color as well as the complicity of white people. Click here to learn more.
University of Oregon
At the University of Oregon, students can enroll in a class called “Critical Whiteness Studies.” This course explores the social construction of race by investigating and historicizing ‘whiteness’ as a racial category in the U.S. The university also offers courses on “Environmental Racism” and “Feminist Theories of Race.” Click here to find out more.
University of San Francisco
The School of Education at the University of San Francisco offers a course called “Whiteness, Power and Privilege.” This course examines racialization and racism through the lens of Critical Whiteness Studies, shedding light on how whiteness drives oppression. Click here for further details.
University of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound’s English Department hosted a course on “Critical Whiteness Studies” during the 2022-2023 school year. This course engages with ‘whiteness’ as a category of identification, providing a deeper understanding of its history, function, and effects within literature. Click here to learn more.
University of Wisconsin Madison
The African Cultural Studies department at the University of Wisconsin Madison previously offered a course titled “The Problem of Whiteness.” This course aimed to understand how whiteness is socially constructed and experienced, with the goal of dismantling white supremacy. Although the course listing is now deleted, you can access the archived version here.
These courses provide students with the opportunity to critically examine whiteness and its impact on society. By exploring the social construction of race and challenging dominant ideologies, students can contribute to the fight against racism and oppression.
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According to Johnathan Butcher, a Will Skillman Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy for the Heritage Foundation, these courses are rooted in critical theory, a neo-Marxist worldview. While Critical Whiteness Studies shares similarities with Critical Race Theory, it specifically focuses on whiteness as an ideology of supremacy rather than just a skin color.
Butcher explains that these theories reject the idea of equality under the law and individual responsibility, instead emphasizing power struggles between different identity groups. The goal is to challenge existing systems and dismantle white supremacy.
It is important to note that these courses are part of a larger effort to embed Critical Race Theory in both K-12 education and higher education. They aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of race, power dynamics, and social justice.
Additionally, colleges are exploring the intersection of race and other disciplines. For example, Hobart and Williams College offer a class called “Perspectives on Ballet,” which examines the Eurocentric perspective of ballet and its historical centering of whiteness.
Furthermore, universities like Arizona State University, the University of Louisville, and The Ohio State University are incorporating Critical Race Theory into various fields of study, including music education, social work, and education.
As the conversation around race and social justice continues to evolve, these courses provide students with the tools to critically analyze and challenge existing systems of oppression.
Sources:
- University of New Mexico
- University of Colorado, Denver
– University of Wisconsin Madison
– Hobart and Williams College
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