Cultural, Social, and Political Thought (PhD)

Program Overview

The Cultural, Social, and Political Thought (CSPT) Ph.D. program at the University of Lethbridge is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes critical engagement with ideas in cultural, social, and political contexts. The program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of critical theories and methodologies, enabling them to conduct original research and pursue careers in academia, research, policy analysis, and other fields. The program employs a cohort learning model that fosters interdisciplinary engagement and collaboration. Graduates are trained to develop expertise in cultural, social, and political thought and to contribute to interdisciplinary knowledge and social change.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Cultural, Social, and Political Thought (CSPT) major in the Ph.D. program at the University of Lethbridge is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes the critical engagement of ideas and their manifestation in shifting cultural, social, and political contexts. The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of critical theories and methodologies, enabling them to conduct original and relevant research in the interdisciplinary area of cultural, social, and political thought.

Objectives:

• Emphasize the breadth and depth of social, cultural, and political thought.
• Inculcate intellectual and practical tools for working with community partners and agencies to facilitate social change.
• Train students to become experts in cultural, social, and political thought, demonstrating professional skills and research competencies.
• Enable graduates to produce novel, relevant, and rigorous research that contributes to interdisciplinary knowledge.

Program Description:

The CSPT major is thesis-based and requires students to complete 9.0 to 18.0 credit hours of graduate semester courses and a thesis. The required courses for the major are outlined in the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue. The program is highly theoretical and interdisciplinary, grounding students in a body of cognate critical theories and methodologies.

Outline:

Content:

The CSPT major covers a wide range of topics within cultural, social, and political thought, including:

• Theoretical frameworks (e.g., Feminism, Poststructuralism, Postmodernism, Settler Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Critical Theory, and Culture & History)
• Interdisciplinary area of cultural, social, and political thought
• Research topics such as gender, race, class, disability, sexuality, equality, citizenship, justice, power, and resistance
• Relevant methodology and methods (e.g., Discourse Analysis, Ethnography, and Qualitative Interviewing)

Structure:

The program consists of:

• Thesis
• Coursework

Unique Approaches:

The program employs a cohort learning model that fosters an environment of interdisciplinary engagement and exchange, research, peer mentoring, and collaboration.

Careers:

Potential Career Paths:

Graduates of the CSPT major can pursue careers in various fields, including:

• Academia
• Research
• Policy analysis
• Community development
• Social work
• Education
• Non-profit organizations

Opportunities and Outcomes:

Graduates of the program are trained to develop comprehensive expertise and advanced understanding in cultural, social, and political thought, which opens up a wide range of career opportunities. They are capable of producing original and relevant research that contributes to interdisciplinary knowledge and have the skills to work with community partners and agencies to facilitate social change.