PROGRAM IN CRITICAL THEORY

School of Criticism & Theory Application

School of Criticism and Theory (SCT) at Cornell University

You can find more information about the Summer 2025 session here as well as on the SCT 2025 Brochure.

The Critical Theory Cluster selects one graduate student per year (selected candidates are usually of advanced standing) to participate in the School of Criticism and Theory at Cornell University. Acceptance by the SCT is pre-approved, and  funding is provided by The Graduate School (TGS).  The funding provided by TGS is to support the tuition cost to attend SCT. In addition, the Critical Theory Cluster provides up to $600 in travel support; the participant should apply for other sources of funding for the remaining travel and accommodation costs.

SCT 2025 program details, including information about seminars and how to apply directly to SCT, can be found here. The SCT deadline to apply is February 1, 2025.

Applications for the Summer 2025 SCT fellowship are due to Philip.Hoskins@northwestern.edu by January 6, 2025.

The application should include:

• C.V., specifying your: 1) year of study at NU, 2) whether you are ABD, 3) relevant courses taken at NU and elsewhere, 4) relevant TA and similar experience
• a one-page rationale and plan of study (1.5 line spacing)
• account of SCT-related interests, including which seminar you would like to attend, and why
• the names of two recommenders (one of whom should be your advisor)

The selected Northwestern participant will need to also apply directly to SCT before February 1. The selected participant only needs to submit their CV, a Letter of Intent, and a letter of support from Critical Theory. If you have questions, please reach out to Phil Hoskins.

If you were not selected as Northwestern's participant, but would still like to apply on your own to SCT, you will need to submit the complete set of application materials by February 1, 2025.

Important Note:

The funded graduate student returning from the School of Criticism and Theory (SCT) should be willing to "bring back" some of their SCT experience to Northwestern by organizing a follow-up event (e.g., a visiting speaker, organizing a reading group) based on a set of issues and texts encountered at the SCT.  As appropriate, the text(s) and topic(s) of discussion chosen by the graduate student can be directly related to the student's work and theoretical interests. The Critical Theory Cluster provides organizational assistance.

Students who are not selected but are keen to attend in this particular year can apply on their own to SCT (deadline: February 1). More information can be found on the SCT website: http://sct.cornell.edu/summer. Students may request funding support to attend from other sources (home departments, TGS, other sources). SCT seminars are attended for the most part by graduate students who are ABD.