Ph.D. Culture and Theory, University of California - Irvine Campus

Irvine, California

48 Months

Check Eligibility

About this course

The Ph.D. in Culture and Theory at UCI is designed for students passionate about critical and theory-driven research focusing on race, gender, and sexuality. It is a joint program shared by the Departments of African American Studies and Asian American Studies, with strong connections across the School of Humanities. The program offers students the opportunity to develop their own unique thinking style, applying theoretical frameworks to social historical practices and objects of analysis to create transformative, transdisciplinary projects. Emphasizing ongoing conversations about modern political imaginaries and the legacies of colonialism, racial slavery, and postcolonial cultural production, the program aims to shape scholars who can contribute innovatively to critical theory today.

Why this course is highly recommended

This program is highly recommended for students interested in critical theory that crosses multiple disciplines and geographies. With an internationally renowned faculty and diverse theoretical approaches, it offers a comprehensive environment for developing innovative ideas around race, gender, and sexuality. The emphasis on transdisciplinary projects and social historical practices prepares students to lead and contribute meaningfully to ongoing academic, cultural, and social conversations.

Specialisation

Students in this program can explore specialisations such as Africana and African American thought, postcolonial theories, Marxist and psychoanalytic criticism, and continental philosophy. The curriculum encourages engagement with themes like racial slavery, colonialism, diasporic and postcolonial cultural production, and identity politics, supported by faculty expertise across arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Course fees

Application fees

10.20L

1st year tuition fees

10.20L

Living cost

Degree requirements

Applicants need a bachelor’s, master’s, or equivalent degree in the humanities, arts, or social sciences. The program involves core courses in critical and cultural theory, independent studies, and directed readings. Students must work on a master's paper in their second year, prepare for qualifying exams through comprehensive reading lists and a dissertation prospectus, and complete a dissertation focused on a specialized area. The normative timeline for the degree is around seven years, with specific coursework in philosophical, object-based, and topical areas relevant to race, gender, and sexuality studies.

English language test

IELTS

TOEFL

PTE

DUOLINGO

Career prospects

Graduates of this program can expect to pursue careers in academia, research, cultural critique, and public scholarship. The advanced training in critical theory and social analysis prepares students for roles such as university professors, research analysts, policy advisors, and cultural critics, especially in fields related to race, gender, sexuality, and postcolonial studies.

FAQs

What coursework is required in the program?

Students take core courses in political economy, libidinal economy, theory from below, and specialized seminars on black politics and Afro-pessimism, along with electives focused on theoretical and object-based analysis.

What are the key milestones during the Ph.D. program?

Key milestones include completing the master’s paper, passing qualifying exams with a comprehensive dissertation proposal, and defending the dissertation within the normative seven-year timeline.