Critical identity studies (CRIS) investigates how identities take shape in relation to systems of power. Students explore how gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, sexuality, dis/ability, religion or nonreligion, and national or regional contexts influence people’s everyday lives and opportunities. The field asks how identities form, how inequalities are created and maintained, and how people resist or transform structures that impact their communities.
Critical identity studies connects ideas to real life. You will ask questions such as: How do we build caring communities across difference? How do histories of injustice shape the present? What does meaningful social transformation look like? Through case studies, theory, collaborative projects, and community-engaged learning, students gain the skills to navigate complex social systems and to advocate for equity in the world.
The world is shaped by structures of inequality. Understanding how and why these structures formed, and how they can be changed, is essential for anyone who wants to create a more just future. Critical identity studies gives students the tools to analyze real-world challenges related to health care, sustainability, access to education, economic inequality, restorative justice, and community wellbeing.
Critical identity studies develops critical thinking grounded in empathy, reflective self-awareness, and the commitment to care. Students examine the intersections of identity and power become adaptable thinkers who can connect individual experiences to broader social, political, and historical contexts. They learn to work with multiple communities, understand tensions from many perspectives, and design solutions that acknowledge the needs of different stakeholders.
Beloit College’s critical identity studies major is the first of its kind in the nation, and our department continues to innovate in response to a rapidly changing world. Coursework is radically cross-disciplinary, connecting gender studies, ethnic studies, queer and trans studies, disability studies, postcolonial studies, religious studies, and other fields into one coherent and transformative major.
The program centers practical skill development and hands-on experience. Students take courses across ten social justice blocks such as Indigenous Studies, Criminal Justice and the Carceral State, Queer and Trans Studies, Race and Racialization, Colonialism and Decoloniality, and Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Education. Faculty prioritize restorative justice, relationship building, and empathetic communication. Students collaborate with local partners, analyze real systems, and work toward community transformation in a structured and supportive environment.
Critical identity studies students learn both inside and outside the classroom, participating in dialogues, community projects, research, and cross-disciplinary work that reflects Beloit College’s broader commitment to all individuals and global citizenship.
In the critical identity studies major, you’ll explore identity through multiple lenses: historical, cultural, sociological, psychological, and philosophical. Coursework emphasizes intersectionality, power structures, critical inquiry, and real-world application. You’ll move from foundational courses to advanced seminars that ask you to synthesize and act.
Majoring in critical identity studies at Beloit College empowers you to engage the world with knowledge, sensitivity, and action. You’ll be prepared to analyze systems of identity and power, communicate across difference, and contribute to change in communities, workplaces, and beyond.
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