Critical Studies in Education: Deconstructing Power, Promoting Equity

Critical Studies in Education (CSE) is a dynamic and evolving field that examines the intricate relationship between education and society. It is not merely about studying educational practices but about questioning the underlying assumptions, power structures, and social inequalities that shape them. By drawing on diverse theoretical frameworks and methodologies, CSE seeks to expose hidden biases, challenge dominant narratives, and advocate for a more just and equitable education system for all.

Origins and Evolution

Critical Studies in Education emerged as a distinct field of inquiry in the latter half of the 20th century, influenced by various intellectual and social movements. The 1960s, a period marked by widespread social and political upheaval, witnessed a surge of criticism directed at established institutions, including universities. Organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) questioned the role of higher education in perpetuating social inequalities and supporting the Vietnam War.

The rise of cultural studies in the 1970s provided a crucial theoretical foundation for CSE. Cultural studies scholars applied critical theory to analyze the ways in which culture, power, and ideology intersect in various social contexts. This perspective was then extended to the study of education, leading to a critical examination of the university's role in shaping culture, politics, and the labor market.

Jeffrey J. Williams's 2012 article, "An Emerging Field Deconstructs Academe," is credited with coining the term "critical university studies". Williams highlighted a "new wave of criticism of higher education" that gained prominence in the 1990s and has continued to grow in recent decades.

Core Principles and Focus Areas

At its core, Critical Studies in Education is guided by a set of fundamental principles:

Questioning Assumptions: CSE encourages a rigorous and reflective approach to knowledge, challenging taken-for-granted assumptions and methodologies within the field of education.
Analyzing Power Dynamics: A central focus of CSE is the analysis of power relations that shape social interactions, institutions, and knowledge production. This involves examining who holds power, how it is exercised, and its effects on marginalized groups.
Promoting Social Justice: CSE is deeply concerned with issues of inequality, injustice, and oppression. It seeks to identify and address the ways in which certain groups are marginalized or excluded from power and privilege.
Reflexivity: Critical scholars are encouraged to reflect on their own biases, perspectives, and the potential impact of their work on the communities they study.

These principles inform the research and practice within CSE, which encompasses a wide range of topics, including:

Privatization and Corporatization

CSE scholars have documented the increasing privatization and corporatization of higher education. This trend involves a decline in public investment in universities, with costs being shifted to students and their families. Universities are also adopting corporate models of management, emphasizing efficiency, competition, and revenue generation. This shift can lead to increased tuition fees, reduced faculty autonomy, and a focus on market-driven programs rather than broader social goals. As a 2014 report from public policy organization Demos shows, state funding for higher education has progressively decreased since the 1980s. At the same time, universities appear to be acting more and more like corporations, enhancing managerial administration, cutting full-time faculty labor, and treating students like customers.

Labor

The changing nature of academic labor is another critical area of focus within CSE. There has been a significant increase in the number of adjunct or part-time faculty members, who often work for low wages and without job security. According to the New Faculty Majority, a US-based adjunct advocacy group that formed in 2009, three quarters of college faculty are now off the tenure track, with no access to the job stability that universities historically provided. Of this group, over half are adjunct or part-time workers, positions characterized by low wages and lack of job security. CSE takes issue with this new norm of precarious labor, as well as with the increasing burden on graduate students to take on heavy teaching loads.

Student Debt

The rising levels of student debt in many countries are a major concern for CSE scholars. In 2015, 68% of graduating students in the US left college with some student loan debt. This marks a dramatic increase from student debt during previous eras of higher education, a development that CUS attributes to the effects of neoliberal policies on universities. This debt burden can have long-term consequences for graduates, limiting their career choices and financial stability.

Globalization

The globalization of higher education is another area of interest within CSE. American universities are increasingly being exported to locations around the globe through the opening of satellite and affiliate campuses. This practice-exemplified by schools like New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Duke University-often seems to be profit-driven rather than beneficent, with universities receiving large sums of money from local governments in exchange for the presence of the school's brand. This raises questions about the impact of Western educational models on local cultures and the potential for exploitation.

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Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A new wave of CUS research has drawn attention to the increasing emphasis that universities place on values of innovation and entrepreneurship. While this focus may seem harmless or even beneficial to students, CUS scholars point out the damaging effects of structuring student's college experience around these buzzwords. While innovation and entrepreneurship are often presented as positive values, CSE scholars question their dominance in higher education, arguing that they can lead to a narrow focus on commercial outcomes at the expense of critical thinking and social responsibility.

Activism and Social Change

Many CSE scholars are committed to using their research to promote social change. They often engage in activism, working with student and labor union movements to advocate for more equitable policies and practices within universities. CUS has emphasized investigative reportage and exposés of current institutional policies and practices alongside academic work. This commitment to activism distinguishes CSE from some other academic fields that are more focused on theoretical analysis.

Unionization Efforts

In response to the changing conditions of academic labor, campuses saw a rise in unionization efforts. This culminated in a 2000 decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that graduate employees were protected by the National Labor Relations Act and could unionize. Union efforts proliferated following this decision, with organizations like the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) allying with graduate students and adjunct instructors in the fight for employee status and collective bargaining rights. Despite setbacks, including a 2004 reversal of the 2000 ruling, student and adjunct unions have made significant headway. In August 2016, the NLRB reversed itself again, ruling that graduate research and teaching assistants at private universities do have the right to unionize (UAW vs.

Critical Studies in Education Graduate Certificate

The Critical Studies in Education (CSE) Graduate Certificate is a selection of required and elective courses that emphasize opportunities to widen and deepen perspectives and understandings of how education has been shaped and continues to be shaped by power, oppression, inequality, equity, identity, and marginalization. The courses in the certificate offer critical tools to problematizing and understanding sociopolitical historical contexts of global education and engage students in exploring how interconnected social systems contribute to building and maintaining structural inequities. This transdisciplinary, post-masters, certificate in critical studies in education prepares students to examine policies and practices in education by asking questions such as, "Who benefits from this decision?" and "Who is disadvantaged by this decision?" By applying critical frameworks to persistent problems of inequity, students construct the lenses and tools of critique and action. The certificate transgresses disciplinary boundaries by bringing together knowledge from early childhood, educational leadership, international education, teacher education, curriculum, and beyond to construct an individual pathway for each student to problematize how education influences and upholds systems of power that both harm and advantage. The CSE certificate helps students craft their identities as critical scholars who have the tools to apply critical frameworks to problems of practice and engage in and with scholarship of consequence.

Who is this certificate for?

The CSE certificate offers a credential declaring one's identity as a critical scholar and communicates that an individual has deep knowledge in critical studies of education. The CSE certificate is meant for those ready to study at the doctoral level or who are already engaged in doctoral study. The CSE certificate is open to anyone with an earned Masters degree. Students currently in the PhD in Education program or another Mason PhD program can pursue the CSE certificate as a secondary certificate program while enrolled in their PhD program. Note that courses can be used twice while pursuing multiple degree programs concurrently. Applicants who are external to Mason are also welcome to apply.

How do I apply?

Current PhD in Education students complete the Graduate Secondary Certificate Program Application form. Students should consult with their PhD advisor and CSE certificate faculty lead prior to applying. Current George Mason PhD students who are not in the Education program must complete the application form and submit an essay (500 word maximum) detailing their interest in the CSE certificate program. External applicants must apply and be admitted through the University’s graduate application process, meeting all university admissions requirements, and must submit an essay (500 word maximum) detailing their interest in the certificate program.

Can courses I have already completed be included in the certificate?

The courses you have already completed will be included in your degree record for the CSE certificate. If the courses were taken externally to Mason, consult your CSE advisor and/or the CSE faculty lead.

Can I substitute electives?

You may not substitute any of the three core required courses. The elective courses have specifically been vetted to ensure their explicit and intentional foundation in criticality as required for the certificate; however, substitutions to these are possible with required approval from your CSE certificate advisor and the certificate’s faculty lead.

What is the capstone course?

The capstone course is an opportunity to complete an individualized project under the direction and advisement of a CSE advisor. The project that you complete for the capstone should focus on your individual research and scholarly research interests while clearly demonstrating your robust understanding of critical theories and applications. The project is encouraged to be one that will serve you well in terms of your portfolio, your dissertation, and/or your work setting.

What is the difference between the CSE certificate and the ARDR certificate?

Both graduate certificates are grounded in critical perspectives, and, in fact, share a core required course (EDUC 855). Both certificates are focused on examining and challenging inequitable power structures and systems of oppression. The CSE certificate is content focused to understand critical studies as a discipline and way of understanding education and the development of perspectives, tools, and skills to critically examine educational practices and policies. The ARDR certificate emphasizes research methods necessary for consuming, designing, and implementing critically oriented research.

Can I pursue multiple certificates concurrently?

With very careful advising, this could be possible. The following must be considered:

Courses can be used only twice to fulfill the degree requirements of two concurrent degree programs.
You can only be enrolled in two degree programs at a time. While in your PhD program, this means that one certificate would need to be enrolled first and then once it is earned, you could enroll in the second certificate.
All certificates would need to be completed prior to the conclusion of your PhD program.

What are the admission requirements?

Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. could have additional requirements.
A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may, in evaluating the meeting of this requirement, additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, any/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study.
Enrollment in a PhD program or an earned master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement.
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options.

Advising

Each student in the Critical Studies in Education (CSE) Graduate Certificate has an advisor with whom they work closely to determine courses. If you are already a student in the PhD in Education program or another PhD program, you can pursue the CSE certificate as a secondary certificate program. Students should consult with your PhD advisor and CSE faculty lead prior to submission.

Criticisms and Challenges

Like any critical approach, CSE has faced its share of criticisms. Some argue that it tends to be overly focused on power dynamics and oppression, neglecting the richness and complexity of human experience. Others contend that it is inherently political, promoting a particular ideological agenda rather than pursuing objective scholarship. There are also concerns about excessive theoretical abstraction and an overreliance on qualitative methods.

In response, proponents of CSE argue that their work is essential for uncovering hidden structures of power and privilege, challenging oppressive systems, and promoting social justice. They acknowledge the limitations of any single approach and emphasize the importance of engaging in ongoing dialogue and debate to refine and improve the field.

The Future of Critical Studies in Education

Critical Studies in Education is a vital and relevant field that continues to evolve in response to changing social and political contexts. As universities face new challenges, such as increasing privatization, technological disruption, and growing inequality, CSE provides a crucial lens for understanding and addressing these issues. By fostering critical thinking, promoting social justice, and encouraging activism, CSE can play a key role in shaping a more equitable and transformative education system for the future.

Integrating Disciplines and Methodologies

The future of CSE lies in further integrating diverse disciplines and methodologies. By drawing on insights from sociology, history, philosophy, cultural studies, and other fields, CSE can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between education and society. It is also important to embrace a variety of research methods, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, to provide a more nuanced and evidence-based analysis.

Addressing Contemporary Challenges

CSE must continue to address the pressing challenges facing education today. This includes examining the impact of technology on learning, the role of education in promoting social mobility, and the challenges of creating inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students. By engaging with these issues, CSE can contribute to shaping policies and practices that promote a more just and equitable society.

Fostering Collaboration and Dialogue

Collaboration and dialogue are essential for the continued growth and development of CSE. This involves building bridges between scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and community members to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and work together to create positive change. By fostering a culture of open and respectful dialogue, CSE can contribute to building a more inclusive and democratic education system for all.

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