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The College of Arts & Sciences
Founded in 1976, the School of Criticism and Theory brings together a diverse group of scholars from around the world, addressing an ever-expanding arrangement of cultural, political and social movements, theoretical axes and intersecting debates across the humanities and social sciences.
In an intensive six-week course of study, faculty members, graduate students and independent scholars from around the world, in the humanities and social sciences, explore recent developments in critical theory. The 2026 Session is scheduled for June 8 - July 16, 2026.
Participants work with the SCT’s core faculty of distinguished scholars and theorists in one of three six-week seminars. Each faculty member offers, in addition, a public lecture and a colloquium (based on an original paper) which are attended by the entire group.
The program also includes shorter workshops taught by international correspondent Deborah Amos and interdisciplinary artist Carla Liesching. The program begins with a lecture by leading political theorist , Alexander Livingston, along with a 50th anniversary conference organized by distinguished scholars and leaders of SCT, and ends with an exciting two-day participant-lead conference. In addition, Cornell offers participants the resources of one of the great research libraries in the United States.
Click here for more detailed information on the 2026 session.
2025 SCT is organized around four seminars led by renowned senior scholars. The scholars this summer come from the fields of Literature, Philosophy, Anthropology, and Environmental Studies. The seminars will focus on critical topics related to the environment, epistemology, race, property, futurism, politics, and the body. In addition to the 6-week seminars, SCT is introducing workshops in poetry, narrative non-fiction, and analytical writing led by two dynamic writer/scholars. Capping our seminars will be a conference highlighting the original work of some of the students and faculty.
Coming from the University of Toronto, where he was the director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Loewen began his five-year appointment as the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Aug. 1.
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2024 SCT is organized around four seminars led by renowned senior scholars. The scholars this summer come from the fields of Literature, Philosophy, Anthropology, and Environmental Studies. The seminars will focus on critical topics related to the environment, epistemology, race, property, futurism,...
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SCT commemorates Anthony Vidler(1941-2023), historian, theorist, critic and educator who offered a wonderful SCT mini-seminar and public lecture in the summer of 2017.
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Listen to SCT 2023 Faculty Martin Hägglund discuss 'Coming to Terms with Human Finitude' on the What's Left of Philosophy Podcast
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We are thrilled to share 2023 SCT Faculty, Dianne M. Stewart's new book, as well as announce her 6-week major seminar topic for 2023's summer session: "The Ties that Bind: Global Black Feminisms and Womanisms"
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On Cornell’s eighth Giving Day, held March 16, 15,905 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends from more than 80 countries made gifts totaling a record-breaking $12,268,629.
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Gifts allow the College to fulfill its mission: preparing students to do the greatest good in the world.
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Read upcoming 2022 SCT faculty, Amy Allen's most recent publication, Critique on the Couch: Why Critical Theory Needs Psychoanalysis"Amy Allen works with many of the central authors in the field of critical theory to make the case for psychoanalysis, the analytic potential of the death drive, and th...
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