Requirements
1. Status: The Certificate program is open only to students already enrolled and in good standing in a Rice graduate degree program.
2. Application: The application should consist of: a vita; a two to three page single-spaced description of the student’s research interests, the primary theoretical commitments that frame those interests, and how the research intervenes in the current state of critical and cultural theory; and a brief (one to two paragraph) letter of endorsement from the faculty member directing the student’s research. Only students in good academic standing in their home departments may apply. Students will be informed promptly early in the fall semester each year of their acceptance, and students not accepted may reapply to the certificate program.
3. Coursework: Students must complete four theory-intensive graduate seminars of their choice, at least one of which (3 credit hours) must be outside their home department. Students must submit to the Center for approval a syllabus for each theory-intensive course, and they may do so at any time during a three-year period that begins with their acceptance into the program. The Center recommends, however, that students interested in applying for the certificate seek approval for courses as they are taken. A full list of approved courses is available in the General Announcements, and students may petition for approval of a course not listed there. Each course must be completed with a grade of at least B-, and required core courses for other graduate degree or certificate programs, such as English 600 or SWGS 501, may not count toward the total of four courses. Elective courses used to fulfill requirements for other graduate degree or certificate programs at Rice may count toward the total of four courses. Transfer credit from other programs will not be accepted.
4. Colloquium: The 3CT Annual Colloquium consists of two modules: a lecture and seminar given by a visiting scholar in the Spring semester and a second lecture/seminar module in the Fall semester. Students need not complete the module consecutive semesters, but must complete two modules within three years of date of acceptance into the program.
5. Certificate: After students have completed all of these requirements, they will be awarded the certificate upon completion of the degree program in their home department.
Submission Deadline: Please submit your completed application to Jennifer Luu at jluu@rice.edu by September 30.
Competitive Stipend
Students who have earned the Certificate may compete for the Center’s annual one-time stipend of $5,000.00.*
The Center may grant up to five awards this academic year (2021-22). To qualify for this one-time stipend, a student must have fulfilled all the requirements by the end of the spring 2022 semester.
Reminder: this is a competitive stipend.
*All certificate stipends will be discontinued after this year. Students admitted to the certificate program this year are eligible to apply for a stipend, if they fulfill the requirements for the certificate by the end of Spring 2022.
Note re: Research/travel funding: The center no longer funds graduate travel and research from our 3CT budget. This is due to increased support for graduate student travel from the School of Humanities.