Academic Calendar 2023-2024

Cultural Studies

Not all courses are offered each year.  Note that CUST 815, 816 and 817 are micro courses for 1.0 credit units. CUST 802/902 is a non-credit course. All other courses are 3.0 credit units, except CUST 850, 898, 899 and 999 which are 6.0 credit units.

CUST 800 Cultural Studies Theory 
This course introduces students to a range of major theoretical strains within Cultural Studies such as those associated with Marxism, feminism, postcolonialism, and visual, critical race, Indigenous, and queer studies. Students will learn to mobilize key conceptual vocabulary of foundational and emerging frameworks of the field. Three term-hours. Fall. A. Basheir.

CUST 801 Critical Methodologies in Cultural Studies     
The field of Cultural Studies is characterized by a refusal to endorse a singular method or to conceive of and apply methodological tools as rigid, formal templates. This course explores how scholars choose, mobilize, and combine methods including field research, archival research, research-creation, and textual analysis. Three term-hours. Fall. S. Shulist

CUST 802 Cultural Studies Colloquium
This course is designed to acquaint MA students with both current work in the field and various forms of professionalization, through a combination of research presentations and participatory workshops, including the Individual Development Plan or its equivalent. Students are expected to attend regularly and complete some reflective writing activities. Grading is on a Pass/Fail basis. Fall and Winter terms. J. Brison and L. Murray.

CUST 803 Cultural Studies Past & Present
This course introduces students to the global and interdisciplinary scope of Cultural Studies research practices by surveying key debates, concerns, and texts that have shaped the field over time. Winter. h. burcu baba and  S. Rutherford.

CUST 804 Community-Based Research     
As cultural producers, activists, and/or researchers, Cultural Studies students interact with various communities within, beyond, and on the margins of the academy. This course engages with the theoretical, political, practical, personal, and institutional challenges and opportunities of community-based research. Three term-hours.  Not offered 2023-2024.

CUST 805 Research-Creation Methodologies
This course is designed to support students whose intellectual approach combines creative and academic research practices. The course will value the development of knowledge and innovation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation. Three term-hours. Fall. D. Manning.

CUST 806 Topics in Indigenous Studies
This course will examine issues pertaining to Indigenous knowledge, traditions, cultures, histories, and experiences. Three term-hours.  Not offered 2023-24.

CUST 807 Settler Colonialism and Incarceration
A critical examination of issues raised by the intersection of settler colonial and carceral power. Three term-hours.  Winter. L. Guenther.
EXCLUSION: PHIL-821

CUST 815 Skilling It
This course offers intensive instruction in a method or skill important within Cultural Studies. One term-hour. (1.0 credit units.) Grading is on a Pass/Fail basis.  Not offered 2023-24.

CUST 816 Up Close
 This course offers intensive consideration of a major book or work in any medium. One term-hour. (1.0 credit units.) Grading is on a Pass/Fail basis. Not offered 2023-24.

CUST 817 Signs of the Times
This course offers intensive consideration of an issue or event of contemporary social, political and cultural relevance.  One term-hour. (1.0 credit units.) Grading is on a Pass/Fail basis. Not offered 2023-24.

CUST 850 Capstone Project
In this workshop course, students will substantially revise or transform work from a previous Queen’s graduate course with the goal of publication or other dissemination, and produce a reflection on professional development activities pursued throughout the year.  This course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Six term hours. (6.0 credit units).  Spring. A. Tomac.
EXCLUSION: Students accepted into the 2-year thesis-based MA (CUST 899).

CUST 890 Directed Studies I     
Directed study under the guidance of a faculty member in an area of the instructor’s expertise.

CUST 891 Directed Studies II     
Directed study under the guidance of a faculty member in any area of the instructor’s expertise.

CUST 892  Special Topics I
In 1990 Barbara Kruger, translated René Descartes epistemological (and ontological) founding principle into a neoliberalism conceptual slogan: “I shop therefore I am.” Capitalism’s fantasy of unlimited growth and ideology of private accumulation has yielded a planet of unparalleled extremes of excess, waste, and want, teetering on the edge of mass extinction.  Multi-disciplinary studies have documented the sociology, culture, politics, symbolism, economic and ecological consequences of rampant consumerism and metastatic commodification on, among many other topics, social relationships, artistic expression, health, work, ethics, emotions and the environment. Departing from readings of some of the classic works on commodities and consumerism (Marx, Veblen, Sombart, Baudrillard, Harvey) and key analysis of the imperialist structures upon which modern mass consumerism continues to rely (Mintz, Patel-Moore)  the course explores cases studies of commodification and consumption from the perspective of history, anthropology, sociology, and the arts. Winter. A Salzmann and A. Tomac.

CUST 893 Special Topics II
 (3.0 Units.)  Not offered 2023-24. 

CUST 894 Directed Community-Based Practicum   
This course is intended to support a student's MA or PhD research through organizational and social experience gained from involvement with relevant off-campus institutions, organizations, and community groups. A CS faculty member will oversee each placement in collaboration with a member of the relevant organization or group. (Equal to other one-term course offerings, the internships are expected to be the equivalent of 1.5 – 2.0 days of work per week for 12 weeks.)

CUST 895 Agnes Etherington Art Centre Practicum     
Internship in a professional art museum environment offering insights into collection research and development and an understanding of curatorial projects from conception through research and public presentation phases.

CUST 898 Master's Essay/Minor Project

CUST 899 Master's Thesis/Project     

CUST 902 Cultural Studies Colloquium
This course is designed to acquaint PhD students with both current work in the field and various forms of professionalization, through a combination of research presentations and participatory workshops. Students are expected to attend regularly and complete some reflective writing activities. Grading is on a Pass/Fail basis. Fall and Winter terms.  J. Brison and L. Murray. 

CUST 990 Directed Studies I 
Directed study under the guidance of a faculty member in an area of the instructor's expertise.

CUST 991 Directed Studies II
Directed study under the guidance of a faculty member in an area of the instructor's expertise.

CUST 999 Ph.D. Thesis or Project