About Us
The Department of Social and Critical Inquiry is a hub for race, diaspora, empire, transnational, Indigenous, disability, gender, and sexuality studies at UConn. We aim to distinguish the University while creating more just and free futures for all people in Connecticut and beyond.
Areas of Study
Our community members study social and cultural formations and their impact on public life. We employ various approaches, perspectives, and methods of inquiry to examine systems of power and inequality.
Founded in 2024, the Department brings together the collective expertise of faculty in four distinct yet intersecting areas.
Our Priorities
Education
Students are increasingly interested in academic experiences that are responsive to the pressing social and cultural issues of our time.
The Department supports students by offering educational opportunities in various theories, research methods, and practical social applications. Our faculty members teach large general education courses, small seminars, writing-intensive courses, and specialized topics within our individual areas. They also lead pop-up courses like Confronting Anti-Asian Racism and Transformation Now. These courses serve UConn’s entire undergraduate community and enroll thousands of students each year.
The Department offers several undergraduate and graduate degree programs where students can engage deeply with our areas of study. These programs give students the skills to critically analyze the historical and cultural roots of current and emerging problems.
Learn more about our undergraduate programs and graduate certificate programs.
Community Partnerships and Engaged Research
The Department aims to build a global reputation for innovative research and critical engagement. Our work is interdisciplinary and community-focused, bridging research and real-world impact. We strive to create more just and liberated futures for the communities we serve.
Our faculty and student researchers collaborate across our diverse areas of study. They also partner with other UConn departments, centers, institutes, and programs to build connections between fields and develop novel paths of exploration.
In addition, our impact is felt beyond the University through our engagement with community partners at the local, state, Tribal, regional, and national levels. For example, we educate Connecticut high school students through the UConn Early College Experience Program and support the development of the state’s K-12 curricula. We also partner with Tribal Nations in Connecticut and across the Eastern seaboard for educational, research, and community-building initiatives.
Learn more about our community partnerships and engaged research.
University Service
As the demographics of both the State and UConn's undergraduate population become increasingly diverse, the Department is adapting with innovative curriculum, community engagement, and groundbreaking research.
Our vibrant intellectual community is dedicated to recruiting and retaining historically excluded and marginalized students, faculty, and staff across all UConn campuses. With the Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury campuses designated as federally recognized Minority Serving Institutions, the Department enhances the University's ability to provide equitable and transformative education.
Browse our affiliated programs.