Social Theory and Practice (Major)

The Social Theory and Practice (STP) Major is open to ALL LSA Students

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RCSTP 290 students learn with three STP graduating seniors

What is Social Theory and Practice (STP)?

STP is a justice-focused major

Students critically, collaboratively, and creatively integrate theory and practice to explore, analyze, and meaningfully effect social justice change across contexts.

STP is interdisciplinary

Students take classes in and draw inspiration from Sociology, Psychology, Women’s and Gender Studies, American Culture, Environment, Education, Political Science, and many other disciplines.

STP is personalized and individualized

In collaboration with peers, instructors, and advisors, students develop their own path through the major, identifying the social justice topics, questions, classes, mentors, and community-based learning experiences that comprise their STP journey.

STP is a tight-knit, collaborative, cohort-based community

Faculty and students learn and work closely together across many semesters. STP students take 3 “cohort classes” together.

Every student works closely with a faculty advisor on their Senior Project (or Honors Thesis). It’s common for STP students to take multiple classes with the same STP instructor and to form long-standing mentorships with STP faculty. It is also very common to double-major with STP and/or to add one or more minors.

Courses and Requirements

Minimum Credits: 30

STP Major Checklist

Note: Because the STP Major is individualized, it’s recommended to schedule an advising appointment with the STP Program Head & Advisor, Becca Pickus, to discuss your unique social justice interests and passions!

Major Prerequisites

Students take 3 courses before declaring the STP Major (typically at the end of sophomore year or early junior year):

RCSTP 260: Theorizing Knowledge in the Social Sciences (3 cr, SS)
RCSTP 290: Designing your STP Major Proposal (1 cr)
- Note: RCSTP 260+290 are taken in the same semester – usually second semester sophomore year
A Social Science “Gateway” course: Students select a 200- or low 300-level “gateway” course in the social sciences. This course should introduce students to topics and approaches to exploring interdisciplinary social science questions. Some common (but not exclusive) examples include 200-level courses from RCSTP; WGS; PSYCH; AAS; AMCULT; ENVIRON; and SOC (3-4 credits).

Major Requirements

All students take an RCSTP Theory course and a Research Methods course:

RCSTP Theory Course (choose one of two options):
- RCSTP 301: Social Theory for Social Change
- RCSTP 302: Contemporary Social and Cultural Theory
Research Methods Course with a Quantitative Component. Common selections include (but are not limited to):
- STATS 250
- SOC 210
- SOC 310

Additionally, students complete a minimum of 18 credits (at least six upper-level courses) exploring and informing the student’s self-identified social justice interests, questions, approaches, theories, and practices. These courses are initially selected in RCSTP 290, but can be modified in conversation with the STP advisor as the student progresses through the major. These 18 credits include:

A second social theory course (at least 3 credits)
A community engaged-learning course (at least 3 credits)
At least 4 electives

Lastly, students take a final capstone class together in the fall of senior year:

RCSTP 490: STP Capstone - Senior Project Seminar

All STP students complete a Senior Project within RCSTP 490. These projects can take many forms, including a traditional, 25-30 page research paper; a shorter paper analyzing and reflecting on justice-focused community-engaged work; and/or creative projects such as performances, installations, documentaries, etc., accompanied by research-informed write-ups.

Honors & Honors Theses

The STP Honors Thesis is an ambitious, 3-semester project that begins in a student’s second semester junior year, with the Junior Honors Thesis section of RCSTP 350. Enrollment in this course is by-permission only, and prospective students must meet with the STP Advisor to discuss their interest and plans for the Honors Thesis.

Students use the Honors Thesis Proposal that they develop in RCSTP 350 as their application to continue with the STP Honors Thesis; applications are due at the beginning of April during a student’s junior year and are reviewed by a committee of STP faculty members. The application must include a commitment from a faculty member to serve as the student’s Honor Thesis advisor for the subsequent year.

If the application is accepted, students continue working on their Honors Theses during the fall of their senior year while taking RCSTP 490 - their Honors Thesis is their STP Senior Project - and the Honors Thesis continues with an independent study during their second semester senior year.

Additional details – including the Honors Thesis Application and Mentor Agreement Forms – will be provided to interested students. Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment or reach out directly to the STP Program Head, Becca Pickus (rpickus@umich.edu), with any questions.

F23 Senior Project Presentations Event

Common STP Focus Areas

STP students, classes, and focus areas are linked by a common commitment to social justice theory and practice. However, there is a wide range of topics, questions, and contexts in which STP students and faculty pursue this work.

View Common STP Focus Areas & Related Courses

Social Theory & Practice Faculty and their Research Interests

David Burkam schooling; gender, race & social inequities in educational access; research methods; statistics

Theresa Braunschneider critical pedagogies; gender, race, class, & higher education; feminist theory; history of sexuality

Sueann Caulfield Latin American & Brazilian history; gender, sexuality & human rights

Angela Dillard American & African-American intellectual & political history; critical race theory; religious studies; social movement history & theory; conservative thought

Jeff Evans creative process; clinical psychology; neuropsychology; arts in healthcare; narrative methods

Leila Kawar legal theory & culture; migration & citizenship; comparative social policy

Nora Krinitsky: United States and African American history, urban studies, crime and justice, policing, prison and incarceration, law and society

Ashley Lucas arts practice & incarceration; theatre for social change; impact of incarceration on families; Latina/o Studies; comparative ethnic studies

Virginia Murphy environmental activism; American environmental literature & travel narratives; food justice, sustainable agriculture & agricultural labor issues; climate & environmental justice

Becca Pickus critical pedagogies; racial justice; restorative justice & incarceration; grief, loss & trauma; trauma-responsive practices

Ian Robinson comparative & international political economy; unions & labor movements; organizing for social justice; trade policy & alternative models of North American integration; Mexican labor migration; experiential & community service learning

Mabel Rodriguez linguistics (second language acquisition, bilingualism, translation); migrant outreach & education; experiential & community service learning

Teresa Sanchez-Snell Spanish language-based Internships; service learning within the Latinx community; study of Latinx experiences in the United States

Heather Thompson American history; crime & justice; policing; prisons; labor; Detroit

Stephen Ward African-American history; Black Power Movement; community-based political activism; urban studies; Detroit

Additional faculty members regularly offer courses within STP, enriching our curriculum with their unique expertise. Additionally, faculty members from other programs and departments often serve as advisors for STP students pursuing their Senior Project or Honors Thesis.

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