Knowledge Formations Certificate
University of Chicago
for up-and-coming scholars getting ahead of and beneath modern and ancient knowledges
Knowledge Formations, a master's level certificate created by the Institute on the Formation of Knowledge in 2023, began two years earlier as a Concentration within the Divison of Social Science at the University of Chicago. In 2024, the program graduated its first cohort of "certificants." Our graduates are well prepared to cross disciplinary boundaries as they conceptualize research for potential doctoral level study. As a community, students take together at least two classes--innovative courses that interrogate knowledge claims and knowledge-making traditions while suggesting new ways forward.
Requirements
Earning a certificate in Knowledge Formations is a realistic goal! We encourage interested students to attend our Annual Open House to meet our faculty and staff. There, you can also indicate your interest and arrange to meet with the Program Manager, Alisea W. McLeod. You may also email the program manager at any point even if you are unable to attend the open house.
THE KNOWLEDGE FORMATIONS CERTIFICATE IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS IN MAPSS (MASTER OF ARTS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES.) AFTER SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THE KNOWLEDGE FORMATIONS CERTIFICATE, STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING--
*KNOW 36055 Imperial Ways of Knowing WINTER 2025. Instructors: M. Bozluolcay and P. Kumar.
*KNOW 36054 Science Wars: Truth and Politics Across the Disciplines Spring 2025. Instructor: I. Gabel
Suggested Course (See list below.)
A 30 to 40 page thesis that engages how an individual, group, or other entity is forming knowledge in the present, has formed it in the past, or suggests forming it in the future.
A 250 to 750 word blog post to be published on our dedicated Knowledge Formations Page.
A 15 minute presentation of thesis to be given during the Knowledge Formations Spring Colloquium, which is usually held in April.
*This course is required.
Suggested Courses
Because we want your coursework to align with your research interests, the third requirement is meant to be flexible. You may choose from one of the following upcoming courses (likely cross-listed with KNOW), or, in some cases, you may select a course that is not listed. (In this case, you will need to inform the Program Manager of your intention via emailed letter.) These courses reflect both recent student interests and a broadened perspective on sites of knowledge formation beyond the academy.
*ANTH 21415 (Digital Ethnography)
ANTH 23825 (Social Theory of the City)
CEGU 2002/1 (Politics of Environmental Knowledge)
CEGU 40244 (Climate Change, History, and Social Theory)
CEGU 20253 (Intro to Spatial Data Science)
CMLT/HIST 28447 (The End of the World/Apocalytic Thinking)
ENGL 43500 (Archives of Slavery and Gender)
ENGL 28619 (Postcolonial Openings)
GNSE 20117 (Feminist Theory and Political Economy
HMRT 62302 (Globalization and Its Discontents)
MACSS 20500 (Computing for the Social Sciences)
MACSS 20123 (Large Scale Data Mining for Social and Cultural Knowledge Discovery)
More...
*This is an undergraduate course. Graduate students may petition to take undergraduate courses.
What do you know?
Students enrolled in MAPSS and opt for the Knowledge Formations Certificate take an interdisciplinary methods course which fulfills the degree's methods requirement. The course also is open to MAPSS students or other master's level students who do not opt for the certificate.
Slow Thursdays
Bi-weekly starting Thursday, October 17th!
In Formations, we believe in regularly decelerating MAPSS's intensive year-long program by coming together as a community to ponder fundamental questions like--What is the role of or place for critical theory going forward?
One of three requirements for the Knowledge Formations Certificate is a short blog post on a year-long theme.
Dedicated Space
Because students should gather where their interests are supported!