The Department of Ethnic Studies (DES) at the University of Colorado Boulder is dedicated to centering the epistemologies, histories and lived experiences of marginalized communities of color and Indigenous nations to challenge and critique all forms of oppression and to advance emancipatory, self-determining futures for all people.

The PhD program in critical ethnic studies offers an innovative path to provide students with broad training to enable them to research and analyze the intersectional and relational workings of race, ethnicity, culture, indigeneity, gender, class, sexuality, religion, dis/ability and legal status in local, regional and global contexts. It provides students the flexibility to pursue their individual research interests while ensuring that they are grounded in both the foundational and cutting-edge theories in ethnic studies.