Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE)
Race, Inequality, and Language in Education Cross-Area Specialization
Students in RILE will complete the core and methodological requisite courses in their base area (CTE, DAPS, SHIPS.), as well as complete a master’s or minor outside the GSE as is required for all GSE doctoral students. RILE students are expected to participate in a regular RILE colloquium seminar and select 5 courses that fit RILE’s distribution requirements. RILE students should take the Colloquium (EDUC 489) during the Autumn, Winter and Spring Quarters of the first year, and then again for an overall total of at least six quarters. This colloquium provides a vibrant forum for students and faculty to present and critique new and original research relevant to the RILE doctoral program, to help develop a community of scholars who become familiar with one another's work, and to introduce seminal issues and fundamental works in the field. The RILE courses may double count with courses that satisfy other area and school requirements, as well as come from outside the school (e.g., CCSRE) to keep the overall course burden on students and faculty manageable. The suggested study plan should include courses in each of three main areas: (1) Issues of race in education; (2) Studies of inequality and schooling; and (3) Linguistic diversity and identity. This course distribution will remain under the purview of the academic advisor. The courses are designed to help students gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the confluence of a broad range of economic, historical, political, social, and cultural factors that sustain and shape relationships among race, ethnicity, language and inequality in education within and across societies.

Courses in RILE
Area 1: Issues of race in education
Some available course offerings as of October 2025 are represented below. Subject to instructor availability.
Area 2: Studies of inequality and schooling
Some available course offerings as of October 2025 are represented below. Subject to instructor availability.
Area 3: Linguistic diversity and identity
Some available course offerings as of October 2025 are represented below. Subject to instructor availability.
Faculty in RILE
Please click here for a current list of RILE faculty.
Contact us
PhD students, please contact:
MA POLS and MA/PP students, please contact:
EDS, Individually Designed, LDT, MA/JD, students, please contact:
GCE/IEPA MA, MA/MBA students, please contact:
