Brighton University is offering Britain's first undergraduate degree focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion (DEI), a program that critics have labeled "woke gobbledegook" and "political radicalization."
The three-year Bachelor of Arts program, titled Politics, Sexuality and Gender, aims to prepare students for careers in DEI and the public or third sectors. It features a "decolonised approach" and explores topics ranging from anarchism and imperialism to environmental politics, with a specific focus on "feminist, queer and trans politics" and historical and contemporary struggles surrounding sexuality and gender.
The course, costing £9,790 annually, typically requires CCD grades for admission but has historically accepted students with grades as low as DDE. This degree is believed to be the first undergraduate program of its kind in the UK, though similar postgraduate courses exist. Students can access taxpayer-funded loans for the degree.
Dr. Jo Kellond, the course leader, stated that the program is designed for individuals who "want to make a difference" and are concerned about "sexual politics," especially in light of global threats to "hard-won equalities" and ongoing "attacks on reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights."
The curriculum includes modules such as "Unruly Bodies: Understanding and Contesting Normativity" and "Gender, Race and the Environment." Optional modules cover areas like "Queer Writing," "Neoliberalism, Imperialism and Resistance," and "Colonialism, Capitalism and Climate Crisis." The university emphasizes an "inclusive and intersectional approach," embedding global challenges like climate change and sustainability into the teaching.
The course also incorporates placements with "local feminist and LGBTQI+ groups" to offer practical experience. Guest speakers listed from political parties include Caroline Lucas, former Green party leader, and Sue Shanks, a local Green Councillor.
Critics, however, have voiced strong opposition. A spokesperson for the Free Speech Union described the degree as "woke gobbledegook" and questioned the value for students who invest significant sums and debt for such a program. Stephanie Davies-Arai of Transgender Trend argued that the course is essentially "training young people to be trans activists" and could lead to a "bubble of reinforcement" making graduates unemployable outside DEI roles. Chris McGovern of the Campaign for Real Education called it a "fake degree" and suggested students would be better served by vocational training, asserting that the university is "cashing in" on the "growth industry" of DEI.
Brighton University declined to comment on the criticism.
