While also strongly rooted in a careful examination of literary texts and their history, Critical Theory provides a structured opportunity to develop particular professional interests by specializing in such areas as the theory of criticism, philosophy and literature, psychoanalysis, anthropology, and other social sciences. Since we recognize how few Universities offer rigorous orientation in critical theory, a lack of undergraduate preparation in such areas will not be construed as a barrier to acceptance and full participation in the department.

Our goal is to prepare students to teach and work independently in literature and related disciplines and in literary theory, and to become creative teachers and scholars capable of conducting research into areas and issues not normally encompassed by any single humanistic discipline or within the boundaries of any particular national literature.

In selecting their courses, students are expected to acquire a broad, balanced knowledge of at least two literatures with appropriate historical background, as well as period or genre specialization. They should become thoroughly familiar with the different trends in literary criticism, while pursuing their own specialized research. Still, students are given the greatest flexibility in shaping their own program of study according to individual interests.

As the accompanying list of course titles for six consecutive semesters demonstrates, students are able to choose from a great variety of courses within the department. Apart from more traditionally oriented period and genre courses covering the centuries from the Middle Ages to the modern experimental text, the department offers courses treating different critical methodologies from Plato and Aristotle to the new criticism, the Frankfurt School, structuralism, reader-response criticism, cultural studies, psychoanalysis, multiculturalism, postcolonial theory, and deconstruction.

A number of courses inquire into the philosophical backgrounds -- especially Romantic -- of literary criticism, or elaborate on the relation of criticism to hermeneutics, phenomenology, and esthetics. Special Topic courses broach such issues as autobiography, irony, desire, and the sublime. Coursework is also strongly encouraged in a broad range of other relevant disciplines. To meet the students' individual/professional specializations and needs, the faculty also provide special reading and research courses.