Guidelines for Course Selection<br><br>Level 1 <br>Introductory Course: From Literary Studies to Cultural Studies (Must select 1 course from this cluster)<br>The goal is to make the transition from literary studies to cultural studies. Each course begins with analysis of literary texts or theoretical texts essential to literary studies and moves on to integrate culture-related topics, with a view to honing the student’s ability of identifying and analyzing key questions. The cluster consists of three tracks:<br> “Critical Reading and Cultural Inquiry” I and II: These courses are aimed at introducing the class to important literary studies methods and exercising critical reading. They are meant to help the student apply these methods to the analysis of cultural issues.<br> Two courses on “Same-Sex Literature”: Each seeks to read representative same-sex literature from around the world and to touch upon significant themes in gender studies.<br> “Taiwanese Fiction and Cultural Studies”: This course is focused on literary and cultural products from Taiwan, incorporating comparative perspectives gained from training in the study of foreign literatures.<br><br>Level 2 <br>Special Topics: Cultural and Social Issues (Must select 1 course from this cluster)<br>The goal is to introduce the students to actual cultural and social contexts to further their investigation of specific topics. There are three courses available, including animal studies, inquiry into social discourse on contagion, and the study of aging societies.<br><br>Level 3<br>Special Topics: Interdisciplinary Studies (Must select 2 courses from this cluster)<br>These courses offer interdisciplinary approaches to cultural themes. They include: understanding of popular culture through psychoanalysis, medical humanities, exploration of various topics of multiple existence through contemporary art, men’s studies, history of American musicals, and poetry in contemporary rock music. <br><br>(The scheduling of Levels 2 and 3 is flexible: the student may take Level 3 courses first.)