How extensive is the theory focus in your program, and does the PhD program allow students to take interdisciplinary courses—in philosophy or psychology, for example?

College guidelines allow graduate students to take up to 2 courses outside of her/his degree-granting department (and students are encouraged to take these courses at nearby universities as well).  Courses taken outside of departmental offerings are usually on the basis of the fact that some aspect of a key expertise for a student’s research may otherwise go unfulfilled. All areas of the GWU graduate curriculum are available for outside credit consideration as we promote not only interdisciplinary work but also the development of disciplines that are not exclusively literary in focus. We emphasize in particular the work of literature understood within its specific historical, cultural, material, philosophical, and genre contexts.