Free Online Literary Theory Courses: Where Can I Find Them?
Free online courses in literary theory are offered by real schools. Learn which literary theory courses are available and what topics they cover.
Take Free Courses. Earn Real College Credit.
Most free courses don't lead to college credit. Education-Portal.com's free courses do!
Here's how it works:
Free Online Course Info and Requirements
Although rare, a couple of schools offer OpenCourseWare versions of literary theory courses. Downloadable course materials, like lectures, syllabi and reading lists are typically available on the course websites without the need for students to register. These courses do not carry credit and are not applicable to most degree or certificate programs.
Free Online Literary Theory Courses
Introduction to Literary Theory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
This undergraduate course traces the history of literary theory, applies theories to texts and explores the limits of different critical approaches. The reading list includes works by Freud, Foucault, Bronte and Fish. The course is divided into sections that cover new criticism, structuralism, deconstruction and psychoanalysis. You may also access exams and download course assignments to test your knowledge of the material covered.
Introduction to Theory of Literature at Yale University
Yale also offers an introductory literary theory course through its open course system. Course materials are available for download through the Yale course homepage, and lectures may be streamed from YouTube and iTunes. Course materials also include a syllabus and a list of assignments, for which students may wish to purchase the assigned texts. Books used in the course are available for purchase through a link on the course's homepage. This 20th century survey course examines modern trends in critical theory. The course covers topics such as configurative reading, semiotics, structuralism, deconstruction, the feminist tradition, African-American criticism, post-Colonial criticism, queer theory and neo-pragmatism.
Earn Real Credit from Free Courses
While the free courses above don't award credit directly, you can earn credit by passing an exam and transferring credit to your college. There are two widely recognized and affordable options for exams that award credit.
Option #1: CLEP Exams
The College Board's 33 CLEP exams allow you to test out of your general education requirements. Credit is accepted at 2/3 of colleges and universities in the U.S.
Option #2: Excelsior College's Credit-by-Exam
Excelsior College offers over 40 exams that lead to transferable credit. You can also earn three full degrees by taking free online courses and earning your credit by exam.
Learn how Education Portal Academy will pay you to earn credit!
Do you like this post?
Yes NoGet our best student money savers and free resources
Subscribe to Education Insider
9 Popular Schools
The schools in the listing below are not free but are popular choices among our users. Tuition and costs will vary across programs and locations. Be sure to always request tuition information before starting a program.
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MA in Communication
- MA in Communication: New Media & Marketing
-
- Master of Arts in English
-
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
Online Programs
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must have some prior college credit.
Online Programs
-
Bachelor
-
- BS - Communication
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 17 years of age or older
Online Programs
- Non-Degree
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
Distance Learning Programs
Other Popular Schools:
-
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Agriculture
- Architecture
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Communications and Journalism
- Computer Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies
- Medical and Health Professions
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Visual and Performing Arts
-
Our Commitment