In recent years; the field of critical pedagogy (the critical study of teaching; its philosophy; history and practice) has become central to the consideration of how post-secondary education functions. Theorists such as Paulo Freire; Henry Giroux; Peter McLaren; bell hooks and Ira Shor; to name the best known in the field; have encouraged us to re-think what it means to educate and to learn; particularly in an increasingly globalized world. In this course we will look at some of the central tenets and texts within the field of critical pedagogy; particularly as they can shed light on the discipline of literary studies in English and how it is learned; structured; disseminated; taught; and fought over. The course will also exemplify; through an inquiry-based and critical approach (students and instructor will make collaborative decisions about the much of the of the course direction) some of the principles that critical pedagogy deems important; particularly concepts of democratic and liberatory education.