The overarching goal of the program is to provide students with a world-class education, comparable to none in Pakistan, on critical issues of culture, art history and theory, and heritage/critical museology, drawing upon theoretical insights from the disciplines of Art Theory, Film Studies, Media Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Mass Communication, History, Literature, Psychology and Philosophy. The department aims to develop students’ understanding of culture as the field on which societal issues are formulated, identities contested, representations interpreted, and the popular imagination mobilized. In other words, it offers a space to synthesize and critically appraise the representations of the world, as we understand it.

Embedded in the humanities and social sciences, the BS in Cultural Studies will prepare students for diverse careers in a number of areas – including humanities and arts, print/electronic media, social/ cultural/environmental development, and public policy – that they can approach critically, holistically and with theoretical rigor.

Globally, the Cultural Studies and contemporary theories view culture as dynamic, living, and changeable – rather than static and permanent. Notions of culture as something immutable lead to attitudes of intolerance and politics of hate. Cultural Studies promotes a tolerant world-view, where difference is embraced and used as a basis for dialogue and mutual understanding. It provides an interpretation of cultural practices; how it can be preserved, destroyed, or reformed; and how our sense of identity is produced through cultural practices.

The requisite qualifications for admission and the entrance criteria will ensure that only candidates of the highest ability and motivation are inducted into the undergraduate program. The admission process will consider previous records as well as results of a written examination/aptitude test and a thorough interview.

The key themes of study will include topics such as research methodology, several theories of culture, identity, power, the cultural industry and social theory, and research methodology. The program itself will be a four-year long curriculum. Assessments will be based on tests, assignments, participation, and examinations at the end of each semester.