The Department of Dramatic Literature has a history of more than 70 years. Many renowned scholars have served as teachers for the Department, such as ZHOU Yibai, SUN Jiaxiu, LIAO Kedui, ZHU Zhaonian, DING Yangzhogn, TAN Peisheng, YAN Xue, KONG Jin, GAO Ruisen, DING Tao, ZHANG Xian, MA Guojun, HUANG Weiruo, GUO Tao, GUO Fumin, YANG Jian, and SHEN Lin. In the past decades, the Department has trained socially reputable professionals engaged in literary and artistic creation and theoretical research for the country, making outstanding contributions to the prosperity and development of China's cultural and artistic endeavors.

The Department currently comprises 4 teaching and research sections respectively for Play-writing, Television Drama Writing, Theatre History and Criticism, and Art Theory. In addition to undergraduate education, the Department also offers master's and doctoral degree programs in various research areas, including Dramaturgy, Theatre Theory and Criticism, Theatre Aesthetics, Western Theatre History and Theory, History and Theory of Chinese Traditional Theatre (Xiqu), History and Theory of Chinese Spoken Drama, History and Theory of Chinese Spoken Drama Performances, Playwriting, and Television Drama Writing. Furthermore, postdoctoral research stations are also available for related disciplines.