The history of the department begins with the opening in 1936 of the Karakalpak language and literature department at Karakalpak State Pedagogical Institute. The founder and chairpersons of the department was a well-known philologist, N. Davkaraev, a doctor of philological sciences. In the 1950s, the department was provided with young personnel. From this point of view, the accession of such young promising people of that time as S.Akhmetov, K.Maksetov, B.Ismaylov, I.Yusupov was the achievement of the department. In the 1950s, such famous scientists as A. Esemuratov, K. Maksetov, K. Berdimuratov were the heads of the department until 1964. Since 1964  this department was divided into two: the department of the Karakalpak language and the department of Karakalpak literature. The head of the department of Karakalpak literature in 1965 was Doctor of Philology, Professor K. Aymbetov, since 1974 Associate Professor J.Narymbetov, since 1976 Associate Professor K.Mambetov, since 1983 Prof. S. Akhmetov, since 1992, Professor A. Pakhratdinov. And also in 1992 the Department was divided into two: 1) the department of the history of Karakalpak literature and folklore; 2) the department of modern Karakalpak literature and literary theory.

 Since 1994 the head of the department of the history of Karakalpak literature and folklore had become Dr. K. Pakhratdinov, and the head of the department of modern Karakalpak literature and literary theory had become Professor K. Mambetov.

Since 1978 the post-graduate school had been opened at the department, since 1994 the doctoral program, since 2012 the institute of the senior scientific applicant and since 2017 basic doctorate has been working. Since 2005, the aforementioned departments had been connected and as a result, the department of Karakalpak literature had appeared. The head of this department was the doctor of philological sciences, professor K.Zharimbetov. In 2008, the department was again divided into two: 1) the department of the history of Karakalpak literature and folklore; 2) Department of Literature Theory and Literature Teaching Methodology. In 2012-2017 Associate Professor J.Nizamaddinov became the head of the department of the history of Karakalpak literature and folklore. In 2008-2010 prof. K.Orazymbetov  became the head of the department of theory of literature and methods of teaching literature. And from 2010-2012 Candidate of Philological Sciences A.Dosymbetova became the head of the department, and 2012-2017 Associate Professor K. Yusupov was the head of the department. In the 2015-2016 academic year, the Department of Literature Theory and Literature Teaching Methodology was renamed as the Department of Karakalpak language and literature. The faculty for teaching the Karakalpak language, which works in other groups that conduct training sessions in other languages, were added to its membership. In 2017, the above-named departments were merged and reorganized as the Department of Karakalpak literature. Until December 2017 the head of this department was Assoc. K. Yusupov, since December 2017 Candidate of Philological Sciences A. Dosymbetova.

At the department in the collective authorship was fulfilled such work as the «History of Karakalpak literature» (1983). Including some of the members of the department such educational materials as “Ancient Karakalpak literature” (1976), “Karakalpak literature of the ancient period” K. Mambetova (1992), “Karakalpak literary criticism” S. Akhmetov (1994), “ Karakalpak literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries ”by A. Pakhratdinov (1995) and others were  prepared and released.

2005 year became a significant year for the department. Because this year 2 doctoral dissertations in literature were defended and this was a huge achievement in the history of Karakalpak literature. As a result, members of the department K.Zharimbetov and K.Orazymbetov became doctors of philological sciences in the field of literature.

At this time, there are 2 doctors of sciences, professors, 8 candidates of sciences, associate professors, 2 PhDs and 4 teaching assistants working at the department. Scientific degree is 75%. Basic doctoral students of the department conduct research work in their areas.

The department conducts research work on such issues as «Poetics of Karakalpak folklore», «Poetics of Karakalpak classical literature», «Poetics of Karakalpak literature of the twentieth century.» The department is preparing textbooks, teaching aids for higher and secondary special educational institutions, as well as for secondary schools. Under the authorship of Professor K.Zharimbetov, a textbook for the 10th grade of a general education institution (co-authored by S.Akhmetov and K.Mambetov) was prepared. And also prof. K.Zharimbetov in collaboration with prof. K.Orazymbetov prepared a textbook «Karakalpak literature» for a vocational college. And also prof. K.Zharimbetov prepared and published a textbook «Lessons of literary criticism» for the higher educational institution. Also prof. K.Orazymbetov  prepared and published the textbook «Theory of Verse» for bachelors and undergraduates of higher educational institutions. The staff of the department participates in national and international scientific and theoretical conferences with their reports.

The department constantly conducts scientific-theoretical and scientific-practical conferences on topical issues of modern Karakalpak literary criticism, as well as on issues related to anniversaries of famous writers, poets and scholars. For example, scientific theoretical conferences and literary evenings were held related to the creative work of great personalities of the literary word like Berdakh, Azhiniyaz, I. Yusupov, T. Kaipbergenov, as well as famous scientists like Acad. M.Nurmukhamedov, prof. S. Akhmetov, prof. K.Mambetov. Based on the materials of the conferences, scientific collections were compiled and published “The Artistic World of Berdakh” (2008), “Unfading Stars of Karakalpak Literature” (2014), “Top of Karakalpak Literature” (2017). Each year with the participation of members of the department“Days of Berdakh” (November), “Days of I. Yusupov and T. Kaipbergenov” (May) are held.

With the help of members of the department literary circles «Young philologist», «I. Yusupov and Karakalpak literature» were organized. In these literary circles there are talented young people who are interested in scientific and literary activities.

At the department work with gifted students is well organized and it gives its positive results. Under the guidance of prof. K.Zharimbetov in the 2016-2017 academic year undergraduate in the specialty «Literary Studies (Karakalpak literature)» M.Palymbetova, as well as under the guidance of Assoc. P.Nurzhanov in the 2017-2018 academic year, undergraduate student in the specialty «Literary criticism (Karakalpak literature)» Z. Aymbetova became Presidential Scholarship Winners of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The department conducts scientific work in the field of international cooperation. Including in the 2014-2015 academic year Assoc. Department B. Genzhemuratov conducted a one-year internship at the University named after Adam Mickiewicz in Poland. Professor of the department K.Zharimbetov participated in an international conference in the Republic of Turkmenistan dedicated to the works of the world famous poet Maktumkuly. And prof. K.Orazymbetov actively participated in the works of the international scientific-theoretical conference in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan dedicated to the works of the famous writer C.Aytmatov.