Major Requirements

1. Option in Comparative Literary Studies (CLS):

The option in Comparative Literary Studies requires 34 credits:

Core Courses

Three courses constitute the foundation of the option in Comparative Literary Studies. In them, students learn the fundamentals of comparative methodologies and engage in sophisticated analyses of literary production in multiple cultures.

  01:195:201  Literature across Borders (3)

  01:195:301  Introduction to Literary Theory (3)

  01:195:497  Capstone Senior Workshop (1)

Foreign Literature

Prospective majors who plan to opt for Comparative Literary Studies are strongly advised to begin the advanced study of a foreign language as early as possible in their academic careers, as all majors are required to demonstrate a sufficient level of proficiency in a language other than English, and are strongly urged to continue the study of at least one foreign language throughout their four years of work.

This option requires students to choose two courses (6 credits) in literature (broadly defined) at the 200 level or above in a department other than English, in consultation with the undergraduate director. Since course offerings in foreign languages and literature vary widely from department to department, students should refer to the comparative literature website for model course sequences that fulfill the foreign literature requirement.

This option also requires students to take one additional course (3 credits) on a literature from outside the west European and Anglo-American literary traditions.

Major Focus

Students are required to select an area of concentration and, in consultation with the undergraduate director, a group of at least six courses (18 credits) at the 200 level or above, including two comparative literature courses at the 300 level or above, in this area. With the approval of the adviser, students can take up to 4 courses (12 credits) in other disciplines or departments relevant to their area of concentration.

2. Option in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies (CPS)

The option in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies (CPS) requires 34 credits:

Core Courses

Six courses constitute the foundation of the option in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies. In them, students learn the fundamentals of comparative methodologies, and engage in sophisticated analyses of literary production in multiple cultures with particular emphasis on the study of the effects of colonialism around the globe. 

01:195:201  Literature across Borders (3)

01:195:203  Masterworks of Western Literature (3)

01:195:301  Literary Theory (3)

01:195:306  Literature and Cultural Conquest (3)

01:195:307  Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures and Theories (3)

01:195:497  Capstone Senior Workshop (1)

Comparative Literature Electives

Three courses (9 credits) to be chosen, in consultation with the adviser, from the following list of approved courses, with at least 6 credits at the 300 level and above:

01:195:216  Introduction to World Literatures in English (3)

01:195:237  Arabic Classical Literatures (3)   

01:195:242  The Portuguese-Speaking World (3)

01:195:243  Introduction to the Literatures of South Asia (3)

01:195:249  Modern Literatures of South Asia (3)

01:195:250  Comparative Approaches to African Literatures (3)

01:195:308  Gender, Race, and Textual Imagination (3)

01:195:329  Modern Japanese Novel and the West (3)

01:195:335  Minority Literatures (3)

01:195:336  Literatures of Migration, Immigration, and Diaspora (3)

01:195:362  Contemporary Caribbean Writers (3)

01:195:363  African Women Writers (3)

01:195:324  Twentieth-Century Literature in a Global Context (3)

01:195:395,396,397, 398  Issues in Comparative Literature (3,3,3,3), depending on topic and with permission of adviser

01:195:437, 438  Twentieth-Century Arabic Literature (3)

01:195:480  Special Topics in Comparative Literature (3), depending on topic and with permission of  adviser

01:195:495,496  Honors in Comparative Literature (3,3)

Other Electives

Three courses (9 credits) to be chosen from an ongoing list of approved courses drawn from language/literature/culture departments as well as departments such as history, anthropology, and political science

Foreign Language/Literature Requirement

All students who chose the CPS option are required to take, in addition to the 34 credits required for the major, two semesters of a foreign language course (at least 6 credits) or two foreign literature (broadly defined) courses  (6 credits) not in translation. Prospective majors who plan to opt for CPS are strongly advised to begin the study of a foreign language as early as possible in their academic careers and are strongly urged to continue the study of at least one foreign language throughout their four years of work.

3. Option in Cultural Theories and Practices (CTP)

The option in Cultural Theories and Practices requires 34 credits:

Core Courses

Four courses constitute the foundation of the option in Cultural Theories and Practices. In them, students learn the fundamentals of comparative methodologies, and engage in sophisticated analyses of cultural production in multiple contexts, with particular emphasis on the study of critical theories and philosophy, as well as on the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary aspects of the discipline.

01:195:201  Literature across Borders (3)

01:195:203  Masterworks of Western Literature (3)

01:195:301  Literary Theory (3)

01:195:497  Capstone Senior Workshop (1)

Comparative Literature Electives

Two courses (6 credits) to be chosen, in consultation with the adviser, from the following list of approved courses:

01:195:304  Fiction and Ideology (3)

01:195:307  Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures and Theories (3)

01:195:310  Literary Institutions (3)

01:195:312  Literature and Psychoanalytical Theory (3)

01:195:316  Politics, Literature, and the Arts (3)

01:195:350  Theory of Narrative (3)

01:195:387  Hybrid Western Modernity in Literature and the Arts (3)

01:195:395,396,397,398  Issues in Comparative Literature (3,3,3,3)

01:195:419  History of Criticism (3)

01:195:420  History of Criticism (3)

01:195:495,496  Honors in Comparative Literature (3,3)

OR one other comparative literature course at the 300 level or above

Other Electives

Three courses (9 credits) on critical/cultural theory and/or philosophy, to be chosen from an ongoing list of approved courses drawn from language/literature/culture departments as well as departments such as philosophy and women's and gender studies. With permission of the adviser, up to one course can be replaced by an advanced literature course (300 level or above) from outside of the comparative literature program.

Three courses (9 credits) on cultural forms other than literature, to be chosen from an ongoing list of approved courses drawn from language/literature/culture departments and other departments

Foreign Language/Literature Requirement

All students who chose the CTP option are required to take, in addition to the 34 credits required for the major, two semesters of a foreign language course (at least 6 credits) or two foreign literature (broadly defined) courses (6 credits) not in translation. Prospective majors who plan to opt for CTP are strongly advised to begin the study of a foreign language as early as possible in their academic careers and are strongly urged to continue the study of at least one foreign language throughout their four years of work.

4.  Option in Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature

The Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature option requires at least 52 credits. It is designed for students who want to achieve a wide knowledge of world literatures and cultural theories. This option is particularly recommended for students who seek preparation for a graduate program in literature and cultural studies.

Core courses (13 credits)

Five courses constitute the foundation of the option in Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature. In them, students learn the fundamentals of comparative methodologies, and engage in sophisticated analyses of literary production in multiple cultures.

01:195:201  Literature across Borders (3)

01:195:203  Masterworks of Western Literature (3)

01:195:301  Literary Theory (3)

01:195:307  Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures and Theories (3)

01:195:497  Capstone Senior Workshop (1)

Foreign Languages and Literature Requirement (at least 18 credits)

All students who are eligible for and choose this option must take:

A. Four literature courses (12 credits) from the same department/literary tradition. At least two of these courses must be taught in the original language.

B. Two semesters (or at least 6 credits) of either (1) a classical language; or (2) a non-European language. In case a student chooses a classical or non-European language  for the primary language/literature (in A above), he or she may choose two semesters of any other language to fulfill this requirement.

Major Focus (15 credits)

Students are required to select an area of concentration (such as gender, region, period, genre, theme, theoretical approach, etc.) and, in consultation with the undergraduate director, a group of at least five semester courses (15 credits), including two comparative literature courses at the 300 level or above, in this area (i.e., up to three  courses may be chosen from other departments in the humanities or social sciences).

Senior Thesis (6 credits)

Students are required to write a final thesis related to the area of concentration and enroll in 01:195:495,496  Honors in Comparative Literature (3,3).