Students majoring in comparative literature must choose one of four options: 1) Comparative Literary Studies
(CLS); 2) Colonial and Postcolonial Studies (CPS); 3) Cultural Theories and
Practices (CTP); or 4) Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature. 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 Seminar 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: A Literary Introduction for English Speakers (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)
01:195:257 The Postcolonial City (3)
01:195:268 Cuban Literature (3)
01:195:269 Dominican Literature (3)
01:195:308 Gender, Race, and
Textual Imagination (3)
01:195:324 Twentieth-Century Literature in a Global Context (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 Women
Writers of Africa (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 Introduction to Literary Theory
(3)
01:195:497 Capstone Seminar Workshop (1)
Comparative Literature Electives
Two courses (6 credits) to be
chosen, in consultation with the adviser, from the following list of approved
courses:
01:195:280 Textual Transformations (3)
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 Introduction to Literary
Theory (3)
01:195:307 Introduction
to Postcolonial Literatures and Theories (3)
01:195:497 Capstone
Seminar 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 languagefor 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 threecourses 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).