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Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature

(New Requirements Effective Fall 2007)

click here for previous requirements

All students must meet the General Education Requirements specified by the College of Arts and Sciences. Majors should expect to work closely with the undergraduate advisor to design and follow a coherent and cohesive plan of study.

All majors, regardless of their chosen track, must obtain at least a level-4 proficiency in a foreign language relevant to their individual area of interest. Majors who are considering graduate studies in Comparative Literature should know that most graduate programs require students to have a reading knowledge of at least two foreign languages, and they should plan on starting a second language during their undergraduate careers.

The major in Comparative Literature consists of 10 courses. All majors must complete:

  • 1 course from Literary Traditions I (CMPL 120, 121, 122, 123, 124)
  • 1 course from Literary Traditions II (CMPL 130, 131, 132, 133)
  • 1 course in Theories and Methods of Comparative Literature (CMPL 250 or 251)

The courses above are NOT prerequisites for enrolling in other courses that count towards completion of the major.

  • 1 senior seminar (CMPL 500), to be taken in the senior year to integrate and synthesize the CMPL learning experience while working on a more independent research project

In addition, all majors will complete 6 courses appropriate to one of the following tracks.

Track in International Literary Studies

  • 3 literature courses (200 level or higher) in a single foreign / classical language, one of which may be a course of literature in translation
  • 3 literature courses (200 level or higher) in English, Comparative Literature, Asian Studies, African and African-American Studies, or any foreign language department or program--only one of these may be in the literature that is the student's primary focus

A more detailed review of the International Literary Studies track is available here.

Track in Comparative Studies in Literature and Film

  • 1 course Introduction to Film Analysis (ENGL 142)
  • 1 course Introduction to Global Cinema (CMPL 143)
  • 4 courses in film (200 level or higher), with courses including works from 2 different national traditions and at least 1 course involving film in the major's primary foreign language

A more detailed review of the Comparative Studies in Literature and Film track is available here.

Double Majors

A maximum of 4 courses counted towards the other major may also count towards the major in Comparative Literature.

Minoring in Comparative Literature

Students who wish to minor in Comparative Literature must take 1 course from Literary Traditions I (CMPL  120, 121, 122, 123, 124), 1 course from Literary Traditions II (CMPL 130, 131, 132, 133), and 3 additional CMPL courses numbered between CMPL  200 and 699.

Courses cross-listed between Comparative Literature and Classics may not be counted for a minor in Comparative Literature by students majoring in classics.