Introduction
Students majoring in Comparative Literature choose a first and second literature of concentration, one of which may be English. After the introductory sequence, each student's major course work is divided between courses in the two literatures of concentration and Comparative Literature courses. These Comparative Literature courses encourage students to take a broad view of a historical period, a theme, a genre, or a literary movement. The wide variety of options in the program permits great flexibility and encourages interdisciplinary connections among literature and philosophy, psychology, history, and the arts. Each student's plan of study must be approved by an advisor at the beginning and end of each calendar year.
One of the benefits of a major in Comparative Literature is that students are encouraged to study abroad, whether for a short summer program, for a quarter, or for the junior year abroad.
As many former students can testify, a Comparative Literature major offers excellent pre-professional training, preparing students for graduate study in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and other science fields as well as law and business, besides of course journalism and publishing, teaching, or graduate study in literature. Studying Comparative Literature, therefore, can satisfy intellectual and artistic curiosity, while still preparing majors for successful professional careers in many different fields.