About the Undergraduate Program
Introduction
Comparative Literature is a dynamic major whose own self-definition is constantly shifting. Once mostly limited to the study of western European literature and its Greco-Roman classical past, today Comparative Literature has become a global and interdisciplinary study both of literature in original languages and of other media (including cinema, television, fine arts, and opera, for example). Thus, we can define Comparative Literature as the study of literature and culture across national boundaries and throughout historical time.
Both the major and the minor in Comparative Literature allow students to combine courses in one or more national literature departments with courses in Comparative Literature. The introductory course sequence (COM 1, 2, 3, and 4) provides both an overview of ancient to contemporary literature and film and offers intensive practice in analytical thinking and writing. All readings in undergraduate Comparative Literature courses are in English, but majors take upper division courses in at least one other literature in the original language.
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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who major in Comparative Literature will, no later than their senior year, be able to:
- demonstrate a true comparative understanding of national literature and literary traditions within the context of world literature
- situate texts within their cultural and historical contexts
- identify and critically assess the aesthetic qualities of literary texts and other media such as film
- master and learn to integrate the major critical and interpretive methods with close readings of literary and other cultural objects
- distinguish and analyze literary genres and other forms in the context of the major developments in literary history
- develop a nuanced understanding of the historical developments of at least one non-English literature
- develop analytical, critical thinking, and research skills
- express themselves both orally and in writing in a clear, coherent and persuasive manner
- construct interpretive arguments in accordance with the general requirements of the essay form
- participate (via writing, reading, and speaking) in upper-level literature courses in at least one foreign language
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