Comparative Literature (BA, minor)

Program Overview

As either a major or a minor, the comparative literature program allows students great freedom to explore an area of their choice. The department encourages cross-disciplinary work between students of many fields of interest through cultural and linguistic borders. Students will learn different national literatures as well as the literatures of ethnic groups, exposing them to philosophy, modern theory, cultural studies and translation studies from distinctive communicative contexts.

Degrees Offered

• BA in Comparative Literature

Minors

• Translation, Research and Instruction Program
• Comparative Literature

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

To expand upon the skills you will learn as a comparative literature major, exploring internships in areas that interest you is highly encouraged. Your internship experiences can be as vast and varied as you would like them to be. If you have specific interests, speak with a professor within the department to explore research opportunities.

Coursework

Some courses to consider in your first year:

• COLI 110 - World Literature I

  Readings in key works of pre-modern world literature, in the Western tradition and beyond. Lecture/discussion. Students will be required to submit a total of 20 pages of formal expository writing, including papers at least five pages long and rewritten in response to instructor's feedback. 50% of or more the final grade will be based on the grades for expository writing assignments. 4 credits, taught every fall. Levels: Undergraduate

• COLI 111 - World Literature II

  Readings in key works of modern world literature, in the tradition of European languages and beyond. Lecture, discussion. Students will be required to submit a total of 20 pages of formal expository writing, including papers at least five pages long and rewritten in response to instructor's feedback. 50% of or more the final grade will be based on the grades for expository writing assignments. 4 credits. Offered regularly. Levels: Undergraduate

• COLI 210 - Literature and Psychology

  This course examines the many ways in which literature represents psychological phenomena. While the texts used vary between sections, they tend to share a focus on moments in which individual desires conflict with various forms of social regulation. In addition, the course introduces students to key texts in psychoanalytic philosophy (Freud, Jung, Lacan, etc.), and explores how those texts both inform—and were informed by—literary readings. Lecture/discussion. Students will be required to submit a total of 20 pages of formal expository writing, including papers at least five pages long and rewritten in response to instructor's feedback. 50% of or more the final grade will be based on the grades for expository writing assignments. Offered regularly. 4 credits Levels: Undergraduate

• COLI 212 - Literature and Society

  This course explores the multiple ways that literature engages with its social or historical context. Can we discern traces of current or past conflicts in literary texts? Is it possible to recover critical, apologetic, or defensive reflections on social problems through discussions of literary works? Can literature articulate broad hopes for the future? Lecture/discussion. Students will be required to submit a total of 20 pages of formal expository writing, including papers at least five pages long and rewritten in response to instructor's feedback. 50% of or more the final grade will be based on the grades for expository writing assignments. Offered regularly. 4 credits Levels: Undergraduate

After You Graduate

With a background in comparative literature, your potential careers are unlimited. You will be able to use your ability to critique, express, describe, analyze and clarify language and composition. Here are just some of the career and career fields that are open to you:

• academia
• advertising
• advisor
• advocate
• analyst
• author
• broadcaster
• business owner
• developer
• editor
• foreign service worker
• historian
• librarian
• lobbyist
• marketer
• media specialist
• museum (coordinator, educator, curator)
• Peace Corps
• public servant
• publisher
• radio
• sales
• script writer
• social worker
• speech writer
• teacher
  

Accelerated/4+1 Degrees

You may also be interested in our accelerated/4+1 degree programs which allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years!

For more information, visit the Comparative Literature website.