Undergraduate Degrees

Program Committee

Comparative Literature is an interdepartmental program under the supervision of a committee which includes the several national literatures. The committee is composed of: Dagmar Barnouw, Ph.D. (German); Lloyd W. Brown, Ph.D.; Dominic C.N. Cheung, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Cultures and Comparative Literature); Page duBois, Ph.D. (Classics and English); Vincent Farenga, Ph.D. (Classics and Comparative Literature); Jerold Frakes, Ph.D. (German and Comparative Literature); Paul Ilie, Ph.D. (Spanish and Comparative Literature); Peggy Kamuf, Ph.D. (French and Comparative Literature); Lucille Kerr, Ph.D. (Spanish and Comparative Literature); Moshe Lazar, Ph.D.; Marcus Levitt, Ph.D. (Slavic Languages and Literatures); Gloria Orenstein, Ph.D. (Study of Women and Men in Society and Comparative Literature); Amy Richlin, Ph.D. (Classics and Study of Women and Men in Society); Albert Sonnenfeld, Ph.D. (French and Comparative Literature); Peter Starr (French and Comparative Literature); Nancy J. Vickers, Ph.D. (French and Italian and Comparative Literature).

Comparative Literature Major Requirements

Students may earn the B.A. in Comparative Literature by satisfying one of two sets of requirements. The first set, Comparative Literature with Interdisciplinary Option, is designed to include some course work from other literature departments and from other disciplines related to literary study (e.g., the arts, cinema, gender studies, history, religion, philosophy).

These requirements provide the opportunity to create a major program that is broadly based in the liberal arts, with special emphasis on literature and its interrelations with other fields. Students who choose to complete these requirements might consider completing a double major or minor in a non-literary field or in English. Conversely, the minor in Comparative Literature with Interdisciplinary Option will complement the programs of students majoring in non-literary fields or in English.

The second set of requirements, Comparative Literature with Foreign Language Emphasis, incorporates the study of at least one literature in a foreign language into the comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives of courses in the Comparative Literature program.

Students who intend to pursue graduate studies in comparative literature or a foreign literature are strongly advised to complete these requirements, as are students who already possess advanced skills in a language other than English. Majors in comparative literature with foreign language emphasis might consider a double major or a minor in a department of foreign language or in a non-literary field such as international relations or journalism. Conversely, the minor in comparative literature with foreign language emphasis will complement the programs of students majoring in a foreign language or in these non-literary fields.

Comparative Literature Major with Interdisciplinary Option

Students earn a B.A. in Comparative Literature and are required to complete at least 40 units (10 courses).

Lower Division No courses are required, but up to two courses at the 200-level in COLT or any other literature department may be included, except courses marked "x."

Upper Division Eight to 10 courses, depending on the inclusion of 200-level courses from COLT or other literature departments (see Lower Division) are required.

(a) At least six courses must be in COLT, including COLT 301 and 401.

(b) Up to two courses (eight units) may be completed in other literature departments, or in fields related to literature through inter-disciplinary approaches (e.g., history and theory of the arts, cinema, gender studies, history, religion, philosophy). All courses outside COLT must be selected in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Comparative Literature Major with Foreign Language Emphasis

Students earn a B.A. in Comparative Literature and are required to complete 40 units (10 courses).

Lower Division No courses are required, but up to two courses at the 200-level in COLT or any other literature department may be included, except courses marked "x."

Upper Division Eight to 10 courses, depending on inclusion of 200-level courses from COLT or other literature departments (see Lower Division) are required.

(a) At least five courses must be in COLT, including COLT 301 and 401.

(b) At least three courses must be completed in the literature of a foreign language, with all readings in that language.

Honors Program

The B.A. in Comparative Literature with Honors is available to students who are admitted to the honors program. Qualifications for admission are: an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0), and a GPA of at least 3.5 in courses counted for major credit.

Majors in Comparative Literature with Interdisciplinary Option must complete a four-unit course of independent study (COLT 490) and COLT 495 Senior Honors Thesis in place of two upper division courses. In place of two upper division courses, majors in comparative literature with foreign language emphasis must complete an upper division course in the literature of a second language other than English and COLT 495 Senior Honors Thesis.

Minor in Comparative Literature

Students may minor in either comparative literature with interdisciplinary option or in comparative literature with foreign language emphasis. This first minor will complement a major in English or in a non-literary field related to literature through interdisciplinary approaches. The second minor will complement a major in a foreign language or in a non-literary field where foreign language skills are advantageous (e.g., international relations, journalism).

Minor in Comparative Literature with Interdisciplinary Option

Twenty-four units (six courses) are required.

Lower Division No units are required, but one course at the 200-level may be included from COLT or any other literature department, except a course marked "x."

Upper Division Five to six courses, depending on inclusion of a 200-level course (see Lower Division) are required.

(a) At least three courses must be completed in COLT, including COLT 301 and 401.

(b) Up to two courses may be completed in other literature departments, or in fields related to literature through interdisciplinary approaches (e.g., history and theory of the arts, cinema, gender studies, history, religion, philosophy). All courses outside COLT must be chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Minor in Comparative Literature with Foreign Language Emphasis

Twenty-four units (six courses) are required.

Lower Division No courses are required, but one course at the 200-level may be included from COLT or any literature department, except a course marked "x."

Upper Division Five to six courses, depending on inclusion of 200-level courses (see Lower Division) are required.

(a) At least four courses must be in COLT, including COLT 301 and COLT 401.

(b) At least one course must be in the literature of a foreign language, with all readings in that language.

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