Undergraduate Degrees

Graduate Degrees

Courses of Instruction

Taper Hall of Humanities 234
(213) 740-0102
FAX: (213) 740-8058
E-mail: complit@bcf.usc.edu

Chair: Peter Starr, Ph.D.

Faculty

Professors: Dagmar Barnouw, Ph.D. (German); Lloyd W. Brown, Ph.D.; Dominic C.N. Cheung, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Cultures); Jerold Frakes, Ph.D. (German); Paul Ilie, Ph.D. (Spanish); Peggy Kamuf, Ph.D. (French)*; Lucille Kerr, Ph.D. (Spanish)*; Moshe Lazar, Ph.D.; Gloria Orenstein, Ph.D.; Albert Sonnenfeld, Ph.D. (French)*; Nancy Vickers, Ph.D. (French and Italian)*

Associate Professors: Vincent Farenga, Ph.D. (Classics); Peter Starr, Ph.D. (French); Daniel Tiffany, Ph.D. (English)

Assistant Professor: Roberto I. Diaz, Ph.D. (Spanish)

Emeritus Professor: David Malone, Ph.D.

Associated Faculty

Professors: Heather James, Ph.D.; David St. John, M.F.A. (English); William G. Thalmann, Ph.D. (Classics); Alexander Zholkovsky, Ph.D. (Slavic Languages and Literatures)

Associate Professors: Arthur Babcock, Ph.D. (French); Joseph Boone, Ph.D. (English); Arnold Heidsieck, Ph.D. (German); Marcus Levitt, Ph.D. (Slavic Languages and Literatures); Amy Richlin, Ph.D. (Classics, Study of Women and Men in Society); Margaret Rosenthal, Ph.D. (Italian); Hilary Schor, Ph.D. (English)

Degree Programs

The Comparative Literature Program offers the B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in cross-linguistic and cross-cultural literary studies, including the study of various literary genres, periods and movements; literary theory; and interdisciplinary approaches to literature. The literatures and cultures represented in the program fall within three primary traditions: Western (European and American), East Asian, and Pan-African.

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 and Comparative Literature); Lloyd W. Brown, Ph.D.; Dominic C.N. Cheung, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Cultures and Comparative Literature); Robert I. Diaz, Ph.D. (Spanish and Comparative Literature); Vincent Farenga, Ph.D. (Classics and Comparative Literature); Jerold Frakes, Ph.D. (German and Comparative Literature); Paul Ilie, Ph.D. (Spanish and Comparative Literature); Heather James, Ph.D. (English 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); Daniel Tiffany, Ph.D. (English 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.

Graduate Degrees

The primary goal of graduate study in comparative literature is to prepare students to engage in original literary research and teaching after acquiring: (1) a broadly based knowledge of literature's formal or generic development extending across linguistic boundaries; (2) an understanding of literature's historical development within a number of specific cultural or ideological contexts; and (3) an appreciation of the principles of literary criticism and theory essential to the sophisticated analysis, interpretation and evaluation of individual works. Traditionally, the discipline of comparative literature has insisted on advanced linguistic skills in several languages to insure that research is conducted in the original languages.

Graduate students follow personal programs which combine the study of a major literary tradition in one language with one or more comparative fields consisting of a second literary tradition; a specific genre, period, cultural context for literary study, tradition or school of literary theory; or an interdisciplinary area. The program has strong faculty resources in the major literary genres and periods of the Western tradition, in selected genres and cultural issues within the East Asian tradition, and in a variety of methodological approaches within contemporary literary criticism and theory. Literature and gender studies is a particularly strong area of interdisciplinary work.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to graduate study in comparative literature include: a B.A. in literature or the equivalent; scores satisfactory to the program in both the verbal and quantitative General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations; grades satisfactory to the program from course work completed at other institutions; a written statement of at least 500 words indicating the applicant's interests in graduate study in comparative literature; at least one sample of scholarly or critical writing on a literary work or subject; three letters of recommendation from former instructors; and, for international applicants, a satisfactory score on the TOEFL examination. In addition, M.A. applicants should have the ability to do advanced course work (400-level or higher) in at least one language other than English, and Ph.D. applicants in two. All applicants must be fluent in English before being admitted to the program.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to Requirements for Graduation and the Graduate School for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Master of Arts in Comparative Literature

Course Requirements

The master's degree may be earned under one of two options. Common to both options is the completion of at least eight courses (29-32 units) distributed as follows: (1) three courses in one major literary tradition, which is understood to be a national literature (e.g., Russian or Japanese); several literatures of one language (e.g., Francophone literatures of Europe, Africa and the Americas; peninsular and Latin American literatures in Spanish); or a bilingual tradition like classics (Greek and Latin); (2) at least two courses in a minor field, which is understood to be a second literary tradition, a major literary genre, period, or movement, literary theory, a comparative cultural context for literary study (e.g., East-West literary relations), or an interdisciplinary area (e.g., literature and gender studies); and (3) three additional courses in comparative literature, including COLT 501, 502 and one other COLT course related to the student's major literary tradition or minor field. No more than one of the required eight courses may be in directed research (590). COLT 501 and 502 must be completed by the end of each student's second semester in the program.

Students may transfer up to four units toward the M.A. and 30 units toward the Ph.D. There is no time limit on the validity of credits applied toward either degree.

Examination

Option 1

(for students who do not wish to advance to Ph.D. study): A written examination on the student's major literary tradition, normally to be taken at the end of the semester in which course work is completed and after language requirements have been met. For this examination the student will prepare, in consultation with the COLT graduate advisor, an individual reading list based on COLT program reading lists.

Option 2

(for students who wish to qualify for advancement to Ph.D. study): The same examination will serve as the Ph.D. Screening Procedure, to be taken at the end of the semester in which eight courses are completed (for students entering with a B.A.) or at the end of the second full semester (for students entering with an M.A.).

Foreign Language Requirement

Foreign language requirements for the master's degree may be met under one of two options, depending on whether the student wishes to qualify for advancement to Ph.D. study. All M.A. candidates, however, must possess superior language skills in English, which is normally the language of instruction, examination and scholarly writing in the COLT program.

Option 1

(for students who do not wish to qualify for advancement to Ph.D. study): The successful completion of at least two advanced courses (400-level or higher) in the original language of a literary tradition other than the Anglophone.

Option 2

(for students who wish to qualify for advancement to Ph.D. study): The successful completion of at least three advanced courses (400-level or higher) in the original languages of two literary traditions other than the Anglophone. Alternatively, students may combine the successful completion of two such courses in one literary tradition with an examination administered by the COLT program demonstrating a linguistic ability and literary knowledge equivalent to an advanced course in the other literary tradition.

Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative Literature

Course Requirements

A minimum of 15 courses or 60 units. The courses are to be distributed as follows: (1) at least six courses in the student's major literary tradition, which is understood to be a national literature (e.g., Russian or Japanese); several literatures of one language (e.g., Francophone literatures of Europe, Africa, and the Americas; peninsular and Latin American literatures in Spanish); or a bilingual tradition like Classics (Greek and Latin); (2) at least two courses in a second literary tradition; (3) at least seven courses in comparative literature or comparative fields relating to the student's program, including COLT 501 and 502. No more than three of the required 15 courses may be in directed research (590 or 790). COLT 501 and 502 must be completed by the end of each student's second semester in the program.

Foreign Language Requirements

All students must successfully complete their required advanced course work (400-level or higher) in three languages, one of which may be English. This will normally be accomplished by completing all courses in the major and second literary traditions in the original languages, and by successfully completing at least one advanced course in a third literary tradition. In rare circumstances, an examination administered by the COLT program demonstrating a linguistic skill and literary knowledge equivalent to an advanced course (400-level or higher) may be substituted for the third language. Where Anglophone literature constitutes a student's major literary tradition, advanced course work in two other literary traditions is required without the option of examination in the third language. In some cases the COLT Graduate Studies Committee may require special preparation in languages essential to the student's program (e.g., Latin or Greek for specialization in the Renaissance).

Screening Procedure

To be permitted to work toward the Ph.D. in comparative literature, a student must pass the examination under Option 2 for the master's degree. Students entering the program with an M.A. from another institution must pass this examination at the end of their second semester in the program. The COLT Graduate Studies Subcommittee periodically reviews the progress of all students in the program and may recommend that a student not be allowed to continue if examinations, grades, or other forms of evaluation indicate inadequate performance.

Comparative Field Examination

The purpose of the comparative field exam is to demonstrate the breadth of the student's comparative expertise. Thus the principal texts under analysis in the comparative field must not belong to that major literary tradition on which the student was tested in the screening procedure; nor should they be in any way central to the thesis he or she proposes to write.

At the time of the screening procedure, the student will designate a three-member comparative field exam committee, normally chaired by that member of the COLT faculty with whom the student intends to write the thesis. This committee is responsible for helping the student prepare for the comparative field exam, as well as for assuring its integrity as a comparative exercise.

The centerpiece of the field exam is a 30-40 page paper with bibliography. Typically, this paper will grow out of work the student has done for one or more graduate seminars. It can be literary and/or theoretical in nature, but must draw principally on work in one or both of the student's secondary languages. The oral portion of the field exam involves discussion of the submitted paper and of the student's evolving research plans.

Guidance Committee

Upon successful completion of the comprehensive field exam, students will form a five-member guidance committee in accordance with Graduate School guidelines. The chair and two other members of this committee must be COLT faculty; at least one member must come from outside the COLT program. The committee will help the student form reading lists for the qualifying exam and write the dissertation prospectus. Its recommendations will be subject to the approval of the COLT Graduate Studies Committee.

Qualifying Examination

When all required courses or units, all language requirements and the Comparative Field Examination have been completed, the student must pass an examination on the area of his or her proposed dissertation topic. The examination will consist of a five-hour written examination, an oral examination on the written part and discussion of a written proposal for the dissertation which the student has submitted prior to the written examination. The proposal should follow the form prescribed by the Graduate Studies Subcommittee. Each student will prepare, in consultation with his or her guidance committee, a reading list on the area of the proposed topic.

Dissertation

During the oral part of the Qualifying Examination, the student will receive advice and instruction from the guidance committee on the proposal for the dissertation. Following successful completion of the Qualifying Examination, any necessary revisions must be made in consultation with the student's dissertation committee.

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