Degree Requirements

To obtain an M.A., students are expected to develop a solid basic competence in Comparative Literature and in one national literature. They must also demonstrate competence in two foreign languages. They must begin study of a second national literature and must write either a thesis or a report. The thesis will be based on original research on topics involving literary history, genres, theory, or criticism, it may also be a translation of a work (from a foreign language into English) with a critical commentary and apparatus. The report will be a revised paper from a graduate course taken in addition to the required hours of course work Thus, students writing a thesis will complete a total of 31 hours (including 6 for the thesis), whereas students submitting a report will complete a total of 34 hours (including 3 for the report). Those who wish to pursue the Ph.D. must also pass the Qualifying Examination (taken in January of their second year of study, after the two required Comparative Literature theory courses have been completed).

Summary of requirements for the M.A.

• 12 hours of Comparative Literature courses (including CL 385 & CL 390) plus the Comparative Literature Proseminar, CL 180K.
• 9 hours of courses in one national literature
• 3 hours (one course) in a second national literature
• either 6 hours of thesis or 6 hours of electives (as approved by Graduate Adviser) + 3 hours Report
• proven competence in two foreign languages (see Language Requirements)
• No more than 20 percent of the hours on the Program of Work for the master's degree may have been taken on the credit/no credit basis

 

Note: We do not offer a terminal M.A. All accepted students are expected to complete the Ph.D.

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 61 hours of course work (including work completed for the M.A.), six of which are for the dissertation and including the Comparative Literature Proseminar, CL 180K. The distribution of these requirements builds on the core established in the first four semesters of graduate study so that the student acquires a breadth of knowledge in literary history and genres. Students must also demonstrate competence in three foreign languages (see Language Requirements). For the Ph.D., they will continue their study of Comparative Literature, and they will also be required to develop extensive knowledge of one national literature and broad knowledge of a second national literature written in a different language (one of these two literatures may be English). Students will also complete course work in a third national language, although some may elect to develop a thorough command of another discipline through course work and independent research and to study the interrelationships between that discipline and literature. After completing course work for the Ph.D., students will take a Comprehensive Oral Examination, present and defend a dissertation prospectus, and then write and defend a dissertation in Comparative Literature.

Summary of requirements for the Ph.D.

• 18 hours of Comparative Literature courses (including CL 385 & 390, but not thesis, report, or dissertation hours) , plus the Comparative Literature Proseminar, CL 180K.
• 18 hours in one national literature (e.g., Latin, English, Russian, modern Chinese)
• 12 hours in a second national literature (written in a language different from first)
• 6 hours in a third national literature (written in a language different from the other two) or in a separate discipline.
• 6 hours dissertation
• competence in three foreign languages (another discipline may be substituted for the third language, (see Language Requirements)
• No more than 20 percent of the hours on the Program of Work for the PhD may have been taken on the credit/no credit basis

Students in the Program must demonstrate appropriate command of world languages at various stages in their studies. All students entering the Program must possess a high level of competence in one world (non-native) language at the start of their studies, and must demonstrate additional language competencies (two for M.A. candidates and three for Ph.D. candidates) as their studies progress. Ideally, students should satisfy all language requirements as early as possible in their careers.

Primary World Language

Students must demonstrate their command of the primary world language by the end of their first semester in the Program. They may do so in one of the following ways:

• By entering with an M.A. or equivalent in that language
• By passing a graduate literature course in that language (one approved by the Graduate Advisor) with a grade of "B" or better.
• When neither of the above options is possible, by passing a language examination administered by a member of the CL faculty appointed by the Graduate Advisor.
   

Special circumstances: If an ancient language is chosen as the first world language, the students will be required to demonstrate such proficiencies as specified by their examiner (commensurate with the requirements of the specialization).

If command of the primary WL is not demonstrated by the end of the student's first semester in the Program, the CL Graduate Studies Committee may not approve enrollment for the second semester.  Students who are allowed by the GSC to enroll may be permitted by the graduate advisor to demonstrate ability by fulfilling the graduate world language proficiency requirements of the relevant world language or area studies graduate program

Secondary World Language

M.A. Candidates
To demonstrate competence in the secondary world language, the student must either:

• Earn a grade of a "B" or better in an upper-division, undergraduate course in the literature of that language, taught in that language.
  -or-
• Pass an examination in that language involving translation (with a dictionary) of a 400-500 word passage from the WL. The passage will be chosen and evaluated by a member of the faculty approved by the Graduate Advisor. This should be done as soon as possible, but it must be done before the student can receive the M.A. degree.
   

Ph.D. Candidates
Students continuing to the Ph.D. must demonstrate proficiency in a secondary WL must either:

• Pass an approved graduate literature course in that language with a grade of "B" or better (if the course is not taught in the WL, then the course instructor must write a letter attesting to the student's proficiency in reading the language involved)
  -or-
• Pass a language examination administered by a faculty member appointed by the Graduate Advisor.
   

Note: The M.A. and PH.D. requirements are not identical and cannot substitute for each other. Students are thus strongly recommended to meet the Ph.D. requirements for the secondary WL in lieu of the M.A. requirements whenever possible. Preferably, students should meet the requirement for the secondary WL by the end of their first year in the Program so that they may concentrate on literary rather than language study. In any case, students entering the Program with an M.A. must do so by the end of their third semester; those entering with a B.A. must do so by the end of their fifth semester. If this condition is not met, these students are allowed to sign up for an additional semester of study only at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee. If, by the end of this discretionary semester, the language requirement is still not met, these students will be barred from continuing work in the Program.

Exceptions

In certain cases based upon the nature of the languages involved and their relationship to the student's program of study, the graduate adviser may make exceptions to this schedule in consultation with the student's Area Supervisor. They may demonstrate proficiency by passing an examination by the end of their fourth semester in the Program (if they enter with an M.A.), or their sixth semester (if with a B.A.). The examination for the second WL has two parts:

• Translation of a passage from a literary text (400-500 words, 90 minute time limit)
• Translation of a passage from a scholarly or critical work (400-500 words, 90 minute time limit). 

Tertiary Language, World Culture, or Research Area

Students must pass a reading examination in a tertiary WL area before taking their Comprehensive Oral Examination. For the chosen language, students must either:

• Pass with a grade of "B" or better an upper-division course in the literature of that language taught in that language
• Pass an examination in that language, administered by a member of the faculty approved by the Graduate Advisor -- translating (with a dictionary) a 400-500 word passage from the WL, in a language and format approved by the Graduate Advisor in consultation with the Area Advisor.
   

In lieu of a tertiary language, students may be allowed (by completing a minimum of two graduate courses) to demonstrate proficiency in another discipline related to their program of work (e.g., art history, film, folklore, philosophy, psychology). The relation of the discipline to the student's program must be defined in writing by the student and approved by the Graduate Advisor in consultation with the student's Area Advisor, before that work begins.

I am required.

Panel 5. Add body text in this space.