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Why Choose This Program?

The goal of the program is to provide graduate training in subjects common to more than one national literature. Research work in the program is directed toward the analysis of cultural, historical, literary, linguistic, ethical and social concerns in literature, as approached through comparative methods of analysis informed by literary and cultural theory, as well as theories and practices from a variety of disciplines including psychology, sociology, anthropology, history and others.

Because of the benefits of reading literature in the original language, the M.A. program requires students to have sufficient proficiency in at least one foreign language to take graduate literature seminars in that language.

The M.A. in Comparative Literature is of particular value for students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in comparative literature or in a foreign language and literature, or who plan to teach literature at the K-12 or community college levels. Some upper-division courses in Comparative and World Literature (CWL) or English (taken as part of the degree program electives) may apply to subject matter preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in English (CWL Emphasis).

For information about the Teaching Credential, please consult the  in the .

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop an understanding of the scope and goals of the field of Comparative Literature.
• Students will become familiar with various traditions of literary theory.
• Students will explore one particular body of literary theory or criticism in depth.
• Students will learn to analyze, in oral form, texts from multiple literary traditions, at a level appropriate to someone newly entering the profession.
• Students will learn to analyze, in written form, texts from multiple literary traditions, at a level appropriate to someone newly entering the profession.
• Students will achieve the ability to read and analyze literature in at least one foreign, i.e., non-native, language at the graduate level.
• Students will explore the relation of a single national literature to other literatures.
• Students will participate in the larger community of comparatists.