Undergraduate Program
Concentration Requirements
I. Concentration in comparative literature with two languages
- Prerequisite for taking 1000-level courses in a classical or modern foreign language by Semester V.
- Comparative Literature 1210, Introduction to the Theory of Literature.
- TEN advanced literature courses (generally 1000-level courses), including Comparative Literature 1210, at least two courses in the relevant foreign literature, and the remainder drawn from among the offerings of Comparative Literature, English and other national literature departments.
- There must be ONE FULL COURSE devoted to EACH of the three major literary genres: poetry, drama and narrative.
- There must be a distribution of courses within at least three distinct historical periods; please note that the 19th and 20th centuries count as one period, the Modern Period.
II. Concentration in comparative literature with three languages
- Prerequisites for taking 1000-level courses in a classical or modern foreign language by Semester V.
- Complete the same requirement for another foreign language before Semester VII.
- Comparative Literature 1210, Introduction to the Theory of Literature.
- TEN advanced literature courses (generally 1000-level courses), including Comparative Literature 1210, at least two courses in the relevant foreign literatures, and the remainder drawn from among the offerings of Comparative Literature, English and other national literature departments.
- There must be ONE FULL COURSE devoted to EACH of the three major literary genres: poetry, drama and narrative.
- There must be a distribution of courses within at least three distinct historical periods; please note that the 19th and 20th centuries count as one period, the Modern Period.
III. Concentration in Literary Translation
- Prerequisites for taking 1000-level courses in a classical or modern foreign language before Semester V.
- Comparative Literature 1210, Introduction to the Theory of Literature.
- Comparative Literature 1710 ( Comparative Literature 2720 strongly urged).
- ONE course or MORE in Linguistics, drawn from among these courses: Cognitive Science 0410, Anthropology 0800, English 1210, or an acceptable substitute.
- FIVE or SIX advanced literature courses (generally 1000-level courses), including Comparative Literature 1210, drawn from among the offerings of Comparative Literature, English and the appropriate national literature departments.
- There must be ONE FULL COURSE devoted to EACH of the three major literary genres: poetry, drama and narrative.
- There must be a distribution of courses within at least three distinct historical periods; please note that the 19th and 20th centuries count as one period, the Modern Period.
- TWO OR MORE courses in Creative Writing.
- A senior project to consist of: 1. A substantial work in translation (length will vary depending on language and genre) 2. A critical introduction outlining the method used and specific problems encountered, and commenting on the history of the original work together with other translations, if any.
The thesis topic will be decided in consultation with members of the Department responsible for the translation courses. The student may register in COLT 1990, which will be taken in addition to the TEN required courses. Successful completion of the thesis constitutes Honors. (See Guidelines for Honors Theses).
Procedures
A student interested in a Comparative Literature Concentration should begin to discuss a possible program with the Department's Concentration Advisor during semester III or IV, so as to be ready to fill out a concentration form in Semester IV. A well-planned program must have both range and focus.
Honors concentrators are required to complete a senior Honors thesis of moderate length, between 50 and 100 typewritten pages, on a well-focused topic of Comparative Literature which the student has carefully investigated. (See Guidelines for Honors Theses in Comparative Literature).
Students concentrating in Literary Translation are required to complete a senior translation project, which is the equivalent of an Honors thesis. Students not taking Honors are urged (but not required) to complete a senior essay, which may be less extensive in scope and length than the Honors thesis, but which should constitute an integration of some aspect of their study.
IMPORTANT: Students should plan to meet with the Concentration Advisor by the end of their Junior year (during preregistration), or, at the very latest, before the deadline for adding courses in semester VII. Failure to do this may result in the realization that not all concentration requirements have been met.
Final concentration evaluation of students will be based on course grades and instructors' evaluations, as well as on the reports of faculty readers in the cases in which students have completed Honors theses or senior essays.
Variation on the Basic Program
It is possible for a student to accommodate a junior year abroad within his/her concentration program, provided that he/she plans for it early enough. In certain cases, a freshman may wish to consider spending his/her sophomore year abroad.
Joint or double concentration programs may also be arranged if steps are taken early enough with Comparative Literature and the other department. The same is true of programs combining a concentration in Comparative Literature with a teaching certificate in English or a modern language. A student interested in such a program should consult the advisor in the Education Department and the advisor in Comparative Literature as early as possible (preferably by Semester V).