The M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Comparative Literature offer a global breadth of study of literature and other cultural productions. Drawing upon multiple languages and cultural contexts, students consider new configurations such as the Global South or Inter-American studies as well as traditional regions of comparison. Students combine a shared series of seminars in comparative research methods and theory (ancient through very current) with coursework in their own areas of interest. In addition to specializations including–but not limited to–comparative medieval studies; comparative Middle Eastern studies; comparative modernisms; ecocriticism and the Anthropocene; human rights, ethics, and critical health studies; migration, diaspora, and globalization; poetry and poetics; postcolonial and decolonial studies; translation studies; and world literature, doctoral students can take an interdisciplinary dual-title degree with African Studies, Asian Studies, Visual Studies, or Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Our graduate programs emphasize research experience, pedagogical theories and practice, and career preparation.
The M.A. is a general humanistic degree that helps prepare students for a variety of situations, including teaching in private high schools or community colleges, or further graduate work. The Ph.D. is a more specialized degree. The Ph.D. in Comparative Literature can be combined with a minor in a professional field such as teaching English as a second language. Other potential combinations include our dual-title Ph.D. programs in:
- Comparative Literature and African Studies
- Comparative Literature and Asian Studies
- Comparative Literature and Visual Studies
- Comparative Literature and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Only the faculty members and courses officially associated with the Department of Comparative Literature are listed here. Faculty members and courses in other departments are also available to comparative literature students according to their preparation.