Extensive examination of the written word will demonstrate its crucial role in the historical, social, philosophical, and psychological processes that have come to shape contemporary society, as well as the capacity of language to inform reflection on human value and societal differences and to mobilize the creative imagination.听As you explore the ins and outs of literature, from antiquity to present, you will navigate听its historical and听geographical contexts, analyze听examples of literary production听and their听linguistic and cultural diversity,听and study听recent movements听in literary and critical theory. We believe听that听a solid base of knowledge, critical听practice, and strong linguistic endeavor are essential to听professional life and creative production,听as we听encourage you to听acquire abilities and knowledge in three different language areas.听听
The educational goals for this major are as follows:
You will be exposed to a flexible, interdisciplinary, student-centered curriculum through small, reading-and-writing-intensive seminars.听You will also be encouraged to shape your thinking by exploring related work in other disciplines and to apply your听critical听thinking and analytic听skills in a professional internship experience. Mentored by your Comparative Literature professors and your individual advisor, you will finish with a complete portfolio of your work, as well as a senior thesis in your final year.
With every single one of our majors, you鈥檒l find a carefully curated medley of core courses and electives, which will provide you with the tools you need to establish an unshakeable foundation in the principles and concepts fundamental to your growth within your disciplines of choice. Many majors also enable you to specialize further within the broader area of study.
We aim to help you develop a range of skills, capacities, and modes of inquiry that will be crucial for your future since employers and graduate schools are looking for the critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills that are associated with a liberal arts education, including sophisticated writing abilities, willingness to pose difficult questions, and an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts surrounding a topic or decision.听You will take all core course and must choose two survey courses.
With the elective courses听that you choose听from the following specializations and survey courses, we hope to help you establish a solid grounding in the historical context of听both Western literature and听the specific area of literature in which you wish to focus.听
The Comparative Literature major offers courses in the following specializations:
Your introduction to the history of world literature and to the theoretical methods and key social and political questions that drive literary study will help pave the way for your successful completion of other Comparative Literature courses.听Your exposure to the professional application of the skills learned in a literature major, and your organization of a portfolio of your work, will prepare you for your honors project and for a life after the degree.