Program Overview

Comparative Literature Program

The Comparative Literature Program offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the study of literature, exploring the major genres of tragedy and comedy, and their evolution into various forms such as melodrama, farce, satire, realism, naturalism, surrealism, and fantasy.

About the Program

• The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the social, political, cultural, and philosophical contexts of literary works.
• It aims to foster critical thinking, analytical skills, and creativity in students, enabling them to approach complex literary texts from multiple perspectives.

Academics

• Undergraduate: The undergraduate program offers a major and minor in Comparative Literature, with courses that cover a wide range of literary traditions and genres.
• Graduate: The graduate program provides advanced training in comparative literature, with a focus on research and scholarship.

People

• Leadership & Staff: The program is led by a team of experienced faculty and staff, including the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Program Coordinator.
• Core Faculty: The core faculty consists of renowned scholars in comparative literature, with expertise in various areas such as literary theory, cultural studies, and language.
• Affiliated Faculty: The program also has affiliated faculty members from other departments, who contribute to the program's interdisciplinary approach.
• Lecturers: The program employs lecturers who are experts in their fields, providing students with a diverse range of perspectives and teaching styles.
• Graduate Students: The program has a vibrant community of graduate students, who are actively engaged in research and scholarship.
• Emeritus Faculty: The program also has emeritus faculty members, who continue to contribute to the program's academic and research activities.

Events

• Event Calendar: The program hosts a range of events, including faculty lectures, graduate student colloquia, and undergraduate workshops.
• Faculty Lecture Series: The faculty lecture series features renowned scholars in comparative literature, who share their research and expertise with students and faculty.
• Distinguished Speaker Series: The distinguished speaker series brings prominent scholars and writers to campus, providing students with opportunities to engage with leading figures in the field.
• Graduate Student Colloquia: The graduate student colloquia provide a platform for graduate students to present their research and receive feedback from peers and faculty.
• Biennial Graduate Conference: The biennial graduate conference is a major event that brings together graduate students from around the world to share their research and engage in discussions.
• Undergraduate Workshops: The undergraduate workshops provide students with hands-on experience in literary analysis, criticism, and creative writing.
• Senior Symposium: The senior symposium is a capstone event that showcases the research and creative work of senior students in the program.
• Photo Gallery: The program maintains a photo gallery of its events, which provides a visual record of its academic and social activities.

News

• Faculty News: The program publishes news about the achievements and activities of its faculty members, including research awards, publications, and conference presentations.
• Graduate News: The program also publishes news about the achievements and activities of its graduate students, including research awards, publications, and conference presentations.
• Undergraduate News: The program publishes news about the achievements and activities of its undergraduate students, including research awards, publications, and conference presentations.

Magazines

• Proteus: The program publishes a literary magazine called Proteus, which features the creative work of students, faculty, and alumni.
• Comparative Literature Blog: The program also maintains a blog that features articles, reviews, and interviews on topics related to comparative literature.

Alumni & Friends

• The program has a strong network of alumni and friends, who support its academic and research activities through donations, mentorship, and other forms of engagement.

Undergraduate Menu

• Why Comparative Literature?: The program provides a range of reasons why students should choose to study comparative literature, including its interdisciplinary approach, cultural relevance, and career opportunities.
• Prospective Students: The program provides information for prospective students, including admission requirements, course offerings, and faculty expertise.
• Learning Goals: The program outlines its learning goals, which include developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and creativity in students.
• Major: The program offers a major in Comparative Literature, which provides students with a comprehensive education in literary studies.
• Minor: The program also offers a minor in Comparative Literature, which provides students with a focused education in literary studies.
• Course Schedule: The program publishes a course schedule that outlines its course offerings for each semester.
• Course Descriptions: The program provides detailed course descriptions, which include information about course content, requirements, and assessment.
• Courses meet SAS Core: The program's courses meet the SAS Core requirements, which provide students with a broad-based education in the liberal arts.
• Advising: The program provides advising services to students, which include guidance on course selection, career planning, and research opportunities.
• Honors: The program offers honors courses and programs, which provide students with advanced training in literary studies.
• Study Abroad: The program offers study abroad opportunities, which provide students with the chance to study literature in a global context.
• International Programs: The program has international partnerships and collaborations, which provide students with opportunities for research, study, and cultural exchange.

Course Detail

195:261: Introduction to Theatre

• Course Code: 01:195:261
• Semester(s) Offered: Fall
• Credits: 3

Introduction to Theater is a semester-long discovery of the great works and legacies of Western drama, theater, and performance. The course explores the major genres of tragedy and comedy, and their evolution into various forms such as melodrama, farce, satire, realism, naturalism, surrealism, and fantasy. Students will analyze plays as assemblages of languages, social histories, and material structures, and will consider the performance of plays from the perspective of both characters and audience. The course will also examine the cultural, political, and philosophical contexts of plays, and will ask questions about what it means to be human, who is included or excluded from society, and how change happens. The course will be taught in tandem with 358:240 Introduction to Dramatic Literature. NA