program description

comparative literature is a way of studying world literature. it is a literary discipline designed to go beyond the chronological, geographic, and linguistic boundaries of individual national literatures.

the master of arts in comparative literature combines the objectives of graduate study in foreign languages and literature with an emphasis on the intercultural and international aspects of literature. 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 problems of literary theory and analysis, genre studies, and literary history.

the graduate degree in comparative literature is of particular value for students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in comparative literature, english, foreign language and literature, interdisciplinary humanities, or who plan to teach at the middle school, high school, or community college levels.