Comparative Literature
Director of Graduate Studies: Waïl S. Hassan
3080 Foreign Languages Building
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-4987
Email: amfain@illinois.edu
Major: Comparative Literature
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentration: Medieval Studies (available to all degrees)
Graduate Degree Programs
The Program in Comparative & World Literature offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy and is designed to provide a systematic study of subjects and problems common to several literatures. Its purpose is to enable students who have varied linguistic competence and preparation to explore the theory of literature and criticism; the interrelations of several literatures; the main currents, periods, and movements in literary history; the development of literary themes and types; and the relations between literature and the other arts.
Admission
A student entering the program should have an undergraduate major in Comparative Literature, English, the classics, or a foreign language. Majors in history and philosophy or other humanistic areas that present suitable linguistic and literary competence may also be granted admission by the Admissions Committee. All students are admitted at the MA level. Students entering with a recognized M asters degree from another university or from another department of this University have the option of taking the comparative literature and critical theory component and a literary component of this program's regular Master of A rts examination at the end of the first year as a qualifying test. For internal applicants to the Ph.D. curriculum, the Master of Arts will function as the qualifying test.
Applicants should apply online (www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/), submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample.
Original transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should be sent to SLCL Graduate Student Services, 3070 Foreign Languages Bldg., 707 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required and should be submitted to institution code 1836. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 105 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24 (see www.grad.illinois.edu/Admissions/instructions/04c). Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to SLCL Graduate Student Services at slclgradservices@illinois.edu
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate handbook and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| CWL 501 and 502 | 8 |
| Two CWL seminars chosen from 551, 561, 571, and 581 | 8 |
| One or two courses in the major literature | 4-8 |
| At least one course in the minor literature | 4 |
| One or two courses from the above categories. (A student may take one course in a non-literary field that will provide cultural and historical contexts for the study of the student's literatures.) | 4-8 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 20 |
| Other Requirements:* | Examinations |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.25 |
The candidate must demonstrate a competency in at least two foreign languages as well as in English. Latin is required for students specializing in European and/or American literatures before 1800. Competence in the languages offered is measured either by the successful completion of one advanced course in the literature of each of the languages chosen or by passing an examination administered by the program in comparative literature with the assistance of an expert in the language concerned. This choice is intended to provide for languages that may not be taught in regular departments.
The candidate must complete a minimum of 32 gh of credit, including two courses in the theory of literature (CWL 501 and 502), and two seminars in comparative literature selected from CWL 551, 561,571, and 581. At least 12 of the other 16 gh should be taken in two or three national literatures in a distribution approved by the adviser. The candidate must pass a written examination based on a reading list, which is designed to test knowledge of literary history as well as ability to interpret a literary or critical text.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| CWL 582 | 4 |
| Three CWL core courses from 551, 561, 571 and 581, of which one course must be cross-cultural. | 12 |
| Two courses in the major literature | 8 |
| One course in each of the minor literatures of specialization | 8 |
| Language Requirement: Command of at least three languages besides English. Three of these four languages must coincide with the student's areas of specialization and with the dissertation field. | |
| Thesis Hours Required– CWL 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 24-32 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Students must be enrolled in graduate seminars until the preliminary examinations are taken and passed. | 32 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.25 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
A candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must fulfill the general requirements of the Graduate College in addition to those specified above for the master's degree. At least 12 additional gh of work, normally at the 500 level, should be taken in courses regularly offered by the literature departments; among these, courses cross listed with the program in comparative literature are especially recommended. The candidate is responsible for a knowledge of the history of the literature in one modern language. The student also selects a period of major interest and is responsible for a knowledge of two other literatures in this period, which are considered as minors. The periods may be the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Neoclassicism and the Enlightenment, or the modern (nineteenth and twentieth centuries). Some chronological variations in coordinating the minors will be allowed for students studying non-Western literatures. A preliminary examination, i.e. a four-part written examination based on the individual program, and an oral examination with emphasis on the thesis project must be passed. The candidate must present an acceptable thesis embracing several national literatures and pass a final oral examination on the thesis.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program. Non-native English speakers must first pass a test of their oral English ability (see www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/taengprof.htm).
Financial Aid
A limited number of University fellowships and teaching assistantships, in cooperation with other departments, are available.