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Comparative Literature

A student who elects comparative literature as a major must complete 48 semester hours in the courses indicated below, including at least 12 hours in courses numbered 300 or above. Besides knowing English, the student must have sufficient linguistic skill in at least one foreign language to participate in 200- and 300- level literature courses offered by the various foreign language and literature departments.

As soon as a student contemplates choosing comparative literature as a major, the faculty adviser should be consulted. The adviser will assist the student in selecting appropriate courses that will be especially helpful as preparation for the advanced comparative literature training beginning with the junior year. Courses in classical civilization and in literature (particularly courses dealing with works from several countries) are especially recommended at relatively early stages of study. An ample selection of such courses at the 100- and 200-levels exists in the various literature departments.

The distribution of course work allows for considerable flexibility. The major is administered by the Program in Comparative Literature.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

E-mail: comlit@uiuc.edu

Web address for most current program requirements:
http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/C_LIT/f_C_LIT.shtml

Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required major and supporting course work equates to 48 hours with at least 15 hours of Comparative Literature courses. General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and a 3.75 grade point average in departmental courses, complete a senior thesis (C LIT 293), and receive the approval of the departmental honors committee. The departmental honors committee will determine the level of distinction to be awarded.


HOURS     REQUIREMENTS

15        Comparative Literature Courses (minimum of 15 hours 

           required):

          C LIT 201-Comparative Literary Studies, I 

          C LIT 202-Literature and Ideas

          The remaining hours should be selected from different 

           types of courses (e.g., C LIT 141, 142, 189, 190, 

           341, 361, 371).

15        One Literature in the Original Language (minimum of 

           15 hours required):

          Ancient or modern (including Far Eastern and African)

           12 hours of which are at the 200-level or above, 

           studied in depth and in its historical development. 

           (Normally this is the primary literature of the 

           student's educational background.)

9         Second Literature in the Original Language (minimum

           of 9 hours required):

           200-level or above courses in a second literature 

           in the original language. With the assistance of the 

           adviser, these courses should be carefully chosen so

           as to correlate meaningfully with the student's 

           primary literature. A student may center his or her

           interest on a cultural period such as medieval, 

           Renaissance, neo-classical and enlightenment, or 

           modern (nineteenth and twentieth centuries), or

           on genres, relations, or critical theory.1

9         Single National Literature (minimum of 9 hours 

           required)or several national literatures, including 

           comparative literature; or in other humanistic 

           fields, such as history, philosophy, speech, art,

           music, psychology,sociology, theatre, anthropology,

           and Asian studies. Because some of the courses in 

           these subjects are more suitable than others to 

           balance a student's individual major in comparative 

           literature, the student must follow the guidelines 

           set by his or her adviser. 

variable  Western Civilization.2 Select from:

          C LIT 141, and 

          C LIT 142

    or 

          HIST 111 (or HIST 110), and 

          HIST 112 (or HIST 113)

Twelve hours advanced-level (300- or approved 200-level) courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.

1. If one of the literatures studied is English, a student who continues in a graduate program in comparative literature will be required to acquire a reading knowledge of a second foreign language (i.e., one foreign language for the B.A., two foreign languages for the M.A., three foreign languages for the Ph.D.).

2. These sequences may be used to satisfy the requirements, respectively, of comparative or national literature courses (see above). Beginning students in comparative literature are strongly urged to take the C LIT 141-142 sequence.

Minor in Comparative Literature

This minor is sponsored by the Program in Comparative Literature. Students must choose from either the Western or the non-Western track.

E-mail: comlit@uiuc.edu

Web address for most current program requirements:
http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/C_LIT/f_C_LIT.shtml

Western Track


HOURS     REQUIREMENTS

6         C LIT 141-Masterpieces of Western Culture, I 

          C LIT 142-Masterpieces of Western Culture, II

6         C LIT 201-Comparative Literary Studies, I

          C LIT 202-Literature and Ideas

6         Select two courses from the following list:

          C LIT 361-International Literary Genres and Forms

          C LIT 371-International Literary Relations

          C LIT 396-Special Topics in Comparative Literature

          Other advanced courses approved by the undergraduate

           comparative literature adviser.

18        Total

Non-Western Track


HOURS     REQUIREMENTS

6         C LIT 189-Classical Masterpieces of Non-Western 

           Cultures

          C LIT 190-Modern Masterpieces of Non-Western 

           Cultures

6         C LIT 201-Comparative Literary Studies, I

          C LIT 202-Literature and Ideas

6         Two courses chosen from the following list:

          C LIT 341-Themes and Types in Western and Non- 

           Western Narratives

          C LIT 361-International Literary Genres and Forms

          C LIT 371-International Literary Relations

          C LIT 396-Special Topics in Comparative Literature

          Other advanced courses approved by the undergraduate 

           Comparative Literature adviser.

18        Total

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