Comparative and World 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. The major comprises two options, a Comparative Literature option and a World Literature option (foreign literatures in translation). Besides knowing English, the student who chooses the Comparative Literature option must have sufficient linguistic skill in at least one foreign language to participate in 200- to 400-level literature courses offered by the various foreign language and literature departments.
As soon as a student contemplates choosing comparative and world 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 and World Literature.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
E-mail: comlit@uiuc.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required major and supporting course work equate to 48 hours with at least 15 hours of Comparative Literature courses in the Comparative Literature option and 21 hours of Comparative Literature courses in the World Literature option.
General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so that 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 (CWL 493), and receive the approval of the departmental honors committee. The departmental honors committee will determine the level of distinction to be awarded.
Comparative Literature Option
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 15 | Comparative Literature Courses (minimum of 15 hours required): |
CWL 201—Comparative Lit Studies; and CWL 202—Literature and Ideas |
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The remaining hours should be selected from different types of courses (e.g., CWL 189, 190, 241, 242, 441, 461, 471). |
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| 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 |
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| 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: | |
| CWL 241 and CWL 242 (6 hours) or either HIST 140 or 141 and HIST 142 or 143 (6 - 8 hours) |
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 241-242 sequence.
Twelve hours of 300- and 400-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.
World Literature Option
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 18 | Core sequence in Comparative Literature Courses (minimum of 18 hours required): |
| CWL 201- Comparative Lit Studies and | |
| CWL 202- Literature and Ideas | |
| The remaining hours should be selected from four of the following five 100-or 200-level courses: CWL 151, 189, 190, 241, 242. | |
| 3 | One of the following upper-level methodology courses: CWL 441, 461, 471, 496. |
| 18 | Area/Literature Concentrations: |
| 6 courses in European and non-European literatures, preferably at the 200 to 400-level, with at least two courses in each area, to be chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and selected from the approved list of courses housed in the department advising office. | |
| 9 | Area/Culture Concentrations: |
| 3 courses, also at the 200 to 400-level, chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor, in other disciplines related to the student’s area of concentration (e.g., anthropology, area studies, art history, cinema studies, history, music history, philosophy, religious studies, women’s studies). Language courses beyond the fifth semester of study may also be used to satisfy this requirement. | |
| variable | Western Civilization. Select from: |
| CWL 241 and CWL 242 OR | |
| EITHER | |
| HIST 140 or 141 and HIST 142 or 143 |
Twelve hours 300 or 400-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.
Minor in World Literature
This minor is sponsored by the Program in Comparative and World Literature. Students must choose from either the Western or the non-Western track.E-mail: comlit@uiuc.edu
Web address for department: www.complit.uiuc.edu
Western Track
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | CWL 241—Masterpieces West Culture I |
| CWL 242—Masterpieces West Culture II | |
| 6 | CWL 201—Comparative Lit Studies |
| CWL 202—Literature and Ideas | |
| 6 | Select two courses from the following list: |
CWL 461—Lit Genres and Forms |
|
CWL 471—International Lit Relations |
|
CWL 496—Special Topics Comp Lit II |
|
Other advanced courses approved by the undergraduate comparative literature adviser. |
|
| 18 | Total |
Non-Western Track
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | CWL 189—Classics Non-West Culture I |
| CWL 190— Classics Non-West Culture II | |
| 6 | CWL 201—Comparative Lit Studies |
| CWL 202—Literature and Ideas | |
| 6 | Two courses chosen from the following list: |
CWL 441—Themes in Narrative |
|
CWL 461—Lit Genres and Forms |
|
CWL 471—International Lit Relations |
|
CWL 496—Special Topics Comp Lit II |
|
Other advanced courses approved by the undergraduate Comparative Literature adviser. |
|
| 18 | Total |