In 300-level courses, students will
- learn methods for cross-cultural comparison, including critical thinking and reading skills
- be introduced to literary and cultural texts in transnational, transhistorical, and translinguistic contexts
- acquire the fundamental tools of literary and cultural analysis, including terminology and methods drawn from literary theory and critical theory
- discover the relationship of literature to other arts and media (including film, digital media, and sound)
- learn to organize and express ideas clearly and persuasively, both in writing and orally
- write a series of short papers and/or work on creative projects designed to demonstrate analytical ability and original thought
In 400-level courses, students will
- develop further a critical vocabulary for the major terminology and concepts related to literature and comparative literary criticism, with particular emphasis on transnational comparison and the study of diverse media
- hone critical thinking, reading, and writing skills
- attain a broad knowledge of various literary and cultural traditions both in their specificity and their interrelation
- cultivate a complex, transdisciplinary understanding of literary and cultural texts in their political and social contexts
- learn to assess and evaluate secondary sources as part of the process of literary and cultural analysis
- exercise research skills enabling sustained and original engagement with literary texts and other cultural media and culminating in a longer paper