Degrees

Students may earn the B.A. in Comparative Literature by completing 40 units (10 courses) in Comparative Literature pursuing one of two tracks:

• Literature/Media/Critical Thought Track

This Track offers the opportunity to pursue a major that is broadly based in the liberal arts, that emphasizes cross-cultural, transnational exchange through literature and other media.

Students on this track may consider expending their concentration with a double major or minor in a related field, such as media studies, art history, communication, religion, philosophy, history.

• Foreign Language Track

This track incorporates the study of at least one literature in a foreign language into the comparative perspective of the comparative literature major. Students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in either comparative literature or a foreign literature are strongly advised to choose this Track, as are students who already possess advanced skills in a language other than English.

Majors in comparative literature with foreign language emphasis might consider a double major or a minor in a department of foreign language or in a non-literary field such as international relations or journalism.

The requirements for both Tracks of the major accommodate very well semesters of study abroad. Students are helped and encouraged to plan their programs in advance to allow for that experience.

More information on major requirements can be found here. 

Students can minor in one of three Tracks listed below All minors are required to complete at least 24 units (6 courses) in Comparative Literature.

• Literature/Media/Critical Thought Track

Students are required to complete at least 24 units (six courses) as follows:

1. COLT 302 and COLT 303
2. At least three additional COLT courses in one of the three Concentrations.
3. At least one additional COLT course in any of the three Concentrations.

No more than one of the six courses required for the minor may be at the 100 or 200 level.

• Foreign Language Track

Students are required to complete at least 24 units (six courses) as follows:

1. COLT 302 and COLT 303
2. At least three additional COLT courses, of which no more than one may be at the 100 or 200 level.
3. At least one upper division course in the literature or culture of a foreign language (other than English), with all readings in that language.

• Global Cultures Track

Students are required to complete at least 24 units (six courses) as follows:

1. COLT 302 and COLT 303
2. At least two additional COLT courses, of which no more than one may be at the 100 or 200 level, to be chosen from the following list: 
   
   COLT 101, COLT 102, COLT 250, COLT 264, COLT 374, COLT 375, COLT 379, COLT 385, COLT 445, COLT 448, COLT 470, COLT 474
3. At least two other upper division courses in a relevant College Department to be decided in conjunction with the advisor according to the following guidelines: 
   
   

   A. Students may choose a region of the world and take two upper-division courses related to that region in relevant departments.
   
   B. Students may choose a national/linguistic tradition and take two upper-division courses related to that tradition in relevant departments.