Comparative Literature

Subject abbreviations: CPLT

Committee in Charge

Jeffrey Sacks, Ph.D., Chair Comparative

Literature/Arabic Michelle E. Bloom, Ph.D. Comparative Literature/French Heidi Brevik-Zender, Ph.D. Comparative Literature/French Vrinda Chidambaram, Ph.D. Linguistics Kelly Jeong, Ph.D. Korean Literature and Culture/Comparative Literature Anthonia Kalu, Ph.D. African Literature and Culture/Comparative Literature Kyle Khellaf, Ph.D. Classics John N. Kim, Ph.D. Germanic Studies/ Japanese/Comparative Literature Mariam Beevi Lam, Ph.D. Vietnamese/ Comparative Literature Eugene Perry Link, Ph.D. Chinese Literature/ Language and Culture Anne McKnight, Ph.D Japanese/

Comparative Literature Trisha Remetir, Ph.D Comparative Literature/Southeast Asian Studies Yenna Wu, Ph.D. Chinese/Civilizations/ Comparative Literature Daryle Williams, Ph.D, Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, ex officio

The department offers the B.A. in Comparative Literature. Comparative Literature is an interdisciplinary field which is studied internationally. At UCR, the Comparative Literature curriculum is organized around a core staff of comparatists assisted by qualified faculty from other departments and programs. The discipline of Comparative Literature encourages study of interliterary relationships among various cultural traditions; on the graduate level, it seeks to promote the study of interdisciplinary relationships. Comparative Literature courses, undergraduate or graduate, require that the majors read whenever possible in the languages (two for undergraduates, one of which may be English, and three for graduates) they present. Non majors may do all the readings in English translations. Comparative Literature majors may also work with translations.

Comparative Literature and World Literature courses are open to all students.

• 1. Lower-division requirements

(12 units plus proficiency)

• a) Proficiency in at least one language

(besides English), ancient or modern, through the intermediate level (second year)

• b) CPLT 001 or CPLT 001W,

and 1 lower-division CPLT course

• c) CPLT 017C or 1 lower-division ARLC,

CHN, CLA, CPAC, CPLT, EUR, FREN, GER, ITAL, JPN, KOR, RUSN, SEAS, or VNM course on literature, culture, cinema, or the like.

• 2. Upper-division requirements (36 units)

• a) Twelve (12) units in one literature,

distributed as much as possible among courses representing the various literary periods

• b) Eight (8) units in a second literature

• c) CPLT 110, CPLT 193, (CPLT 196 strongly

recommended but not required)

• d) Eight (8) elective units in Comparative

Literature

Students contemplating graduate study in Comparative Literature are urged to complete two years in a second (non-English) language before graduation.

The Department of Comparative Literature and Languages grants graduate degrees based on the comparative studies of world literatures and cultures. The Ph.D. degree has three tracks: Interliterary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Science Fiction, Science, and Literature described below. The department faculty, well balanced between Asianists and Europeanists, share a strong commitment to the study of literature through comparative and interdisciplinary approaches. We have particular strengths in comparative Asian and European studies; comparative ancient studies; gender and feminist studies; global cultures and post-colonialism; film and visual culture studies; narrative and cultural translation; and science and science fiction.

Students are admitted into the Ph.D. program only. Entering students who do not already hold a master’s degree in Comparative Literature, in literature, or in comparable fields from another institution must complete M.A. requirements while pursuing the Ph.D.

Admission Admission is open to qualified candidates with a B.A. or M.A. degree, preferably in Comparative Literature or a related field. All other admission requirements are specified in the graduate application. S/NC Courses No S/NC-graded courses may be applied toward the minimum unit requirement for the graduate degree(s).

Note: Courses in the student’s special literature areas used to fulfill either the M.A. or Ph.D. literature requirements may be either graduate courses, or undergraduate courses together with a concurrent 292 course.

Language Requirement Students must have attained at least advanced language competency in their non-English areas of literary specialization. Competency is demonstrated by one of the following for each language required for a student’s particular literary specializations:

• 1. Course Work A translation seminar with

additional work in a specific national language/literature as required by the instructor.

• 2. Translation Examination A translation

exercise from the foreign language into English with use of only a dictionary administered on campus and about two hours long. Period and genre should be discussed in advance with the examiner. The choice of examiner is approved by the graduate advisor.

The Department of Comparative Literature and Languages requires the following for the M.A. degree in Comparative Literature.

All students must complete a minimum of 36 units of course work. Candidates must work in three of the following literatures, or two literatures for students in the interdisciplinary track: Chinese, English (either British or American), French, German, Classical Greek, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese, Latin, Philippino, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Requirements are as follows:

• 1. Two courses in canonical literature

(CPLT 210)

• 2. Two courses in methods and theory

(CPLT 214 and CPLT 215A)

• 3. One course from CPLT 212, CPLT 222,

or CPLT 301

• 4. Two graduate courses in each of three

literatures or in each of two literatures and one interdisciplinary area

• 5. Three elective courses in Comparative

Literature

Note: Students must take at least one graduate course in each of the following four areas: European, Asian, Ancient, and Modern Literature.

After completing the course requirements, the student has two options:

• a) Submit a portfolio of three essays, each

one representing one of their three literary or interdisciplinary areas, and write a 750-1000 word commentary explaining the aims and achievements of the essays in relation to one another.

• b) Write a comprehensive research paper

(40-50 pages) that incorporates their three interliterary or interdisciplinary areas; this paper may develop topics of previous papers, or explore a new topic area.

The student then undergoes oral examination on the portfolio or the research paper. Following the examination, the graduate committee, after evaluation of the student’s entire graduate record, determines the candidate’s suitability for continuing in the Ph.D. program.

The Department of Comparative Literature and Languages offers the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature with three tracks: Interliterary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Science Fiction, Science, and Literature. Areas of particular strength in the Interdisciplinary Studies are comparative Asian and European studies; comparative ancient civilizations; gender and feminist studies; global cultures and post-colonialism; film and visual culture studies; narrative and cultural translation; and science and science fiction.

Interliterary Studies This program is designed for students wishing to concentrate in Comparative Literature as an interliterary discipline. Students examine the relation among various national literatures. They are expected to work in three of the following literatures: Chinese, English (either British or American), French, German, Classical Greek, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Permission is granted in exceptional cases to work in other literatures related to the Germanic, Romance, or Slavic families, in Hebrew or Arabic literature, in other Asian Literatures, and the literatures of Africa.

Students must obtain comprehensive knowledge of their first literature (the major specialty), in its language, literary history, and critical scholarship. In their two other literatures, they specialize in a genre, a period, critical school or theoretical approach, always in combination with their main literature. Work in the three literatures must be done in the languages of these literatures.

Students entering the interliterary Ph.D. program with an M.A. in literature must take two courses from the canons (CPLT 210), CPLT 214, and CPLT 215A (or demonstrate having taken similar courses).. Course requirements are two graduate courses in a first literature, two graduate courses in a second literature, two graduate courses in a third literature, and three additional elective graduate courses in Comparative Literature.

Note: Students must take at least one graduate course in each of the following four areas: European, Asian, Ancient, and Modern Literature.

Students entering the interliterary Ph.D. program with an M.A. in another discipline must do course work equivalent to the M.A. degree in Comparative Literature while proceeding with course work for the Ph.D. program. Interdisciplinary Studies This program is designed for students with interests in interdisciplinary studies. Students examine relationships between literary studies and other disciplines (such as art, ethnic studies, film, history, law, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, science, sociology, theater). Students complete the literary requirements of the program but substitute an appropriate discipline for one of the second or third literatures. This option is recommended to students who enter Comparative Literature with an M.A. in a non-literary discipline.

Students entering the interdisciplinary studies Ph.D. program with an M.A. in any discipline must take two courses from the canons (CPLT 210), as well as CPLT 214 and CPLT 215A (or demonstrate having taken similar courses). In addition, course requirements are two graduate courses in each of two literatures; two courses in another discipline; and three elective graduate courses in Comparative Literature. The graduate advisor may require appropriate courses on an individual basis.

Note: Students must take at least one graduate course in each of the following four areas: European, Asian, Ancient, and Modern Literature.

Science Fiction, Science, and Literature This option is designed for students with interests in science fiction studies and the relations of science to world literature. It builds upon the current widespread interest in Science Fiction and draws on the Eaton Collection. The program is intended for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature, English or kindred studies. It draws on the speculative richness of science fiction literature in a wide variety of social contexts, including the role of science in society (genetic engineering, artificial environments, nanotechnology, etc.), race and ethnicity, and social ethics. This track interacts with existing programs in the humanities, arts, social sciences and sciences. It is inherently cross-disciplinary both within the humanities, and between the humanities and sciences.

Students entering the Science Fiction, Science, and Literature Ph.D. program with an M.A. in any discipline must take courses from the following areas:

• 1. Three theory courses from among CPLT 214, CPLT 215A, and CPLT 210 (repeatable).

• 2. Three science, science fiction theory,

literature and methods courses, including CPLT 272, CPLT 273, CPLT 274, CPLT 275.

• 3. One history of science course, (PHIL 237,

PHIL 239, CHN/CLA 231, CHN/CLA 232, CPAC 134)

• 4. One course in Film and Media Studies

(SOC 211, CPLT 174, CPLT 173, MCS 175, MCS 139, MCS 146)

• 5. One course in Philosophy or Religion from

among either PHIL 234, PHIL 237, PHIL 238 and PHIL 239 or RLST 200A, RLST 200C, and RLST 224)

• 6. One course in Social Sciences (ANTH 261,

ANTH 277, ANTH 279, CHN/CLA 141, SOC 247, SOC 261, SOC 281)

• 7. Three elective courses from any of the

groups listed above. Among all the various courses selected there must be at least one course on non-Western materials and two graduate literature courses with readings in the original language in each of the student’s two language areas. Language areas include: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Classical Greek, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese, Latin, Philippino, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The graduate advisor may require appropriate courses on an individual basis. When taking any upper-division undergraduate course listed here, the student must enroll in a 292 course.

Teaching Requirement Normally some teaching experience is required; such experience is obtained through a teaching assistantship whereby a student is assigned either to Comparative Literature or to another program. Students are strongly recommended to take one of the pedagogy courses in the department (CPLT 222 or CPLT 301) which may be used as one of their required elective courses.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations The written qualifying examination consists of the following:

• 1. For a student in the track of Interliterary

Studies, the examination consists of four parts, which include the three national literatures that the student specializes in, with a comparative perspective, and on critical theory.

• 2. For a student in the track of Interdisci

plinary Studies, the examination consists of four parts, which include two national literatures and one non-literary discipline that the student specializes in, with a comparative perspective, and on critical theory.

Prior to the examination for either track, students in consultation with the designated members of their committee, formulate a Special Reading List based on available departmental reading lists for each of the four parts that reflects the student’s chosen fields of study and research and provides a basis for the examination.

Each of the four parts of the written examination for either the Interliterary or the Interdisciplinary Track is a three-hour exam.

The written examinations are followed by an oral qualifying examination.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination Candidates must write a dissertation on a topic approved by the dissertation committee and may be required to successfully undergo an oral examination on the dissertation.

Normative Time to Degree 18 quarters