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/Comparative Literature John N. Kim, Ph.D. Germanic Studies/ Japanese/Comparative Literature Mariam Beevi Lam, Ph.D. Vietnamese/ Comparative Literature Anne McKnight, Ph.D Japanese/

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

Students who major in Comparative Literature study literature, film and visual culture, art and philosophy, decolonial studies and critical theory, environemtnal humanities and queer studies, and other areas, across languages and in global frames.

Graduates with a major in Comparative Literature pursue careers in law and public life, translation and interpretation, the arts and architecture, administration and education, and other areas. They become media creators, editors, writers, novelists, curators, archivists, architects, journalists, teachers, and more. The major in Comparative Literature prepares undergraduate students for graduate studies in the humanities and social sciences, including the Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, as well as for advanced professional degrees in the Arts, Translation, Architecture, Museum Studies, Theatre, Education, Law, Library and Information Sciences, among others.

• 1. Lower-division requirements

(12 units plus language proficiency)

• a) Language Studies: Proficiency in at

least one language (besides English), classical or modern, through the intermediate level (second year)

• b) Lower-Division Studies in literature,

visual culture, theory, or a related area

• i) CPLT 001, "Introduction to Close

Reading," or CPLT 001W; and 1 lower- division Comparative Literature (CPLT) course

• ii) CPLT 017C, "Masterworks of World

Literature," or 1 lower-division course on literature, visual culture, theory, and the like, in areas of study including; African literatures and cultures, Arabic literature and cultures, Chinese, Classical Studies, Comparative Ancient Civilizations, Comparative Literature, European Studies, French and Francophone Studies, Germanic Studies, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Vietnamese, or Southeast Asian Studies

• 2. Upper-division requirements (36 units)

• a) Two areas of study in literature, visual

culture, theory, or a related are.a

• i) Eight (8) units in one literary, visual

culture, theoretical, or other area.

• ii) Eight (8) units in a second literary,

visual culture, theoretical, or other area.

Courses that fulfill the 2 area of study requirements are upper-division courses on literature, visual culture, theory, and the like, in areas of study including: African literatures and cultures, Arabic literature and cultures, Chinese, Classical Studies, Comparative Ancient Civilizations, Comparative Literature, European Studies, French and Francophone Studies, Germanic Studies, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Vietnamese, or Southeast Asian Studies.

Other courses may be approved to fulfill this requirement with the permission of the Director of the Comparative Literature major.

• b) CPLT 110, "Literary Analysis and

Criticism"

• c) CPLT 193, "Capstone Research Seminar"

• d) Twelve (12) elective units in

Comparative Literature (CPLT) A course that fulfills the elective requirement is any Comparative Literature (CPLT) or Comparative Literature cross-listed course.

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 offers the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature. The Ph.D. program offers three tracks: Comparative Literature Studies, Media and Visual Culture, and Critical & Social Theory. Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program only. Students entering the program with a B.A. complete the requirements for the M.A. as well as the requirements for the Ph.D. Students entering the program with an M.A. in Comparative Literature or in a related field complete all Ph.D. requirements.

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.

Language Requirement All students in the Ph.D. program in Comparative Literature are required to demonstrate

• 1. advanced language proficiency in at least

one language other than English; and

• 2. research competency in a second

language. The research competency language may be English, although students are strongly encouraged to gain research competency in a language other than English.

Advanced language proficiency is demonstrated through graduate-level coursework, which shows a student's ability to conduct scholarly research in the language at an advanced level.

To demonstrate advanced language proficiency a student must:

• 1. complete: (a) a graduate seminar; or

• (b) an independent study under the

rubric CPLT 293 (E-Z); or (c) an upper- division, undergraduate course taken in conjunction with CPLT 292 that uses the relevant language; and

• 2. complete a written research work, which

was created through their studies, outlined in (1), above, and which demonstrates the student's ability to conduct scholarly research in the language at an advanced level.

Completion of this requirement is approved by the Graduate Advisor in conversation with a faculty member in the relevant language area, who affirms that the requirement has been met.

Research language competency is demonstrated:

• 1. through coursework in the language

demonstrating research-level reading knowledge, with the approval of relevant language program faculty; or

• 2. by translation examination conducted or

approved by relevant language program faculty.

Course Requirements All students in the Ph.D. program in Comparative Literature are required to complete 14 graduate seminars or the equivalent, divided among 8 core graduate seminars and 6 area of study courses. These cannot be taken on an S/NC basis.

A single graduate seminar may not be used to fulfill more than one course requirement, with the exception of the Breadth Requirement, outlined below.

I. Core Graduate Seminars (8 courses in total)

All Ph.D. students complete the following core courses:

• (1) CPLT 212, "Introduction to Graduate

Studies in Comparative Literature"

• (2) 2 Graduate Seminars in methods and

theory: CPLT 214, "History of Criticism"; CPLT 215a, "Contemporary Critical Theory"

• (3) CPLT 301, "Teaching of Foreign

Language at the College Level" or CPLT 222, "Problems in the Pedagogy of Comparative Literature"

• (4) 4 Graduate Seminars in Comparative

Literature under the rubric CPLT 277, "Seminar in Comparative Literature"

II. Area of Study Courses: (6 courses in total)

The area of study course requirement may be completed through:

• (a) a graduate seminar offered in the

Department of Comparative Literature and Languages or another department; or

• (b) an independent study under the rubric

CPLT 293 (E-Z), or a graduate-level independent study taken in another department; or

• (c) an upper-division undergraduate course

taken with CPLT 292; or (d) an upper- division undergraduate course offered in another department taken with the relevant departmental 292 course.

Each area of study course is selected in consultation with the Graduate Advisor.

Comparative Literature Studies Track: In addition to the 8 core graduate seminars, students in the Comparative Literature Studies track complete:

• 1. 6 Graduate Seminars divided equally

among 3 areas of study, which may include literary, visual culture, theoretical, or other areas.

• a. The first area of study consists of 2

courses that cover or substantially related to the language, other than English, in which the student has demonstrated advanced language proficiency.

• b. The second area of study consists of

2 courses that cover or substantially relate to a second language in which the student has demonstrated research competency.

• c. The third area of study consists of 2

courses in literature, visual culture, critical theory, or another area. As indicated above, these courses are selected in consultation with the Graduate Advisor. Media and Visual Culture Track: In addition to the 8 core graduate seminars, students in the Media and Visual Culture track complete:

• 1. 4 Graduate Seminars divided equally

among 2 areas of study, which may include literary, visual culture, theoretical, or other areas.

• a. The first area of study consists of 2

courses that cover or substantially related to the language, other than English, in which the student has demonstrated advanced language proficiency.

• b. The second area of study consists of

2 courses that cover or substantially relate to a second language in which the student has demonstrated research competency.

• 2. 2 Graduate Seminars in Media and Visual

Culture. Graduate seminars that fulfill this requirement include CPLT 221, "Film and Literature," CPLT 223, "Topics in East Asian Literature and Film," CPLT 224, "Film Theory," CPLT 252, "Topics in Tourism, Cultural Authenticity, and the Question of Nostalgia," and other graduate seminars chosen in consultation with the Graduate Advisor.

Critical & Social Theory Track: In addition to the 8 core graduate seminars, students in the Critical Social Theory track complete:

• 1. 4 Graduate Seminars divided equally

among 2 areas of study, which may include literary, visual culture, theoretical, or other areas.

• a. The first area of study consists of 2

courses that cover or substantially related to the language, other than English, in which the student has demonstrated advanced language proficiency.

• b. The second area of study consists of

2 courses that cover or substantially relate to a second language in which the student has demonstrated research competency.

• 2. 2 Graduate Seminars in Media and Visual

Culture. Graduate seminars that fulfill this requirement include CPLT 205, "Literature of Southeast Asia," CPLT 215b, "Issues in Contemporary Theory," CPLT 220 (E-Z), "German Aesthetic Theory," CPLT 243, "France and Asia: Orientalism and Beyond," CPLT 267, "Colonialism and Postcolonial Criticism," CPLT 270, "Modern African Literature," CPLT 284, "Literature, Colonialism, Religion," and other graduate seminars chosen in consultation with the Graduate Advisor.

II. Breadth Requirement:

All students are required to take:

• (a) 1 graduate seminar in an area outside of

both of their two main linguistic areas; and

• (b) 1 graduate seminar in a temporal frame

outside of their main temporal focus or that is cross-temporal in orientation.

The breadth requirement may be fulfilled by a graduate seminar or other course that also fulfills a core seminar or area of study requirement, if that course meets the criteria of either (a) or (b), above. This requirement does not increase the total number of seminars required for the Ph.D. Completion of this requirement is approved by the Graduate Advisor.

IV. Professionalization requirement

The Ph.D. program in Comparative Literature provides professionalization training for graduate students in three ways:

• (a) through CPLT 212, "Introduction to

Graduate Studies in Comparative Literature," which includes an introduction to the field and to the research skills, methods, and writing practices required for the profession;r

• (b) through CPLT 301, "Teaching of Foreign

Language at the College Level" or CPLT 222, "Problems in the Pedagogy of Comparative Literature," which provide training in approaches to teaching in comparative literature and in languages; and

• (c) through ongoing professionalization

workshops, coordinated by the Graduate Advisor in collaboration with graduate student representatives enrolled in the Ph.D. program. Workshops cover topics including applying for grants, writing and publishing, developing a job market portfolio, approaches to the job application process, and other areas.

The Qualifying Exam Students in each track in the Ph.D. program in Comparative Literature prepare three reading lists for their Qualifying Exams, each of which correlates with 1 area of study for which the student has prepared through their coursework and language studies

The Qualifying Exam committee consists in 5 members, more than 50% of which must be either Senate faculty in the Department of Comparative Literature and Languages or Cooperating faculty.

The 5 committee members include: 3 list examining members; 1 general examining member; 1 outside member as required by the Graduate Council. Each reading list is examined by a different faculty member.

The Qualifying Exam in Comparative Literature consists in two phases.

Phase 1: The Field Review Portfolio. Each student creates 1 reading list with each of the 3 list examining committee members. The framing and content of each list should be developed by the student in consultation with the respective list examining faculty member. Each finalized list should be approved by the list examining faculty member.

Each student composes 1 (one) 5,000-8,000 word essay on each of their 3 reading lists. Three essays are composed in total. Each essay covers one list.

In their field review portfolio essays the student should articulate their knowledge of the lines of inquiry represented in their lists and discuss how their own work is located in relation to those lines of inquiry.

The field review portfolio is submitted by the student via email to the Graduate Student Affairs Officer by a date determined in consultation with the student and the Qualifying Exam Committee Chair.

The Qualifying Exam Committee should review and vote on the field review portfolio within two weeks of receipt of the portfolio. The vote may take place via email or in a mode the committee Chair determines in consultation with the other Qualifying Exam committee members. If significant concerns are raised by the faculty the student is given an opportunity to revise and resubmit in a manner that addresses the concerns raised. Revisions should be submitted within two weeks of the student's having been informed of the need for revisions. In such a case, it is the responsibility of the Qualifying Exam Committee Chair to mediate the resubmission and assessment process. A student's continuation to Phase 2 of the Qualifying Exam is contingent on their receiving a grade of "pass" for the field review portfolio.

Phase 2 of the Qualifying Exam consists in 2 parts: Part 1: The Dissertation Prospectus The dissertation prospectus should be submitted to the Graduate Student Affairs Officer and the Qualifying Exam Committee Chair within 2 weeks of the student's being informed that they have passed Phase 1 of the Qualifying Exams.

Part 2: The Oral Qualifying Exam The Oral Qualifying Exam is held within two weeks of the submission of the Dissertation Prospectus. The focus of the Oral Qualifying Exam is: (a) to reflect on the field review portfolio and outline potential areas for further study; and (b) to present and outline the dissertation prospectus, which should include a timeline for dissertation research, writing and completion.

The Oral Qualifying Exam can be taken in one of the following modes: In-Person, Remote, or Hybrid. The student and the Chair of the dissertation committee will discuss and make the final determination together regarding which mode best suits the exam. For an In-Person exam, both the student and all committee members are physically present on campus. For a Hybrid exam, the student and all committee members are physically present on campus. For a Remote exam, the chair of the committee must be the host or co-host of a video-enabled exam.

The student advances to candidacy once they have successfully passed Phase 2 of the Qualifying Exams. The Dissertation Committee and Defense Upon completion of the Qualifying Exams, a Dissertation Committee is appointed. It is the responsibility of the student to be in communication with faculty members and inquire regarding their willingness to serve as committee chair or member. The Dissertation Committee consists of at least 3 faculty members. A majority of the committee members are Departmental and/ or Cooperating faculty in the Department of Comparative Literature and Languages. The final draft of the dissertation, including a complete citation apparatus, should be submitted to the Dissertation Committee at least 4 weeks prior to the Dissertation Defense. It is the responsibility of the Dissertation Committee Chair to initiate the scheduling of the Dissertation Defense.

The Dissertation Defense can be taken in one of the following modes: In-Person, Remote or Hybrid. The student and the Chair of the Dissertation Committee will discuss and make the final determination together regarding which mode best suits the defense. For an In-Person defense, both the student and all committee members are physically present on campus. For a Hybrid defense, the student presents the dissertation in a manner that allows some committee members to be physically present and others remote, while staff are present on campus to assist. For a Remote defense, the chair of the Dissertation Committee must be the host or co-host of a video-enabled exam.

Normative Time to Degree The normative time to the Ph.D. degree is 18 quarters

The Department of Comparative Literature and Languages does not offer a terminal M.A. degree. Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program only.

Students who enter the Ph.D. program with a B.A. degree complete the M.A. degree by the end of their second year of study. Students who enter the Ph.D. program while already holding an M.A. in Comparative Literature or in a related field do not complete the M.A. requirements; they complete the Ph.D. requirements outlined above..

The requirements for the M.A. degree are::

• 1. Completion of the language requirements

for the Ph.D., as outlined above.

• 2. 36 units of graduate seminars, which must

include:

• a. 5 Core Graduate Seminars in

Comparative Literature, from among those outlined above.

• b. 4 other gradate seminars or the

equivalent in Comparative Literature or a related area or areas, approved by the Graduate Advisor. These may include: (a) a graduate seminar in Comparative Literature or another department; or (b) an independent study under the rubric CPLT 293 (E-Z), or a graduate-level independent study taken in another department; or (c) an upper-division undergraduate course taken with CPLT 292, or an upper- division undergraduate course offered in another department taken with the relevant departmental 292 course.

• 3. The creation and oral defense of an M.A.

portfolio (The MA Oral Exam)

The M.A. portfolio includes:

• a. 2 seminar papers, each of which has

been substantially revised under the guidance of a faculty member. Each paper should have received a passing grade in a course offered by a different faculty member. The two papers may not be revised under the guidance of a single faculty member.

• b. A 750-1000 word commentary explaining

the aims and achievements of the 2 papers in relation to one another.

The MA Oral Exam is conducted by a 3-member faculty committee. The committee consists in: 2 faculty with whom the student has substantially revised each of 1 of the portfolio seminar papers; plus 1 other faculty member.

The MA Oral Exam can be taken in one of the following modes: In-Person, Remote, or Hybrid. The student and the Chair of the MA Exam committee will discuss and make the final determination together regarding which mode best suits the exam. For an In-Person exam, both the student and all committee members are physically present on campus. For a Hybrid exam, the student presents the exam in a manner that allows some committee members to be physically present and other remote, while staff are present on campus to assist. For a Remote exam, the chair of the committee must be the host or co-host of a video-enabled exam.

Normative Time to Degree The normative time to the M.A. degree is 6 quarters.

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 inter acts 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