Requirements for the Major in Comparative Literature and Culture
The program requires completion of forty-four (44) credits, as follows:
Two Core Courses (8 credits)
- CMPL - 200 Introduction to Comparative Studies: Literature of the Body OR
- CMPL - 195 First Year Seminar: The Beauty of the Beast in Literature and Art
- ENGL 299 - Critical Analysis
Two Foreign Language Courses (8 credits)
(in
addition to the three foreign language courses required of all students
in the College of Arts and Sciences: 101, 102, and 201 or their
equivalent as determined by placement tests.)
- 4th Semester of a Foreign Language (202 French, German, Spanish, Japanese)
- 5th Semester of a Foreign Language (300-level course taught in the target language)
Six 300-Level Literature and Culture Electives (24 credits)
- Students
will select their elective courses at 300-level or above from the
offerings of various departments and interdisciplinary programs. These
courses must have a strong emphasis in one or more literatures and
cultures of the world, and must be relevant to the student's area of
concentration for comparative studies.
- Students
must discuss their choice of electives with their advisor before
registering. In addition, they will submit a petition form to
demonstrate how each elective contributed to their area of
concentration. (Petition forms are available at the Department of
Modern languages office in KA 328).
One Capstone Seminar and Senior Thesis (4 credits)
- CMPL - 400 Capstone Seminar in Comparative Literature and Culture: Political Fictions
Upon completion of all their electives, students will register for the Capstone Seminar on Political Fictions. In this seminar they will also conclude their individual research in their area of concentration and write a Senior Thesis. Additional information about the Capstone Seminar and Guidelines for the Senior Thesis are available online.
Study Abroad
Majors in Comparative Literature and Culture are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Students should consult the Center for Global Education in UC 404 for USF Sponsored Study Abroad programs to plan their Junior year or a semester abroad.
Students may transfer up to twelve (12) credits from the study abroad program into the Comparative Literature and Culture major.
Learning Goals/Outcomes for the Major in Comparative Literature and Culture
Students will be able to
- engage
in comparative analysis of literary texts and other cultural artifacts
that seek to enhance our understanding of cross-national cultural
commonalities and differences.
- communicate in a foreign language both orally and in writing.
- demonstrate
a comprehensive understanding of, and respect toward, one or more of
the many cultures of different regions of the world in their varied
dimensions (social, historical, political, religious, economic,
linguistic and artistic).
- bridge the divisions between national literatures and cultures instead of concentrating on a single tradition or their own.
- develop an intellectual engagement, introspection and reflective sensibility that will contribute to life-long learning.
