Emory | Comp Lit | Undergraduate Program

The Undergraduate Major in Comparative Literature

The undergraduate major enables students to explore a wide range of world literatures in translation, as well as in their original languages, emphazing the development of analytical, critical and writing skills. A group of core courses provides an awareness of traditional and nontraditional literary histories and a foundation in the skills necessary for the interpretation of literary texts. Higher level courses allow students to focus more closely on interdisciplinary areas and topics of special interest, choosing from a wide array of courses in different departments, as well as courses offered in Comparative Literature. The foreign language requirement guarantees that students will pursue the study of a foreign language to a level where they can read significant literary texts written in that language. Our majors are actively encouraged to pursue study abroad ranging from summer to junior year abroad programs and their coursework receives credit towards the major. The ultimate goal of the program is to foster skills in close reading and methodological self-reflection. Outstanding students have the option of entering the Honors Program which involves intensive work in a chosen area of study, including enrollment in a supervised reading or a graduate seminar and the completion of an honors thesis. Outstanding papers by undergraduates are featured in annual undergraduate colloquia attended by undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty.

In addition to these special research options, the department is pleased to offer its undergraduates regular opportunities for stimulating intellectual and social gatherings and discussion.

The 6th Annual Undergraduate Colloquium is scheduled for Spring 2007 in the Comparative Literature seminar room, N106 Callaway Center, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. The Colloquium aims to reflect the diverse and innovative research that undergraduate students are conducting at Emory. Undergraduate paper selection for the Colloquium is highly competitive and represents a high recognition of an undergraduate’s work by the professor, as well as the Comparative Literature Department. This opportunity provides undergraduates with the experience of presenting a conference paper, as well as an advantage for their résumé. Presenters will be able to share their work with peer comparative literature majors, as well as with graduate students in the field, and enter into a conversation with them. Refreshments will be served.
The Comparative Literature Chocolate and Coffee Hours provide a relaxed atmosphere for a blend of intellectual discussion, friendly conversation, and chocolate with your peers: dates for Fall 2006 are 10/05, 11/02, and 12/07. Meetings will be held from 4:30 - 6pm in Jazzman's Cafe in the Woodruff Library.
The Undergraduate Theory Group presents an opportunity to deepen student exposure to an understanding of theoretical and philosophical texts while sharing an experience of reading with fellow literary-minded students. See our events page for upcoming dates and times.
The program encourages interaction with graduate students through the Intellectual Buddy Program that assigns graduate students to undergraduate majors for the purpose of intellectual mentorship.

Requirements for Majors in Comparative Literature
(1) Five core and advanced courses: CPLT 201, 202, 203R, 301 or 302, and 490.
(2) Five additional courses that include two courses in a foreign language above 300 level and three elective literature courses in translation or original language.

Requirements for Minor in Comparative Literature
(1) Five core and advanced courses: CPLT 201, 202, 203R, 301 or 302 and 490.

Guidelines for the Major

100-level courses (including freshman seminars and CPLT 110) do not count toward the major
A literature course that does not count toward the major of the department that offers the course would also not count for the Comparative Literature major
Majors are encouraged to fulfill their three literature electives with advanced courses

Faculty Advisors
M. Aue (German); D. Bahri (English); A. Bammer (ILA); M. Bauerlein (English); G. Bennington (French and Italian); A. Benston (Theater studies); P. Bing (Classics); B. Branham (Classics); M. Brownley (English); R. Cai (Chinese); C. Caruth (Comparative Literature and English); S. Croft (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences); M. Epstein (Russian); S. Felman (Comparative Literature and French); A. Furman (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences); S. Goldman (Middle Eastern studies); E. Goodstein (ILA); J. Johnston (English); D. Judovitz (French and Italian); C. Lang (French and Italian); V. Loichot (French and Italian); E. Marder (French and Italian); C. Nouvet (French and Italian); L. Patton (Religion); L. Pratt (Classics); J. Quiroga (Spanish); R. Rambuss (English); W. Reed (English); E. Reinders (Religion); J. Robbins (Comparative Literature and Religion); D. White(English); S. White (History)

Core Courses
CPLT 110 Introduction to Literary Studies. An introduction to literary studies, combined with an intensive writing approach. From the broad perspective of world literature, consideration of topics such as desire, language, and identity. Fulfills the first-year writing requirement.

CPLT 190 Freshman Seminar. Freshman-only seminar designed to engage students in various aspects of inquiry and research with close guidance of a faculty member.

CPLT 201 Major Texts: Ancient to Medieval. Representative works from the Bible, ancient Greek and Roman literature, and European literature of the Middle Ages. Emphasis on close reading of particular texts; all readings in English.

CPLT 202 Major Texts: Renaissance to Modern. Representative works of European and American literature from the sixteenth to the twentieth century in different genres. Emphasis on close reading of particular texts; all readings in English.

CPLT 203R Literatures Beyond the Canon. Texts of popular culture and literary works of ethnic minorities, non-Western writers, and women. Attention to the relationship of these writings to traditional literary forms and content.

Advanced Courses
CPLT 301 Methods in Interpretation. An introduction to a specific method of literary criticism or theoretical approach as applied through close textual interpretations.

CPLT 302 Literary Theory. Learning to read literature from a theoretical viewpoint, its formal properties, distinctive features, origins, purposes, and mode of existence; representative critics and schools from contemporary and earlier periods.

CPLT 333R Literature and Other Disciplines. A study of literary texts and their complex interplay with other disciplines (e.g. literature and psychoanalysis, literature and philosophy, literature and law, and literature and religion).

CPLT 389R Special topics in literature. Lively topical or theoretical approaches to a given set of literary texts or problems. May be repeated for credit when subject varies.

CPLT 490R Comparative Literature Major Seminar. A seminar devoted to the intensive close reading of literary and other texts.

CPLT 495R Honors Thesis. Open to students with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Open to candidates for honors in their senior year.

CPLT 497P Supervised Readings. Directed studies of special topics in literature. Open to students with consent of instructor and approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.






	undergraduate program degree requirements courses The Undergraduate Major in Comparative Literature The undergraduate major enables students to explore a wide range of world literatures in translation, as well as in their original languages, emphazing the development of analytical, critical and writing skills. A group of core courses provides an awareness of traditional and nontraditional literary histories and a foundation in the skills necessary for the interpretation of literary texts. Higher level courses allow students to focus more closely on interdisciplinary areas and topics of special interest, choosing from a wide array of courses in different departments, as well as courses offered in Comparative Literature. The foreign language requirement guarantees that students will pursue the study of a foreign language to a level where they can read significant literary texts written in that language. Our majors are actively encouraged to pursue study abroad ranging from summer to junior year abroad programs and their coursework receives credit towards the major. The ultimate goal of the program is to foster skills in close reading and methodological self-reflection. Outstanding students have the option of entering the Honors Program which involves intensive work in a chosen area of study, including enrollment in a supervised reading or a graduate seminar and the completion of an honors thesis. Outstanding papers by undergraduates are featured in annual undergraduate colloquia attended by undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. In addition to these special research options, the department is pleased to offer its undergraduates regular opportunities for stimulating intellectual and social gatherings and discussion. The 6th Annual Undergraduate Colloquium is scheduled for Spring 2007 in the Comparative Literature seminar room, N106 Callaway Center, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. The Colloquium aims to reflect the diverse and innovative research that undergraduate students are conducting at Emory. Undergraduate paper selection for the Colloquium is highly competitive and represents a high recognition of an undergraduate’s work by the professor, as well as the Comparative Literature Department. This opportunity provides undergraduates with the experience of presenting a conference paper, as well as an advantage for their résumé. Presenters will be able to share their work with peer comparative literature majors, as well as with graduate students in the field, and enter into a conversation with them. Refreshments will be served. The Comparative Literature Chocolate and Coffee Hours provide a relaxed atmosphere for a blend of intellectual discussion, friendly conversation, and chocolate with your peers: dates for Fall 2006 are 10/05, 11/02, and 12/07. Meetings will be held from 4:30 - 6pm in Jazzman's Cafe in the Woodruff Library. The Undergraduate Theory Group presents an opportunity to deepen student exposure to an understanding of theoretical and philosophical texts while sharing an experience of reading with fellow literary-minded students. See our events page for upcoming dates and times. The program encourages interaction with graduate students through the Intellectual Buddy Program that assigns graduate students to undergraduate majors for the purpose of intellectual mentorship. Requirements for Majors in Comparative Literature (1) Five core and advanced courses: CPLT 201, 202, 203R, 301 or 302, and 490. (2) Five additional courses that include two courses in a foreign language above 300 level and three elective literature courses in translation or original language. Requirements for Minor in Comparative Literature (1) Five core and advanced courses: CPLT 201, 202, 203R, 301 or 302 and 490. Guidelines for the Major 100-level courses (including freshman seminars and CPLT 110) do not count toward the major A literature course that does not count toward the major of the department that offers the course would also not count for the Comparative Literature major Majors are encouraged to fulfill their three literature electives with advanced courses Faculty Advisors M. Aue (German); D. Bahri (English); A. Bammer (ILA); M. Bauerlein (English); G. Bennington (French and Italian); A. Benston (Theater studies); P. Bing (Classics); B. Branham (Classics); M. Brownley (English); R. Cai (Chinese); C. Caruth (Comparative Literature and English); S. Croft (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences); M. Epstein (Russian); S. Felman (Comparative Literature and French); A. Furman (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences); S. Goldman (Middle Eastern studies); E. Goodstein (ILA); J. Johnston (English); D. Judovitz (French and Italian); C. Lang (French and Italian); V. Loichot (French and Italian); E. Marder (French and Italian); C. Nouvet (French and Italian); L. Patton (Religion); L. Pratt (Classics); J. Quiroga (Spanish); R. Rambuss (English); W. Reed (English); E. Reinders (Religion); J. Robbins (Comparative Literature and Religion); D. White(English); S. White (History) Core Courses CPLT 110 Introduction to Literary Studies. An introduction to literary studies, combined with an intensive writing approach. From the broad perspective of world literature, consideration of topics such as desire, language, and identity. Fulfills the first-year writing requirement. CPLT 190 Freshman Seminar. Freshman-only seminar designed to engage students in various aspects of inquiry and research with close guidance of a faculty member. CPLT 201 Major Texts: Ancient to Medieval. Representative works from the Bible, ancient Greek and Roman literature, and European literature of the Middle Ages. Emphasis on close reading of particular texts; all readings in English. CPLT 202 Major Texts: Renaissance to Modern. Representative works of European and American literature from the sixteenth to the twentieth century in different genres. Emphasis on close reading of particular texts; all readings in English. CPLT 203R Literatures Beyond the Canon. Texts of popular culture and literary works of ethnic minorities, non-Western writers, and women. Attention to the relationship of these writings to traditional literary forms and content. Advanced Courses CPLT 301 Methods in Interpretation. An introduction to a specific method of literary criticism or theoretical approach as applied through close textual interpretations. CPLT 302 Literary Theory. Learning to read literature from a theoretical viewpoint, its formal properties, distinctive features, origins, purposes, and mode of existence; representative critics and schools from contemporary and earlier periods. CPLT 333R Literature and Other Disciplines. A study of literary texts and their complex interplay with other disciplines (e.g. literature and psychoanalysis, literature and philosophy, literature and law, and literature and religion). CPLT 389R Special topics in literature. Lively topical or theoretical approaches to a given set of literary texts or problems. May be repeated for credit when subject varies. CPLT 490R Comparative Literature Major Seminar. A seminar devoted to the intensive close reading of literary and other texts. CPLT 495R Honors Thesis. Open to students with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Open to candidates for honors in their senior year. CPLT 497P Supervised Readings. Directed studies of special topics in literature. Open to students with consent of instructor and approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.