Major

  1. Undergraduate
  2. Major

Structure and Requirements

Students may currently pursue three concentrations within the major. All three share the common core requirements (6 c.u.) but vary in regard to foreign language requirements (details provided below) and emphasis of studies.

  • (Trans)national literatures (specialty in two national literatures)

  • Theory

  • Globalization


General Guidelines for the Major

Since the Comparative Literature major is highly individualized, it is crucial that all majors select their courses in close consultation with the program director. This is particularly important with regard to the Capstone Experience, in which seniors are required to do advanced seminar work and/or individualized research. Whenever possible, students are encouraged to complete a senior thesis.

There are no prerequisites, but all prospective majors are strongly advised to start their course of study by fulfilling the core requirements as described below, starting with COML 1000, proceeding with COML1400 or COML 0540, in addition to taking COML electives. Students should also pay careful attention to the language requirements specified in the description of each concentration.
 

The Major Program

Minimum requirement: 14 c.u.'s

Core Requirements (6 c.u.'s) 

I. An Introductory Course (1 c.u.):

  • COML 1000 (Introduction to Comparative Literature) or
  • COML 1025 (Narrative Across Cultures)
  • COML 1191 (World Literature)

II. A Theory Course (1 c.u.): 

  • COML 1400 (Introduction to Literary Theory) or
  • COML 0540 (History of Literary Criticism) or

III. A Capstone Experience (1 c.u. or 2 c.u.'s):

  • Graduate Seminar or
  • Independent Research Study (COML 3999) or
  • Senior Thesis (Honors Program COML 4999 and COML 4998)

IV. COML elective courses, chosen to meet the following specifications:

  • A course of a theoretic nature (e.g. COML 1010, COML 1020, COML 1030, COML 2252, COML 3922, COML 3923, COML 3252)
  • A course in a non-Western literature or Postcolonial Studies (e.g. COML 0082, COML 0615, COML 1190, COML 1351, COML 2180, COML 2217, COML 4500)
  • A course of choice. Students are encouraged to take multi-period courses or courses in a period other than their primary focus. For example, a student specializing in contemporary literature would be expected to take a course in medieval, Renaissance, or early modern periods. 

Concentrations (8 c.u.'s)

(Trans)national Literatures: 

  • Eight courses in two national literatures (4 c.u. in each national literature). These must be intermediate and advanced level courses and seminars. If both of these national literatures are non-English, only one of the literatures (4 c.u. need to be taken in a target language.* The other courses may be taken in translation. Four Classical Studies courses (in Greek and Latin) and four Judaic Studies courses (in Hebrew and/or other Jewish literatures) are acceptable substitutions for one of the national literatures.

Theory:

  • Four courses of a theoretic nature (literature, theater, film, culture) (4 c.u.'s)
  • Four advanced literature or film courses and seminars (4 c.u.'s) of which two (2 c.u.'s) are taught in a language other than English.* One course (1 c.u.) must be in a non-Western or Postcolonial literature. 

Globalization:

  • Four courses (4 c.u.) must provide an interdisciplinary background on the cultural, historical, political, economic, and geographical ramifications of globalization and may be taken through a variety of departments, including but not limited to History, Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, Political Science, etc. These interdisciplinary courses should be relevant to literary studies.
  • Four courses (4 c.u.) in advanced literature, film, or culture. Course themes may include issues like globalization, diaspora, immigration, colonial or international encounters (e.g. COML 1190, COML 2180, COML 2401, COML 2931, COML 2950). Two of these courses (2 c.u.) should be taught in a language other than English.*

* Exceptions may be considered for students with demonstrated proficiency in an African, Asian, or minor language in which literature courses are not often offered at Penn but in which supervision is available in the form of an Independent Study. 
 

The Honors Program 

Minimum requirement: 15 c.u.'s

Honors majors must write a thesis in comparative literature, cinema, and/or literary and cultural theory under the guidance of a faculty member. They should have a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher within the major. 

Students must identify a faculty member willing to serve as a thesis advisor. Students are expected to enroll in COML 4999 (thesis preparation) in the Fall and COML 4998 in the Spring.
 

Departments and Programs

in which courses for COML can be taken:

  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Cinema Studies
  • Classical Studies
  • English
  • East Asian Languages and Civilizations
  • Fine Arts
  • Germanic Languages and Literatures
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Jewish Studies
  • Latin American and Latinx Studies
  • Music
  • Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Religious Studies
  • Romance Languages - French, Italian, and Hispanic Studies (Spanish)
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • South Asian Studies
  • Theater Arts