Prerequisites for Admission to the M.A. or Ph.D. Program

(Beyond the usual requirements of the Graduate School.)

Undergraduate Degree

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree or a recognized foreign equivalent, either with a major in a language-literature field or with substantial literary studies.

Language Preparation

All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and advanced proficiency in one language other than English. Competence in a third language is required for applicants to the Ph.D. Program; competence of a third language is optimal but not required for admission into the M.A. Program. M.A. candidates without a third language will be expected to complete at least one semester of language study at the university, one of the Five Colleges, or an equivalent program.

Examinations

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam is required of all non-native speakers of English who are not U.S. citizens.

Critical Essay

Applicants are required to submit, with the application, a substantial critical essay (15-25 pages) in literature or theory that demonstrates the candidate's ability to analyze texts. Essays written in a language other than English should be accompanied by an English translation done by the candidate.

Note: There are separate requirements for students applying to the focused Translation and Interpreting Studies Track for the MA in Comparative Literature.