The Major

The Major

Students select one of the following track options:

I. General Languages and Literature

  • 6 courses in Comparative Literature (up to 2 may be at the 200 level, or 1 at the 100 level and 1 at the 200 level)
  • 4 upper-level courses in your choice of a 1st language (this is often English)
  • 3 upper-level courses in a 2nd language

II. Advanced Language and Literature with Work in a Third Language

Either:

  • 6 courses in Comparative Literature (up to 2 may be at the 200 level, or 1 at the 100 level and 1 at the 200 level)
  • 4 upper-level courses in the 1st language
  • 2 upper-level courses in a 2nd language
  • 2 courses or 6 credits of elementary work in a 3rd language

Or:

  • 6 courses in Comparative Literature (up to 2 may be at the 200 level, or 1 at the 100 level and 1 at the 200 level)
  • 3 upper-level courses in the 1st language
  • 2 upper-level courses in a 2nd language
  • 2 upper-level courses in a 3rd language

III. Literature and a Related Discipline

  • 6 courses in Comparative Literature (up to 2 may be at the 200 level, or 1 at the 100 level and 1 at the 200 level)
  • 3 upper-level courses in the 1st language
  • 2 upper-level courses in a 2nd language
  • 4 upper-level courses in the department of a related discipline of your choice

For a full description of film study or translation study as a related discipline, see Film Concentration and Translation Concentration

I. Related Departments

  1. National Literature Departments (English, French, German, Spanish, etc.): With few exceptions, only upper-level courses in literature (not literature in translation, film in translation, culture, advanced grammar, or conversation) may be counted for the major. To define "upper-level," CL recognizes each Department's definition as applied to its own major. Usually, courses numbered 240 or higher (200 for English) will count towards the major. Each student, however, should consult with an advisor as soon as any related questions arise.
  2. Other Departments in the Humanities or Social or Natural Sciences: For those students following the Literature and Related Discipline track, credit towards the CL major is usually granted only to those courses which count towards the major in the related discipline.
  3. Creative Writing: One course may be counted towards the major (usually as an English class).

II. Comparative Literature

  1. All Comparative Literature courses at or above the 300 level will count towards the major. In addition, one 100-level CL course and one 200-level CL course or& two 200-level CL courses may be counted.
  2. The 4-credit Integrative Experience course "The History of Literary Criticism" (CL394HI) is required of all majors. This course counts towards the major and is typically offered in the Spring.
  3. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses that focus on diverse geographical and/or linguistic regions, historical periods, and genres or media.
  4. No more than 6 credits of Independent Study courses may be counted towards the major.
  5. The Junior Year Writing requirement is fulfilled by CL357 ("Writing Matters"), offered every Fall. This course fulfills a General Education requirement and does not count towards the major.

III. G.P.A.

  1. A minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 is required in all courses counting towards the major.
  2. No courses counting toward the major may be taken pass/fail. 

IV. Honors

Comparative Literature is pleased to have several Commonwealth Scholars among our majors. See the Honors page, and contact the Comparative Literature Honors Coordinator, Professor Don Levine (delevine@llc.umass.edu) for information. 

Related programs at UMass

Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies • Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies • Medieval Studies Certification Program • Translation Center