Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 University Catalog 
    
2020-2021 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Comparative Literature, BA


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About the Program

Comparative Literature takes as its special mandate the teaching and comparing of world literature, not only as social documents but also as works of art whose full appreciation depends on the study of languages, an understanding of diversity and globalization, and an appreciation of various media. The program encourages the study of literature by promoting the study of a second or third foreign language and by sponsoring courses and dissertations that cut across national boundaries. The three introductory courses, Introduction to Comparative Literature, World Literature: From the Beginning to 1700 A.D., and World Literature: 1700 to the Present, give students a base upon which to build their studies.  The Comparative Literature program is designed so that students can individualize their plans of study.

Comparative Literature recognizes that some fields - classics, medieval studies, Renaissance, post-colonial - are inherently comparative and seeks to facilitate the work of students and scholars in these fields. The program also recognizes the role of other disciplines, particularly history and philosophy, but also the social sciences and psychology in developing theoretical approaches to literature.

For graduate students, Comparative Literature Program offers the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Students should apply directly to the program through the Graduate School.

Please visit Comparative Literature for more information.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Liberal Arts Curriculum


Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.

Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.

Departmental/Program Major Course Requirements (33 credits)


A. Required Courses (12 credits)


Selectives (21 credits)


Each course in the lists below can be used only once in the major.

  • No more than 3.00 credits of any Directed Reading course
  • A minimum of 3.00 credits at the 40000 level or higher

Click here for Comparative Literature Supplemental Information  

B. Foreign Language Studies (9 credits)


Literature, Language and Culture courses in student’s primary world language area. At least 6 credits in a secondary language.

C. Literature Courses (9 credits)


Courses should be in a Literature or Literatures other than the student’s primary foreign language focus. At least 3 credits must be in diverse literatures (race, class, gender, sexuality).

D. Film Studies (3 Credits)


No more than 6 credits of film studies courses (ENGL 38600 , ENGL 38700 , or CHNS /FR /GER /ITAL /JPNS /PTGS /RUSS /SPAN 33000 )​

Other Departmental - Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)


The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.

Core I: Disciplinary Diversity (6-18 credits)


Choose 1 course in 6 different disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts.

Note: Disciplines are differentiated by course prefix. Undistributed credit does not count to satisfy this requirement.

Core II: Social Diversity (1-3 credits)


Culture, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity all play a role in how others perceive us and how we experience the world, and as such, are meaningful categories for analyzing social change and social problems past and present. The purpose of this category is to acquaint students with the pluralistic nature of the world and foster an appreciation and awareness of the diverse range of lived human experience. Courses in this list will expose students to important aspects of human diversity and foster understanding about different world views.

Choose 1 course from the Social Diversity Selective List .  

Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)


Proficiency through Level IV in one world language. Courses may be required to reach Level IV proficiency; these courses will be counted toward electives. (fulfills Humanities for core)

Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)


Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. Many of these can also be used to fulfill Core I, Core II, or Core III.

  • Humanities - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Humanities for core)
  • Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Behavioral/Social Science for core)
  • Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Information Literacy for core)
  • Science #1 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science #2 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
  • Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science, Technology, Society for core)
  • Written Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Written Communication for core)
  • Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Oral Communication for core)
  • Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Quantitative Reasoning for core)

Notes


  • Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories. 
  • All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirements, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs. 
  • “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core

Electives (32-56 credits)


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC)

Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


 

Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


  • CLA Core I: 1 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level I - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Written Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00 (fulfills CLA Core I: 2 of 6)

15-16 Credits


15 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


  • Foreign Language Studies Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core I: 5 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core I: 6 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science #2 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level IV - Credit Hours: 3.00 (CLA Core III)

15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • Foreign Language Studies Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Literature Course Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • CLA Core II: Social Diversity - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Behavior/Social Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • Foreign Language Studies Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Literature Course Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Literature Course Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • Film Studies Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00​

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Science, Technology and Society - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00​

15 Credits


Notes


  • A grade of “C” or better is required for any course used to fulfill a pre-major or major requirement. The P/NP option is not available for this requirement.
  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • 32 credit hours of Purdue coursework at the 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor.

ASL-American Sign Language

ARAB-Arabic CHNS-Chinese FR-French
GER-German GREK-Greek (ancient) HEBR-Hebrew (Biblical) HEBR-Hebrew (modern)
ITAL-Italian JPNS-Japanese KOR-Korean LATN-Latin
PTGS-Portuguese RUSS-Russian SPAN-Spanish  

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

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