About the Program
The Comparative Literature program at Purdue University is housed in the School of Languages and Cultures and offers B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees.
Comparative Literature is an interdisciplinary program designed for students passionate about cultures, languages, transnational literature, performance studies, music, film, or media studies, seeking a broadened perspective beyond singular cultural traditions. This program cultivates a deep understanding of the intricate connections among diverse cultural expressions. Through an exploration of cultures, arts, and ideas across genres, periods and disciplines, comparative literature refines students’ intellectual, critical, and intercultural skills, equipping them with competencies for an interconnected and globalized world.
Benefiting from faculty expertise across multiple departments, the programs offer personalized study plans for both undergraduates and graduates. Purdue’s Comparative Literature faculty have outstanding credentials and show a strong commitment to both research and teaching. Qualified graduate students at Purdue receive financial support for their studies and research travels. Although teaching assistantships are most often the primary funding source, there exist several grants and fellowships, excellent but competitive opportunities to explore, such as the Andrew/Ross for incoming graduate students, or the Bilsland Fellowship for their final year in completing the dissertation, and ultimately the CLA Dean’s Graduate Student Excellence in Research Grant or the PDE Presidential Doctoral Excellence Award.
Master’s students can pursue a thesis or non-thesis option. See below for each set of requirements.
Program Website
Required Courses (27 credits)
Core Course (3 credits)
Choose one.
Major Field (12 credits)
Students should choose courses in a major field to focus their studies.
Secondary Field (9 credits)
Students should choose courses in a secondary field to complement their major field.
Third Field (3 credits)
Only required for non-thesis MA students. Students should choose a course in a third field, separate from their major and secondary field.
Thesis Research (3 credits)
Only required for thesis MA students. The thesis will involve at least two areas and will be directed by faculty representing these areas.
Additional Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: Each graduate student in Comparative Literature works in two or three areas of specialization. If the first or second of these is a national literature, it must be studied in the original language. If the third area of specialization is a national literature, it may be studied in English translation. For the MA, the student must also demonstrate proficiency (at least reading knowledge) in one additional language other than English and the student’s major language of study. The student, in consultation with their committee, will determine which language would be most appropriate for the student’s program, which may include the student’s native language(s), if that language is neither English nor the major language of study. This language requirement may be met in any of the following ways:
a. By examination in the language.
b. By completing the language course 202 or higher in the language with a minimum grade of B (3.0).
c. By completing the equivalent of 202 or higher in the language with a minimum grade of B (3.0) at another institution within five years of beginning the SLC graduate program.
This additional language requirement must be satisfied before the final MA examination may be scheduled.
Additional Information
Reading List: See the approved Master’s Reading List. Knowledge of a bibliography of basic books in Comparative Literature will be required of all students. They will be informed of this bibliography during the first semester of study. Students may take an MA exam based on this reading list. Or they may in consultation with their advisor and the Director of the Program compose a reading list based on the MA exam list for English and a list of works in their primary language.
Examination: A written examination, based upon the reading list, will be given by the committee at the completion of the coursework. The examination questions will be written and graded by the members of the Comparative Literature Steering Committee. Students should list the names of three members of the committee on their MA plan of study.
