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Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Comparative Literature major, a student will have demonstrated that they can complete a comparative literary study that reaches beyond individual national canons or engages in detail with other theoretical approaches, complete a sustained research project, and present their work in writing and in discussion. Majors will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a facility with the work and methods of Comparative Literature:
   • demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the methods and approaches of comparative literature;
   • demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the methods and terminology distinctive to literary analysis and/or literary theory and/or literary history;
   • build a comparative argument that brings together more than one text or medium or historical period, or negotiating relations between literature and theory;
   • analyze literary texts or films closely and carefully;
   • read at least one language other than English;
   • successfully incorporate secondary sources into the analysis of the primary objects of analysis;
   • build an argument that provides a unified approach to that analysis.
2. Execute and defend a significant independent research project:
   • formulate an interesting thesis topic;
   • develop and pursue a critical methodology appropriate to the research topic;
   • independently investigate that topic with the support of an advisor;
   • incorporate sources in a language other than English as appropriate.
3. Communicate work done:
   • write a clear and coherent document that is substantially longer than a traditional term paper or project and formatted in a style appropriate to the approach;
   • orally present, discuss and defend work done.

The primary assessment tool for learning in the major at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ and the level of student achievement in the major area is the senior thesis; the junior qualifying examination, which assesses a student's readiness for thesis, provides a second assessment tool. For more information on the thesis, the Junior Qualifying Exam and the academic program, see Information for Majors.