Comparative Literature Major

Summary of Requirements

• CMPL 200 - Introduction to Comparative Literature  
• One Advanced Foreign Literature Course
• One Capstone Course
• Minimum of Six Comparative Literature Major Elective Courses

Transfer of Credit Toward the Major

We encourage students to study abroad for a semester or a year in one of the many Oberlin-affiliated programs. However, at least six courses counted toward the major must be earned at Oberlin College.

Course of Study

Because many departments contribute courses to comparative literature, students with an interest in the discipline should consult with their advisor and the program director to define an individual area of emphasis. For example, several courses presented for the major might focus on a specific period or movement (e.g., the Renaissance, modernism), a genre (e.g., tragedy, lyric poetry), a problem (e.g., literature and the other arts, translation), or an approach (e.g., feminism, post-structuralism).

Honors in Comparative Literature

Students who wish to participate in the Honors Program in Comparative Literature should apply by April 15 of the junior year. Admission will be granted on the basis of the grade-point average in the college and major, faculty recommendations, and a written proposal. The project will be for two courses during the two semesters of the senior year, normally under the supervision of two faculty members from different departments.

Interested majors should consult the director.

Detailed Major Requirements