Although the doctoral programs in Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish together with Comparative Literature differ in details, they all share the same general outline. Completing a doctorate in Comparative Literature means having training in addition to that of students in a single national literature, although all Combined Programs are based on national literature doctoral programs.  

 

1 The total number of units of course work required for the degree is 72 (exclusive of comps and dissertation).

2 CL Combined Programs focus on one national literature, in which the student virtually duplicates the courses and other preparations expected of a doctoral candidate in that national literature (typically, 60 units). Language and literature departmental requirements generally specify both the historical breadth and topical depth expected of a national literature doctoral student, and Comparative Literature students benefit from meeting these expectations.  Students for this degree are encouraged to pursue course work (up to 12 units) in a second literature or in a second field or discipline (architecture, art, film, history, music, philosophy, theory, etc., or some combination), which form part of the 60 units based in the national literature program.

3 CL Combined Programs require substantial course work (usually 12 units, but no fewer than 6) in literary or cultural theory and methodology of analysis. In addition to such courses required by the major national literature, CL Combined Program students take 4 CL home-based courses, including CL 402.

4 CL Combined Programs require excellent command of the language(s) of the major literature and of English, and at least reading ability in one or more other languages as required for substantial research on the chosen national literature and the student’s comparative interests. See separate document on Language Requirements.

5 CL Combined Programs require a Qualifying Examination near the end of the first year of study (the Graduate School refers to this as the “second year review”). The Qualifying exam, based on the student’s previous course work, is prepared by the DGS and two other faculty members (at least one of whom has taught in CL) whom the student selects.  The format of the exam is an over-two-nights (48-hour) exam consisting of two essay questions that ask the student to synthesize course work taken during the first year of the Ph.D. program, fall and spring semesters.  The student will receive the exam questions via email, and will email responses to members of the committee for evaluation. The student must also present a hard copy to the Comparative Literature office the morning following the completion of the exam.

6 CL Combined Programs require Comprehensive Examinations after all course work is completed. The successful completion of these exams, the submission of an approved dissertation proposal and of an approved Scope and Procedure form for dissertation research advances the student to candidacy for the degree (“all but dissertation” or “ABD” status).

CL Combined Program students will take the Comprehensive examinations in the national literature department with which they are associated. As part of these national literature Comprehensives, and during the same semester in which these are completed, the CL Combined Program student must complete a Comprehensive Examination in Comparative Literature (either a separate part of one of the national literature comprehensive exams a separate exam question). The format, duration, and questions of the CL Comprehensive Examination will be worked out by the student in consultation with his/her advising team and the Director of Graduate Studies in Comparative Literature. In cases where a separate CL exam is selected, the format will be either an essay written during a period of time set by the department or an examination that can be completed in no more than three hours.

7 Advisors. As CL Combined Program students expand their training beyond the already broad parameters of the literature of a single language, it is essential that every student consult several advisors on a regular basis throughout his/her graduate training. For the Comprehensive Examinations and during the dissertation research and writing, each student should have an advisory team composed of three faculty members, optimally from at least two departments or programs, to provide a broader range of expertise, hence advice.

8 Dissertation timeline.
Prior to the completion of the Comprehensive Exams, CL Combined program students should select a dissertation topic and a dissertation Director, as well as two additional readers. The dissertation should be comparative in focus.  We define "comparative" broadly to mean the application of the analytical tools of the discipline of comparative literature.  This approach frequently involves transnational studies, and/or literature studies conducted in conjunction with other fields such as architecture, art, film, history, music, philosophy, theory, etc.

The student should submit a 1-2 page proposal and a list of bibliographical sources for the dissertation, approved by the all 3 members of his/her Dissertation Committee, to the CL Director of Graduate Study shortly after the final comprehensive exam.

The student should work with the thesis Director to establish an effective and efficient calendar for submission of work, allowing time for revisions. Once the Director has approved a chapter, the student should submit it to the other two readers.

Students are expected to respect the suggestions for revision from all three of their readers for each chapter as they go along. This process ensures that the dissertation is sound from their different perspectives before the student submits the completed dissertation to the larger committee for the "defense."

The student is responsible for completing all of the necessary forms for the Graduate School by the dates that it sets, and for formatting the dissertation in accordance with its guidelines.

The dissertation Director is responsible for assisting the Graduate School in assembling the full six- or seven-member committee for the defense, and for arranging a defense date.

Once the dissertation Director has approved the content and the style (we recommend MLA style) of the entire dissertation, the student should distribute hard copies of the full document to all members of the defense committee, including external readers, in preparation for the oral defense. Students should allow a minimum of two weeks for committee members to read the thesis; three is better.

While certain critiques and suggestions from the larger committee during the defense are to be expected, indeed encouraged, the dissertation Director, by signaling his/her approval for the student's submission of the dissertation to the defense committee, is indicating that he/she, along with the other two committee members, stands by the work and is prepared to articulate support for its content and its form at the defense.

11/27/07