Chair of Program: Erk Grimm (German)
Professors: Taylor Carman (Philosophy), Helene Foley (Classics), Serge Gavronsky (French), Maire Jaanus (English), Alfred Mac Adam (Spanish), Catherine Nepomnyashchy (Slavic), Anne Prescott (English), Wadda Rios-Font (Spanish)
Associate Professors: Peter T. Connor (French), Erk Grimm (German), Ross Hamilton (English), Max Moerman (Asian and Middle Eastern Studies), Nelson Moe (Italian), Maura Spiegel (English), Caroline Weber (French), Nancy Worman (Classics)
Assistant Professors: Bashir Abu-Manneh (English), Wiebke Denecke (Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures), Rebecca Stanton (Slavic), Phillip Usher (French)
Senior Lecturers: James Crapotta (Spanish), Cary Plotkin (English), Laurie Postlewate (French)
Lecturer: Brian O’Keeffe (French)
For a complete list of
faculty on leave see:
http://www.barnard.edu/provost/facleavelist.html
The program enables the student to pursue the study of at least two literatures in two different languages and to explore the possibilities and methods of literary study comparatively across national boundaries. In consultation with her adviser, the student will shape a program that will give her a foundation in her two central literatures (at least one of them in a non-English language) and in one major period, genre, theme, or theoretical issue.
To enter the program a student must normally have completed the required sequence necessary for entry into the advance literature courses of her major program. This varies from language to language; students should consult the chair. Each student, after consultation with the chair, chooses an adviser from one of her two fields of concentration in a language. This adviser guides her in developing a sequence of courses appropriate for her goals in the major. All students are required to take Comparative Literature BC 3001 and 14 courses normally to be chosen from the following categories:
One course in appropriate classical texts chosen from The Classical Tradition (CLLT W 4300), Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (REL V 3201), and Introduction to the New Testament (REL V 3202), for those specializing in languages and literature in the Western tradition; Asian Humanities (AHU V 3399 or V 3400), for those specializing in languages and literatures in Eastern traditions; or other courses with approval of the adviser.
One course in literary theory. Students will normally be expected to satisfy this requirement by taking CSO V 3950 The Colloquium in Literary Theory. If study abroad plans make this impossible, other courses may be substituted such as ENG BC 3194, FRE BC 3048 (x or y), CLEN W 4902.
Three courses from each of two literary traditions studied in the original languages. Foreign literature courses must be beyond the introductory level.
Five elected courses in comparative literature or literary theory (studied in the original or in translation) related to the student's individual program. These courses must be comparative or theoretical in nature.
One course, either an appropriate seminar or a tutorial, for the writing of a senior thesis.
The Senior Thesis must deal with material from at least the two central literatures in the student's major. In addition this thesis must treat, entirely or in part, the one period, genre, theme, or theoretical issue that has shaped the student's program. The choice of topic for this senior essay and the appointment of a second adviser are determined in consultation with the area adviser and the chair of the program. A detailed memorandum on planning the major is available from the chair and the Comparative Literature website.
Students who wish to major in Comparative Literature, but who for valid reasons wish to pursue a program at variance with the above model, should consult the chair.