Comparative Literature, BA
Effective Fall 2024, the Comparative Literature BA has suspended admission.
In the Comparative Literature major, students examine literature across languages, geographic location, time periods, and genres. The discipline also explores the relationship between literature and other forms of cultural expression such as pop culture, technology, arts, music, or film, as well as the relationship between literature and other academic disciplines, like anthropology, history, religious studies, or women's and gender studies. It's a great major for anyone who loves to explore other cultures.
Students sometimes ask whether they need to be fluent in a foreign language in order to study comparative literature. Definitely not! While all of UWM's instructors and faculty in comparative literature do research in other languages, all Comparative Literature courses are taught entirely in English. Comparative Literature majors choose one of two paths - one path that requires some literature courses be taken in a foreign language program, or another path where all classes are taught in English.
Our alumni can be found working in university and K-12 education, the arts, politics, law, library services, publishing, social services, journalism and communications, editorial roles, marketing, fundraising, corporate sales, consulting, and many other fields. Their knowledge and skills in cross-cultural communication, critical analysis, reading and comprehension of complex text, and writing are highly valued.
Effective Fall 2024, the Comparative Literature BA has suspended admission.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| L&S Requirements (general degree and major requirements) | 75 | |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Credit numbers reflect total possible credits towards degree. Due to the ability to count courses towards more than one requirement, credit amounts will vary. Please work with your academic advisor on your plan of study.
Preparatory Coursework
Based on individual placement results, some students may be required to complete preparatory coursework before enrolling in the courses listed here. This may include English language or composition preparation, developmental math, introductory chemistry, and/or student support courses for students participating in the First Year Bridge program.
General Education Requirements (GER)
UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s or associate degree. They include at minimum 30 credits (10 courses) in six categories that are designed to assure basic student competencies and provide a broad body of knowledge as a context for specialization.
Some degree requirements may fulfill GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Categories and Credits | ||
| Civics and Perspectives (CP) | 6 | |
| Communication and Literacy (CL) | 6 | |
| Humanities and Arts (HA) | 6 | |
| Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Wellness (NSW/NSWL) | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science (SBS) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Letters and Science Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered 300 or above) courses.
The College requires that students must complete, in residence at UWM, at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), students must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, a Natural Science Lab requirement, the Research requirement, and a Language other than English requirement. The International requirement develops student potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that students take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for students to build critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project in their major. The Language other than English requirement further develops student proficiency in a language other than English. And, the requirement that students take an L&S Natural Science lab ensures exposure to and practice with the scientific method in action.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science with 36 of those 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered 300 and above) courses.
II. Language other than English Requirement
Students doing the B.A. must fulfill a language other than English requirement by either successfully completing the fourth semester of university work or equivalent in one language other than English, or by successfully completing the second semester of university work or equivalent in two languages other than English (including all languages other than English and American Sign Language).
Language courses (including American Sign Language) other than English taken in high school may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. One year of high school language equates to one semester of college work. Proficiency tests approved by the Languages faculty may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some two-course (minimum 6 credits) combination of:
- Courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
- Any study abroad course(s).
Students who graduate secondary school in a country other than the U.S. are exempt from this requirement.
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement to obtain deeper experience across our three substantive divisions.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 9 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must include a laboratory or fieldwork experience.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Students should contact their major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete, in residence at UWM, at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses taken at UWM.
Major Requirements
The program welcomes prospective majors who have maintained a minimum 2.0 GPA in their language and literature courses. Prospective majors can declare the major online and then meet with the Comparative Literature coordinator, either in person or online. Students are assigned a Comparative Literature advisor in their primary areas of interest. The advisor helps students design plans of study tailored to their particular interests, academic goals, and professional aspirations.
Comparative literature majors are encouraged to take additional literature courses offered in languages other than English when possible. They also are encouraged to take additional courses outside of the program in the analysis of literature and other arts. In many cases, these courses may be counted toward the comparative literature major.
All CompLit courses and approved electives that a student takes will count in calculating the major GPA. The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
The department offers two options for the major. Both major options require that, in their senior year, students complete a research project that focuses on major theoretical and critical trends in comparative literature. Students may fulfill this requirement by completing completing GLOBAL 550 with a research project on a comparative literature topic, or with a substitution approved by the Comparative Literature coordinator.
Credit Requirements
A total of 36 credits is required for the major, including COMPLIT 207 and COMPLIT 208 and at least 24 credits at the advanced level (numbered 300 and above). At least 15 of the advanced credits must be taken in residence at UWM. Students may count toward the major up to 6 credits in the following selected in consultation with their advisor. Students will take 15 credits in Core and Foundation courses and 21 credits in either Option A or Option B for a total of 36.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core and Foundation Courses | ||
| COMPLIT 207 | Global Literature from Antiquity to the 1600s: | 3 |
| COMPLIT 208 | Global Literature from the 17th Century to the Present: | 3 |
| GLOBAL 550 | Advanced Seminar in Global Studies: 1 | 3 |
| Select 6 credits of lower level courses from the list below | 6 | |
| Contemporary Imagination in Literature and the Arts | ||
| Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century: | ||
| Literature and Society: | ||
| Literature and Religion: | ||
| Literature and Politics: | ||
| Literature and Film: | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
To fulfill the Research Requirement in the College of Letters and Science in Comparative Literature, most students should take GLOBAL 550 and complete a research project on a comparative literature topic. The Research Requirement may also be met with a substitution approved by the Comparative Literature coordinator.
Option A
This option is recommended particularly for students who intend to pursue graduate work in comparative literature. Option A students must complete the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Select 9-12 credits in CompLit courses numbered 300 and above 1 | 9-12 | |
| Select 9-12 credits in advanced literature courses (numbered 300 and above) offered in a foreign language | 9-12 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
If student takes 9 credits in COMPLIT, then the student must take 12 credits of advanced literature course. If the student takes 9 credits of advanced literature courses, then the student must take 12 credits of COMPLIT courses.
Option B
This option is offered for students with little if any training in a foreign language. Though such work normally is not considered as suitable preparation for graduate work in comparative literature, Option B offers training that is useful and applicable in many academic and professional fields. Option B students must complete the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Select 12 additional credits in CompLit courses numbered 300 and above | 12 | |
| Select 9 credits in advanced courses (300 and above) in the analysis of literature or the other arts 2 | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 2
Advanced courses (300 and above) in the analysis of literature or the other arts offered by CompLit or by other related departments and programs, with the approval of the CompLit advisor. This includes literature-in-translation courses offered by foreign language programs as well as courses in Art History, English, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, or other disciplines that have as their focus the study of literature and/or the other arts
Comparative Literature Advising
Students select a departmental advisor from Comparative Literature faculty and staff upon declaring a major or minor in Comparative Literature. Departmental advisors work closely with students to develop an individual course of study that will both match their interests and fulfill program requirements
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.