Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies

Susanne Baackmann, Coordinator
Ortega Hall 349C, 277-3206, theodor@unm.edu

Advisory Committee:
Gary Harrison, English
Kimberle López, Spanish and Portuguese
Carmen Nocentelli, English and Foreign Languages and Literatures

Additional Participating Faculty:
Eleni Bastea, Architecture and Planning
Stephen Bishop, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Lorna Brau, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Beverly Burris, Sociology
Pamela Cheek, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Monica S. Cyrino, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Susan Dever, Media Arts
Les Field, Anthropology
Lorenzo F. Garcia, Jr., Foreign Languages and Literatures
Elizabeth Hutchison, History
Natasha Kolchevska, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Alex Lubin, American Studies
Walter Putnam, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Katrin Schroeter, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Hector Torres, English
Carolyn Woodward, English

Undergraduate Program

Major Study Requirements

Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary major with concentrations in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature. Students complete 30 credits of course work. The Introduction to World Cultures and Critical Theory (9 credits) provides students with a survey of world literatures and cultures and introduces them to analyzing cultural productions through critical and cultural theory. The Cultures and Literatures (9 credits) component of the major broadens a student’s awareness of the diversity of cultural productions around the world. The Concentration (12 credits) offers the opportunity to pursue an individualized interdisciplinary program of study by taking courses chosen in consultation with the coordinator. Students may choose to write an honors essay as the capstone to their work. Because this is an interdisciplinary program offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures in conjunction with affiliated departments, students will need to work closely with the coordinator in order to construct an appropriate program of study. Courses not listed below may sometimes be taken, subject to approval of program coordinator.

I. The Introduction to World Cultures and Critical Theory–9 credits

ENGL 250 and 6 credits from the following courses: COMP 223, COMP 224, ENGL 292, and ENGL 293

II. Cultures and Literatures–9 credits

Literature, culture and theory courses at the 300-level or above offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and programs and departments affiliated with the Program in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies. These courses must broaden a student’s knowledge of the forms of representation and cultural production that emerge from specific historical periods and places.

III. The Concentration–12 credits

Students choose a concentration in either Cultural Studies or Comparative Literature.

A. The Cultural Studies Concentration:
Courses chosen in this concentration normally focus on critical and cultural theory and provide students with tools for analyzing literary and cultural problems while broadening their knowledge of world cultures and forms of representation in different media.
–or–
B. The Comparative Literature Concentration: Courses chosen in this concentration are divided between literatures in two different languages (one of which may be English or American Literature). Courses may include studies in theory, history, film and the arts, as well as in literary texts.

Second Major Study Requirements

Students complete 27 credits of course work, as described below. For specific courses in categories II and III, see corresponding categories in the major.

I. 9 credits from the following courses: COMP 223, COMP 224, ENGL 292, and ENGL 293.
II. 6 credits in literature, culture and theory courses.
III. 12 credits in cultural studies or comparative literature.

Minor Study Requirements

Students complete 21 credits of course work, as described below. For specific courses in category III, see category III in the major.

I. 6 credits from the following courses: COMP 223, COMP 224, ENGL 292, and ENGL 293.
II. 6 credits taken in the following courses: COMP 330 – 340, 432, 480.
III. 9 credits in cultural studies or comparative literature, as described above.

Graduate Program

Graduate M.A. Program

Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary M.A. program administered by the coordinator and the Advisory Committee (see above).

The Master of Arts is offered as an interdepartmental program that may be completed by fulfilling requirements under Plan I or Plan II. Students following Plan I will take 25 credits of graduate course work and additional 6 credits of thesis work. Students following Plan II will take 34 credits of graduate course work. Students following Plan I or Plan II will complete Foreign Languages and Literatures examination requirements for the degree by their final semester of study. The requirement for second-language proficiency for students in the Cultural Studies Concentration may be satisfied after a student has been admitted to the program by taking a four-semester language sequence, or by passing a proficiency examination or proof of equivalent knowledge acquired elsewhere. Students in the Comparative Literature Concentration are expected to be proficient in two languages, one of which can be English. In addition, M.A. candidates must demonstrate proficiency in a third language through a four-semester sequence of course work, a proficiency examination, or proof of equivalent knowledge acquired elsewhere. Because this is an interdisciplinary program offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures in conjunction with affiliated departments and programs, students must work closely with a CL/CS coordinator to construct an appropriate plan of study. The coordinator will determine which courses outside of Foreign Languages and Literatures may be applied to the M.A. degree in consultation with a student’s committee on studies. Only 3 credits of problems courses may be counted toward the M.A. under Plan I and only 6 credits under Plan II.

I. The Core (7 credits)

COMP 500; MLNG 501 (1 credit); one course in theory and criticism: COMP 580, FREN 520, 580, 582, 610, 611; GRMN 555; ENGL 510, 511, 590; AMST 516, 517, 518, 525, 535, 545, 554, 555; CJ 500, 501; ANTH 536, 547; SOC 500, 512, 513, 514.

–plus–

II. The Concentration:

A. The Comparative Literature Concentration–Plan I (18 credits + 6 thesis credits of COMP 599); Plan II (27 credits)

Students will split these credits evenly between literatures from two different languages (one of which may be a literature in English): FREN 501, 502, 512, 520, 522, 524, 532, 542, 552, 570, 580, 582, 584, 585, 586, 588, 600, 610, 611; GRMN 549, 550, 552, 553, 555, 556, 581, 585; GREK 301, 302; LATN 303, 304, 351, 352, 503; PORT 514, 515, 516, 517, 521, 557, 558; SPAN 504, 515, 519, 520, 522, 523, 525, 526, 529, 629, 531, 532, 536, 631, 633, 639, 578, 579, 679; ENGL 545, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 568, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 586, 587; AMST 508, 540, 541, 542, 550, 552, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 562, 563, 564, 565.

–or–

B. The Cultural Studies Concentration–Plan I (18 credits + 6 thesis credits of COMP 599); Plan II (27 credits)

Students will take half of these credits in cultural criticism and theory: COMP 580, FREN 520, 580, 582, 610, 611; GRMN 555; ENGL 510, 511, 590; AMST 516, 517, 518, 525, 535, 545, 554, 555; CJ 500. 501; ANTH 536, 547; SOC 500, 512, 513, 514. They will take a second half in an interdisciplinary field defined with advisement from the committee on studies drawing on courses above the 500-level in American Studies, Anthropology, History, Fine Arts, Communications and Journalism, Political Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, Law, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Spanish and Portuguese, English, and Media Arts.

–or–

C. The Classics Concentration–Plan I (18 credits + 6 thesis credits of COMP 599); Plan II (27 credits)

Students under Plan I will take 12 credits in either Greek or Latin above the 300-level. They will take 6 credits in courses about the classical world and its legacy or 6 credits in theory and criticism. Students under Plan II will take 15 credits in either Greek or Latin above the 300-level and 12 credits in courses about the classical world and its legacy or 12 credits in courses on theory and criticism. For Greek and Latin above the 300-level: GREK 301, 302; LATN 303, 304, 352, 503. For the classical world and its legacy: HIST 501, 502, 503, 504, 528, 520, 526; ENGL 551; ARTH 561, 567, ARCH 541; PHIL *402, *403, *431, 504, 564. For theory and criticism: COMP 580, FREN 520, 580, 582, 610, 611; GRMN 555; ENGL 510, 511, 590; AMST 516, 517, 518, 525, 535, 545, 554, 555; CJ 500. 501; ANTH 536, 547; SOC 500, 512, 513, 514.

Graduate Minor

The Program offers a graduate minor in comparative literature and cultural studies. Students may choose to focus their studies in one of three areas: comparative literature, cultural studies or classics. Proficiency in a foreign language must be demonstrated by taking the first two semesters of a language sequence or by passing a proficiency examination.

Requirements: 18 credits

I. Three hours COMP 500.

II. Fifteen hours of courses in one of the following areas of focus:

A. Comparative Literature: Fifteen credits, 9 of which must be in a literature in a language other than English (see above). No more than 3 of these credits may be in a foreign literature course taught in translation.

B. Cultural Studies: 9 credits of courses in theory and criticism (see above) and 6 credits in an interdisciplinary field defined in consultation with the coordinator (see above).

C. Classics: 9 credits in either Greek or Latin above the 300-level (see above) and 6 credits in courses about the classical world and its legacy or 6 credits in courses on theory and criticism (see above).

Keys and Symbols Reference