SECTION 2 - THE PROGRAM OF STUDY

III. The M.A. in Comparative Literature

For the M.A., students are required to take 30 credits in course work after the B.A. One course is required of all students in their first year of study:

1. CL 79500 Proseminar: Theory and Practice of Literary Scholarship and Criticism. A final examination is required in this course.

The 30 credits should normally be distributed in the following manner: (a) 15 credits in comparative literature; (b) 12 or more credits in individual national literatures, in courses offered in other literature programs at The Graduate School; at least 6 of these credits must be in a foreign literature; (c) 3 credits to be determined in consultation with the Executive Officer or advisor. The student must also pass two language exams.

The Comprehensive Examination for the M.A.

This is a four-hour written examination intended to test the student's familiarity with a wide range of literature and the ability to analyze individual works in their critical and historical context. The examination is given in two parts, concurrently with the First Examination for the Ph.D., at the beginning of each semester. The first part is given from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the second part from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The first part tests application of the skills and methods of literary study to individual works of major importance selected from the student's course work, as well as problems of theory and methodology in Comparative Literature as defined in Comparative Literature 79500. The second part tests the student's knowledge of basic works of the Western literary tradition as set forth in the Reading List. Each part of the examination normally consists of four essay questions to be selected from a somewhat larger number given to the student at the time of the examination. Each essay question will be graded separately, and the student must pass three out of four essay questions in order to pass one of the parts of the examination. The student will be given one opportunity to make up failed parts of the examination. Previous examinations may be consulted in the Program office.

The student should understand that the Comprehensive Examination is not a review of individual courses, but an examination in historical and artistic analysis and in the exercise of independent critical judgment.

The student must register for the examination by letter to the Executive Officer by no later than May 15 or December 15 the semester before the student plans to take the examination. The student is requested to consult with the Executive Officer as soon as possible after filing for the Comprehensive Examination.

Students in the master's program may, with the permission of the Executive Officer, substitute the First Examination of the Ph.D. program for the Comprehensive Examination.

In the case of failure of the M.A. Comprehensive Examination, the student is not required to retake those parts of the Examination graded as "Pass."

The M.A. Thesis

After passing the Comprehensive Examination, the student will be required to write a thesis on an approved subject. It may be directed by any member of the Comparative Literature doctoral faculty, subject to the written approval of the faculty member and the Executive Officer. The thesis must be approved by a faculty committee. A registration form is obtainable from the Executive Officer.

The M.A. thesis need not be written in English.