SECTION 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION
I. The Program
The CUNY Comparative Literature Program offers training, leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, in the theory of literature, in methods and history of theory and criticism, in the comparative analysis of texts, in rhetoric, and in the theory and practice of translation. The Program stresses comparative relations among the major and classic European literatures: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Ancient Greek, and Latin, as well as Arabic, Catalan, Hebrew, Polish, Portuguese, Provencal, and Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian. Interdisciplinary studies are encouraged in literature, film, and the arts. Cooperation with the Theatre, Music, and Art History Programs, and with such interdisciplinary programs as Medieval Studies, Women's Studies, Cultural Studies, and Renaissance Studies, is an important part of our curriculum. The Program offers students and faculty frequent opportunities for arranging and participating in colloquia on themes and problems of contemporary critical interest.
A. Resources for Training and Research Students in the Program frequently have opportunity to teach undergraduate courses as Adjunct Lecturers in the various colleges of the City University, and according to the regulations of the University are given preference for such positions.
B. Special Requirements for Admission In addition to the general University requirements stated in the GSUC Bulletin, applicants for admission are required to have received a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following subjects: Comparative Literature; English; a modern foreign language (e.g., French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish) or a Classical language acceptable to the admissions committee; philosophy; history; or in other fields acceptable to the Admissions and Awards Committee.
In addition, the applicant should have a superior record in undergraduate courses in literature. An applicant who has an M.A. degree in a single literature and who meets the other special requirements may also be eligible for admission.
Applicants must possess linguistic and literary preparation sufficient to qualify for admission to graduate courses in a foreign literature of their choice. They are also required to have a reading knowledge of an approved second foreign language, which should permit them to read literature in this language with ease. This knowledge of a second foreign language may be tested by a written examination. An applicant presenting only one foreign language may be admitted to matriculation conditionally. Any conditions must be satisfied, normally through examination, before the completion of 15 credits.
Applicants for the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature with a specialization in Classics are required to have a knowledge of Classical Greek and Latin. Applicants who have not studied one of the Classical languages are advised to investigate the Summer Latin/Greek Institute at the Graduate Center.
Applicants for the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature with a specialization in German are required to have a knowledge of German.
Applicants for a Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature with a specialization in Italian are required to have a knowledge of Italian.
Applicants are required to take only the verbal and quantitative aptitude tests of the Graduate Record Examination. No advanced test in a subject area is required. The Graduate Record Examination may be waived for international students.
Students admitted as candidates for the M.A. who want to apply for the Ph.D. must finish all degree requirements for the M.A. before applying for admission as candidates for the Ph.D. An exception to this rule may be made in the case of exceptionally well-qualified students, as judged by the Admissions and Awards Committee.
The Admissions and Awards Committee will look for further evidence beyond the information in the admissions folders, especially written work done by applicants, when the committee feels it is appropriate.
Nonmatriculated Students
A nonmatriculated student will be permitted to take no more than two courses in the Program.
A nonmatriculated student will not be considered for admission into the Program until he or she has satisfactorily completed the requirements for two courses in the Program.
The CUNY doctoral faculty consists of professors from The Graduate School and many of the senior colleges of the City University. The faculty's specializations cover the Program's major fields of concentration in all European languages and literatures and major areas of culture and theory.
Through the Executive Committee, the faculty sets Program policy within the Bylaws of the Graduate School and of the University. The Executive Committee is composed of the Executive Officer and the Deputy Executive Officer ex officio, three elected faculty members, and three elected student representatives. The faculty members are elected by the entire doctoral faculty for three-year terms coterminous with the term of the Executive Officer (who is appointed by the President of the Graduate School). Student members are elected by the students for one-year terms. Other standing and ad hoc committees report to the Executive Committee. There are student members on most Program committees, and students participate in the revision of the Handbook, Reading List, and degree requirements. All students are invited to a joint meeting with the Executive Committee at the beginning of each semester.
The faculty has responsibility through members on the standing committees of the Program to establish policies for the Program. The faculty may make direct recommendations to the Graduate Council with respect to curriculum, and to the administration with respect to all matters that affect the Program.
The Program faculty meets at least once a year, at which time the faculty receives a report from the Executive Committee. A quorum consists of 25 persons or 50 per cent of the faculty, whichever is smaller.
The students have responsibility through their representatives to the four standing committees of the Program to make known their views on the policies of the Program. The students may make direct recommendations to the Graduate Council and the administration on all matters that affect them. The students of the Program meet at least once a year with the Executive Committee.