BA in Comparative Literature in Boston United States | Boston University

Students majoring in Comparative Literature develop skills in reading literary works in foreign languages while studying how genres and texts evolve across linguistic, geographical, and temporal boundaries. They examine literature's relationship with history, philosophy, political thought, and critical theory, while investigating its connections to other cultural expressions including cinema, theater, visual arts, music, and digital media.

Similar to other World Languages & Literatures (WLL) programs, Comparative Literature students typically start with CAS XL 100 Leaving Home: Explorations in World Literature. This collaborative course features rotating faculty lectures and introduces students to the vast array of global literary traditions. The 200-level courses (CAS XL 222, XL 223, XL 224, and XL 225) provide foundations in Western, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and South Asian literary traditions. Majors complete at least two of these courses, gaining comparative insights into worldwide literary diversity.

Program Outcomes
Develop articulate, thoughtful, and analytical writing about literature.
Demonstrate substantive understanding of literary traditions from two or more regions: Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, or South Asia.
Achieve functional proficiency in a non-English language suitable for scholarly work (minimum ACTFL intermediate-low oral proficiency or equivalent writing skills).
Capability to critically examine and interpret literary and filmic texts in multiple languages.
Skill in comparative textual analysis, understanding how works respond to their cultural and historical contexts, and tracking the migration of literary forms across periods and languages through translation and adaptation.