Graduate Program in Comparative Literature
Adopted November 30, 2016
The graduate program in Comparative Literature trains students at the highest level to think across linguistic and cultural borders and to consider theoretically the relationship of literary and related texts to other disciplines and media.
Learning Goal 1 for students: Attain marked ability, scholarship, research and leadership skills in comparative interdisciplinary literary, visual, and cultural studies.
Assessment of student achievement of Goal 1:
- Grades in graduate courses
- Qualifying examinations assessing depth and breadth of knowledge
- Review by faculty of student progress with close advising and mentoring
- Placement in positions and careers that require ability and scholarship in literary, linguistic, cultural and media studies from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective.
Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 1:
- Close advising to assure that students are being prepared in a coherent and academically rigorous fashion
- Effective monitoring of student progress
- Includes annual reports on research progress from both the student and the student’s committee chair
- Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of instructors in graduate courses
- If effectiveness is below expectations, work with instructors to improve effectiveness
- Periodic review of curricular offerings, degree requirements and assessment tools
- By program faculty
- In consultation with the office of the dean of the graduate school and/or the unit dean
Learning Goal 2 for students: Engage in and conduct original research
Assessment of student achievement of Goal 2:
- Preparation of and defense of Ph.D. dissertation proposal
- Assessment of quality of Ph.D. dissertation:
- Public defense of dissertation
- Critical reading of dissertation by committee of graduate faculty members and a committee member from outside of the Comparative Literature graduate program.
- Submission and acceptance of peer-reviewed articles and conference papers based on the dissertation
- Achievement of students as evidenced by professional placements, selection for conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and individual grant attainment
Role of the program in helping students achieve Goal 2:
- Provide early introduction to research methods and opportunities for research
- Provide opportunities to present research and receive feedback through presentations in graduate courses, student colloquia and in professional and academic conferences
- Maintain adequate funding levels through the research phase
- Provide comprehensive advising and assist in the identification of mentors
Learning Goal 3 for students: Prepare to be professionals in careers that require training at the highest levels in literary theory and the history of the field while introducing them to the methodologies of colonial and postcolonial studies, ethnic and critical race studies, cultural studies, film studies, gender studies, performance and media studies, philosophical thought, queer and trans studies, and translation studies.
Assessment of student achievement of Goal 3:
- Review evidence of papers presented, publications and professional networking
- Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of graduate student instructors
- Collection of placement data
- Review by external advisory committees, both inside of and external to the academy.
- Survey alumni/ae
Role of the program in helping students achieve Goal 3:
- Develop discipline-specific programs in concert with the Teaching Assistant Project and/or Carnegie Academy for Scholarship on Teaching and Learning programs
- Encourage enrollment in Introduction to College Teaching I and II
- Encourage participation in professional development programs in such areas as human subjects research, library use, course management software, interview skills, presentation skills, development of cvs, use of research tools, training in the responsible conduct of research, and proposal writing
- Host discipline-specific training when appropriate
- Teach students how to do assessments in their future professional capacities
- Provide flexible options for students with interdisciplinary interests related to comparative literary and cultural studies.
- Develop or enhance programs related to job and networking skills, including activity in professional societies and preparation for necessary certifications
- Acquaint students with non-academic career opportunities
The Comparative Literature graduate program will regularly review the structure and content of the curriculum and the feedback received from assessments and surveys. These reviews will be used to provide the best possible education to students in order to meet the needs for highly trained individuals in comparative interdisciplinary literary, media, and cultural studies.
