Comparative Literature Language Proficiency

The knowledge of languages other than English remains a fundamental tool of the comparatist. A profound knowledge of a language and its cultural context is as much an intellectual endeavor as the study of literary texts or acquisition of theoretical approaches. For this reason, our program requires the active spoken, written and reading mastery of one language other than English and advanced reading knowledge of two additional languages other than English, whether classical or modern. By a profound knowledge and active mastery we mean that a comparatist should be able to present a formal paper at an academic conference and engage in a discussion without difficulty in that language. This requirement may be met by filing the Primary Comparative Literature Language Proficiency Form after an interview with a Rutgers professor with the appropriate qualifications. In addition, primary texts on the PhD reading list must be read in the original language, unless this requirement is waived by the adviser with the approval of the Graduate Director.

The other two languages are considered reading and research languages. Students may satisfy the requirements for the second or third language through one of the following options: 

• Completing the Summer Reading Knowledge Course in the target language, as offered by the Language Center, with a minimum grade of A.

• Achieving a Pass on the Graduate Language Proficiency Exam administered by the Language Center.

Please request the Language Center (TLC) to send your grade to the Graduate Director, with cc: to Fatimah Fischer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

In addition, students may fulfill the second or third language requirements by completing one of the following courses with a minimum grade of B+. Students must also request the course instructor to complete the provided evaluation form: Secondary Comparative Literature Language Proficiency Form

• Graduate seminar in which primary texts are read in the target language.
• Advanced undergraduate course in which primary texts are read in the target language.
• Regular academic-year undergraduate course in reading knowledge in the target language.

Graduate students can advance their graduate training in a language other than English by doing one of the following:

• auditing an undergraduate language course (with authorization from the instructor);
• taking one of the courses offered at Rutgers for reading knowledge in the target language;
• taking a summer intensive language course offered at another school (our program usually provides funding for these courses through internal and external competitive funding cycles);
• taking an undergraduate-level course in the target language. Please note that the graduate school may not pay more than 3 credits for these courses. (Consult with the Graduate Director to learn what may be permitted in each case).

Please note that none of these courses replaces the requirement of passing a language exam, taking an upper-division undergraduate or graduate course in the target language, or submitting a completed a language proficiency form.