Graduate

(Above image: Mario Vargas Llosa. Faculty expert, Efrain Kristal)

The Department of Comparative Literature offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Comparative Literature. The department only admits students with the objective of the Ph.D. degree.

PH.D. IN COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Standing at the forefront of innovative work in literary, theoretical, and cultural studies, comparative literature is one of the most exciting fields in the humanities. As a discipline it requires exceptional linguistic ability, theoretical knowledge, and high intellectual caliber. UCLA’s program offers students the opportunity to work with faculty members in any of the University’s language and literature departments as well as with the Department of Comparative Literature faculty.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Comparative Literature at UCLA is interdisciplinary and multilingual in scope. The Department is committed to continuing its pioneering work in defining new literary paradigms and fostering new directions for exploration in literary studies, including such areas as:

• The relationship between translation and transnationalism
• Literary theory and emerging media
• The future of national literatures in an era of globalization, gender and sexuality studies
• East-West cultural encounters
• Human rights and global censorship
• Postcolonial and diaspora studies
• Experimental approaches to literature and culture

COURSES

Courses are designed to provide Ph.D. students with both a historical and theoretical understanding of literary and cultural forms, themes, and movements. For a complete list of offerings visit the Courses page.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Students in the Ph.D. in Comparative Literature program have the opportunity to serve as Teaching Apprentices after their first year of doctoral study. Teaching apprenticeships are awarded on the basis of merit.