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Department of Comparative
and World Literature
San Francisco State University



Master of Arts in Comparative Literature
    
         
  The M.A. in Comparative Literature combines the objectives of graduate study in foreign languages and literatures with an emphasis on the intercultural and international aspects of literature. The goal of the program is to provide graduate training in subjects common to more than one national literature. Research work in the program is directed toward the problems of literary theory and analysis, genre studies, and literary history. Because of the benefits of reading literature in the original language, the M.A. program requires students to have sufficient proficiency in at least one foreign language to take graduate literature seminars in that language.

The M.A. in Comparative Literature is of particular value for students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in comparative literature or in a foreign language and literature, or who plan to teach literature at the K-12 or community college levels. Some upper-division courses in Comparative and World Literature or English (taken as part of the degree program electives) may apply to subject matter preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in English (Comparative Literature Emphasis). For information about the Teaching Credential, please consult the Credentials Office in the College of Education.

Admission to the M.A. Program in Comparative Literature

In order to be admitted to the M.A. program students must:
  • Have an undergraduate major in literature (English, world literature, comparative literature, or any foreign language and literature).
  • Have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in the undergraduate major.
  • Have sufficient proficiency in a foreign language taught at the graduate level at San Francisco State University so that the student can take graduate literature seminars in that language. (Normally, the minimal requisite proficiency is the equivalent of an undergraduate minor in the foreign language.)
  • Submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose and a formal writing sample of 8-10 pages to the Department of Comparative and World Literature.

    Students who have not met all of the requirements may be considered for admission to the program conditionally, with the consent of a graduate adviser. Any conditions of admission and the time limit for fulfilling the conditions are stated in writing when a student is accepted into the program. Failure to fulfill the conditions within the specified time limit can result in denial of permission to continue taking courses toward the M.A. degree. All conditions must be satisfied before the student submits a Graduate Approved Program (GAP) prior to graduation. For additional information about filing the GAP, please consult the University bulletin. A copy is available in the Department office
 
     
 

Program Requirements

Units

Core Requirements in Comparative Literature (12 units)
CWL 800 Introduction to Graduate Study 3
CWL 815 Topics in Critical Theory 3
CWL 820 Topics in Comparative Literature 3
CWL 825 Advanced Study in Comparative Literature 3

Foreign Literature Requirement (9 units)

Graduate seminars (courses numbered 700 and higher) in a single foreign literature 9
[Note: "Foreign Literature" means a literature and language other than the student's native language; e.g., a native speaker of Japanese must complete seminars in a literature other than Japanese.]

Program Electives (6 units)

Upper-division (courses numbered 300 and higher) or graduate courses in at least one literature other than that of the "foreign literature" requirement, e.g. foreign literatures, English, literature in translation, comparative literature, etc. (upon advisement) 6

Culminating Experience (3 units)
  CWL 896 Directed Reading in Comparative Literature and Comprehensive Oral Examination 3
CWL 896 Core MA Reading List
download pdf printable version
 
  OR      
  CWL 898 Master's Thesis and Prospectus 3    
 
 
Portfolio
All students must complete a portfolio in accordance with Department guidelines 		 
     
  Minimum Total Units for M.A. 30  
     
 

Comprehensive Oral Examination: Upon completion of course work, the student not writing a thesis must pass a comprehensive oral examination administered by a committee of at least two faculty members based on the current Departmental reading list and additional authors selected by the student as a Specialty Area, in consultation with the examination committee chairperson.

 
     
  Master's Thesis and Prospectus: A written and oral presentation of the thesis prospectus is required before the writing of the thesis. The student's committee of at least two faculty members must approve the prospectus before the student files the Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement with the Graduate Division.  
     
 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: satisfactory performance on substantial research paper presented in student's first departmental graduate seminar, as determined by instructor in consultation with Comparative Literature Graduate Committee. If any deficiency is found, student may be required to take remedial course work and to resubmit the research paper to the instructor and Committee.

Level Two: satisfactory completion of M.A. thesis OR seminar paper from final CWL seminar, if student chooses the oral examination as the culminating experience.

  
     
   
 
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