Comparative Literature and Philosophy

Undergraduates may major in Comparative Literature with a special degree field in interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of literature and philosophy. Students in this track take courses alongside students from other departments that also have specialized tracks associated with the Initiative in Philosophical and Literary Thought. Each student in this track is assigned an adviser in Comparative Literature, and student schedules and course of study must be approved in writing by the adviser, the Director of Undergraduate Studies of Comparative Literature, and the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Initiative.

A total of 65 units must be completed for this track, including the following
requirements:
  • Five courses using materials in the original language and making up an intellectually coherent program in the literature of a language other than the student’s native tongue. Bilingual students may satisfy this requirement in either of their original languages or in a third language. The coherence of this program must be approved in writing by the Director of Undergraduate Studies of Comparative Literature.
  • Philosophy and Literature Gateway Course (4 units): COMPLIT 181 (enroll in PHIL 81, FRENGEN 181, OR ITALGEN 181). This course should be taken as early as possible in the student’s career, normally in the sophomore year.
  • Philosophy Writing in the Major (5 units): PHIL 80. Prerequisite: introductory philosophy class.
  • Aesthetics, Ethics, Political Philosophy (ca. 4 units): one course from the PHIL 170 series.
  • Language, Mind, Metaphysics, and Epistemology (ca. 4 units): one course from the PHIL 180 series.
  • History of Philosophy (ca. 8 units): two courses in the history of philosophy, numbered above PHIL 100.
  • Related Courses (ca. 8 units): two upper division courses relevant to the study of philosophy and literature as identified by the committee in charge of the initiative. A list of approved courses is available here.
  • One course, typically in translation, in a literature distant from that of the student’s concentration and offering an outside perspective on that literary tradition.
  • Capstone Seminar (ca. 4 units): in addition to COMPLIT 199, students take a capstone seminar of relevance to philosophy and literature approved by the undergraduate adviser of the initiative in philosophical and literary thought. The student’s choice of a capstone seminar must be approved in writing by the Director of Undergraduate Studies of Comparative Literature and by the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Initiative.
  • Seminar Paper Requirement: students must write at least one seminar paper that is interdisciplinary in nature. This paper brings together material from courses taken in philosophy and literature, and may be an honors paper (see below), an individual research paper (developed through independent work with a faculty member), or a paper integrating materials developed for two separate courses (by arrangement with the two instructors). Though it may draw on previous course work, the paper must be an original composition, 18-20 pages in length. It must be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies and receive approval no later than the end of Winter Quarter in the fourth year of study.
At least two of the courses counted toward requirements 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 must be taught by Comparative Literature faculty. Transfer units may not normally be used to satisfy requirements 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9. Units devoted to acquiring language proficiency are not counted toward the 65-unit requirement.

Download the application for Comparative Literature and Philosophy: PDF | Word



Russell Berman
berman@stanford.edu



site and graphic design ©2005 liquidelectric.org
logo icon