Specializations
Students who wish to lend more structure to their MALit experience can elect to complete a specialization. A specialization may be especially beneficial to educators, students who are thinking of going on to a PhD program, or anyone who wants to focus their literary study more precisely. Students complete four thematically linked courses for a specialization.
Please see the academic catalog for additional information regarding the curriculum. Current students should refer to curriculum requirements in place at time of entry into the program.
American Literature
Students enrolled in the American Literature specialization pursue a course of study focusing on American literary texts and other cultural artifacts. Students will deepen their understanding of the role of narrative and literary form in shaping the experiences and articulating the philosophical, political and social questions central to American history and culture.
British Literature
Students enrolled in the British Literature specialization pursue a course of study focusing on British literary texts and other cultural artifacts. Students will deepen their understanding of the role of narrative and literary form in shaping the experiences and articulating the philosophical, political and social questions central to British history and culture.
Comparative and World Literature
Students in the Comparative and World Literature specialization pursue a broadly interdisciplinary course of study focusing on the comparative analysis of literary texts and other cultural artifacts. Students will deepen their knowledge of the history of literary and narrative forms across a broad range of national literatures, cultures and historical periods, as well as exploring the complex relationship of literary works to politics, philosophy and the visual arts.
Film, Literature, and Visual Culture
Students enrolled in the Film, Literature, and Visual Studies specialization pursue a broadly interdisciplinary course of study focusing on the comparative analysis of film in its relationship to literature, as well as other visual media, across a broad range of national cultures and aesthetic traditions. Students will deepen their ability to interpret films and other works not only in light of the cultural and social conditions of their production, but also in their relationship to the history of literary genres and aesthetic forms.