Master of Arts Degree Program

Two types of M.A. degrees are offered in Comparative Literature:  The M.A. in Comparative Literature and the M.A. in Translation Studies framed within a comparatist perspective.

Program of Study

A minimum of 33 credit hours is required in all cases, distributed as follows: 6 thesis or project credits, 6 graduate credits in a major literature, 6 credits in a second literature, 3 credits in an elective, and 12 credits in Comparative Literature.  Students who are in the Translation track must take Comparative Literature 751 (Theory and Practice of Translation) and Comparative Literature 581 (Introduction to Interpreting and Translation: Research and Practice I).

Examinations

All candidates for the M.A. present a thesis/project defense of no more than two hours.  

Thesis or Project

The thesis is intended to demonstrate ability to formulate and explore a specific literary problem. In lieu of a thesis, the student may elect to complete a final project (such as a research project, a translation memory or database project, a subtitled film, a theatre translation, an intersemiotic translation, an interactive website in multiple languages, a multi-media project, a field study, or similar translation/interpreting-related project). A prospectus for the thesis or final project must be approved by the faculty supervisor and Graduate Program Director.