Fields of Study
The World Literature MA program is an interdisciplinary field drawing on the belief that literature and arts must be in permanent dialogue. Therefore apart from literature, the Program includes courses that investigate visual arts, film, music, all examined within the same interdisciplinary perspective in which culture history and aesthetic history necessarily coexist.
Along with the Department of Classics that hosts the Program, WLIT is associated with other departments of the College of Arts and Sciences like Cognitive Science, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, History and Religion.
Admission Requirements
Special Admission Requirements
A student wishing to participate in this program is expected to establish a firm grounding in the methods and core material of both World Literature and another discipline. One should familiarize themselves not only with the World Literature requirements but also with those of another graduate program or department. Applicants must be admitted by both the World Literature Program and the other deparment, and a candidate is advised to contact make sure that all the materials they submit clearly addresses the requirements of both programs.
Once accepted, the candidate is advised to coordinate a plan of study that demonstrates both comprehensive knowledge of the fields and an area of specialization shared between the disciplines. A proposed research plan must be submitted to the Faculty Senate for approval of the interdisciplinary degree. Through course work and the thesis defense, the candidate is expected to connect study of literature with material and methods from the participating discipline. Directors of graduate studies from both programs monitor the candidate’s plans and progress.
In the past we have had participating diciplines from:
Cognitive Linguisitics: "Cognitive Approaches to Worlds Literature" -- 15 credit hours [Cognitive Linguisitics]; 12 credit hours [World Literature]; 12 credit hours thesis [split between both disciplines]
Philosophy: "Aesthetic Approaches to World Literature" -- 12 credit hours [World Literature]; 12 credit hours [Philosophy]; 9 credit hours thesis [split between both disciplines]
How to Apply:
The application for the World Literature MA Program is administered by the Office of Graduate Admissions. All applications are to be completed online and can be accessed by visiting: www.gradstudies.case.edu/prospect/admissions/apply.html.