Major in Comparative Literature and Thought
Total units required: 27.5-48.5
Required Courses (27-36 units):
Humanities Core Courses (12 units): All Comparative Literature and Thought (CLT) majors will take two core (one required) courses in "Literature and Arts" and two core courses in "Thought."
Upper-Level Courses (15-24 units): All CLT majors will complete at least eight upper-level CLT courses (24 units) at the 300-/3000-level or above. Up to three 300-/3000-level Humanities Core Courses taken to satisfy the 12-unit core requirement above can count toward the eight-course upper-level requirement.
Capstone (0.5 units or honors program): All CLT majors will complete a CLT capstone project (unless CLT is not their primary major).
Language Study (3-12 units): All CLT majors will pursue second language study. Up to 6 units of foreign language courses focused on literature or intellectual culture may be counted toward the required 24 units of upper-level courses.
Major in Comparative Literature and Thought, Comparative Arts Specialization
Total units required: 30-50.5
Required Courses (27-36 units):
Humanities Core Courses (12 units): All Comparative Literature and Thought (CLT), Comparative Arts (CA) Specialization majors will take two required core courses in "Literature and Arts" and two core courses in "Thought."
Upper-Level Courses (15-24 units): All CA specialization majors will complete at least eight upper-level CLT courses (24 units) at the 300-/3000-level or above, including one course with the HTH attribute. Up to three 300-/3000-level Humanities Core Courses taken to satisfy the 12-unit core requirement above can count toward the eight-course upper-level requirement.
Capstone (0.5 units or honors program): All CA specialization majors will complete a CA or CLT capstone project (unless CA or CLT is not their primary major).
Applied Art and Language Study (3-14 units): All CA specialization majors will pursue applied arts credits and, if necessary, language study. Up to 6 units of foreign language courses focused on literature or intellectual culture may be counted toward the required 24 units of upper-level courses.
A student pursuing the Comparative Literature and Thought Major, Comparative Arts Specialization, will adapt the Comparative Literature and Thought Major as follows:
- Students will select Comp Lit 313E Introduction to Comparative Arts (3 units) as one of the four courses from the Humanities Core. As an alternative, they may substitute a first-year program or Ampersand seminar in Comparative Arts.
- Upper-level courses for the major must include one course in the history or theory of a non-literary art practice (HTH course attribute). If such courses are not cross-listed in CLT, students may enroll with the permission of their CLT advisor and the CLT Director of Undergraduate Studies.
- Students must complete at least two semesters of applied arts courses for a minimum of 3 units.
Minor in Comparative Literature and Thought
Total units required: 15
CLT minors are required to take four courses from the Humanities Core, two from the Literature and Arts category (including one required course[??]) and two from the Thought category. In addition, CLT minors must take a fifth elective course from the CLT offerings.
Comparative Literature and Thought also administers minors in Legal Studies, Data Science in the Humanities (DASH), Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Translation Studies.
For legacy majors and minors (IPH; Text and Traditions, Comp Lit, Comp Arts) who entered Washington University during academic year 2023-24
Please refer to this edition of the undergraduate bulletin to review academic requirements.