Comparative Literature and Thought at WashU
As a student of Comparative Literature and Thought, you will explore the interrelations of literature, philosophy, history, media, and the arts across national, cultural, and linguistic borders. Interdisciplinary and comparative coursework will foster your skills as a critical reader, thinker, and writer, as you engage with major contributions to the global history of human thought and creative expression. Your teachers and peers in Comparative Literature and Thought are especially interested in how these areas of human activity come to inform one another; you will find yourself confronting questions, for example, about the relations between art and politics, or the role played by old and new media in our evolving conceptions of society. You will also be encouraged to think about the transmission, reception, adaptation, and—sometimes — misappropriation of ideas and artistic forms in a range of cultural and historical contexts. Because the ability to engage with intellectual and cultural achievements in their original forms is important for comparative work, we require at least three semesters of second-language study or the equivalent, and we encourage all majors to study a second language and literature at an advanced level. At the same time, we also embrace the study of works in translation, which provokes cross-cultural comparisons and helps prepare students for a multilingual, pluralistic cultural citizenship. Two major programs of study are offered: the Major in Comparative Literature and Thought and the CLT Major with a specialization in Comparative Arts. Comparative Literature and Thought also administers minors in Legal Studies, Data Science in the Humanities (DASH), Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Translation Studies.
A Major in Comparative Literature and Thought Offers Many Possibilities
Our majors find internships and build meaningful careers in the United States and abroad, where they conduct research, translate, write, edit, collaborate, and teach for organizations in both the public and private sectors. Many recent graduates have gone on to pursue advanced degrees, whereas others have found positions in environmental policy, arts and entertainment, data analytics, education, and public health as well as in other fields.
Majors in Comparative Literature and Thought are exceptionally well suited to enter degree programs in professional fields including Journalism, Law, Librarianship, and Business. Majors can also pursue graduate degrees in literature, history, philosophy, media studies, information science, gender studies, or related fields in preparation for a career in teaching and research at a college or university. Many students pursuing careers centered in STEM disciplines will find a minor or second major in Comparative Literature and Thought, Data Science in the Humanities, or Translation Studies especially enriching intellectual supplements to their primary course of study.
