Comparative Literary Studies
201 St. Patrick's Building
Telephone: 613-520-2177
Fax: 613-520-2564
carleton.ca/icslac
The Institute
Director of the Institute: Paul Théberge
The Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art,
and Culture offers a program of graduate study leading to the
Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative Literary Studies.
The purpose of the program in comparative literature is to
study literature in its international context, and to relate
and compare literary phenomena usually studied in isolation
because of linguistic barriers and the traditional departmental
division of academic disciplines. Thus, taking into account the
interrelation of all humanistic studies, such as the various
literatures, philosophy, psychology, sociology, the visual
arts, and history, comparatists view literary creation within
the total complex evolution of world literature. The historical
flow of literary archetypes, the role of folklore and myth in
literature, recurrent problems of literary theory, and
consideration of the less well known literatures of the world
are some of the objects of comparative literary studies.
Doctor of Philosophy
Admission Requirements
Please note: admission to the Ph.D. program in
Comparative Literary Studies has been suspended.
The normal requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program is
an M.A. degree in literary studies (or in related subjects
approved by Comparative Literary Studies) with at least high
honours standing, normally with no grade below B-.
Each applicant must supply proof, by means of a research
effort that has resulted in an extensive essay, that he or she
is capable of producing a publishable paper. Such proof will be
submitted at the time of application to the program.
Students admitted into the program with a master's degree
earned in another department or institution will be required to
make up any deficiencies in course work as required by
Comparative Literary Studies.
In exceptional cases, an outstanding student who has
completed the B.A. Honours degree and who meets the language
requirements outlined below, may be admitted directly to the
doctoral program. The program requirement for these students is
normally 15.0 credits.
A student who transfers from the master's program in
Comparative Literary Studies must meet the language
requirements on admission and those listed under program
requirements.
Applicants must demonstrate a capacity to work at the
graduate level in at least two languages other than English.
The two languages must be approved by Comparative Literary
Studies. Normally, one of the two languages must be French.
Applicants must also be proficient in English. Students whose
native tongue is not English may be required to pass the TOEFL
test with a minimum score of 600.
Program Requirements
- 3.0 credits at the 6000-level to be chosen from courses
offered by the discipline. (0.5 credit may be at the
5000-level.)
- 0.5 credit at either the 5000- or 6000-level in the
social sciences to be approved by the graduate
adviser.
- 0.5 credit at the 6000-level outside the area of
specialization of the student to be chosen from the courses
offered by the discipline.
- A 1.0-credit comprehensive examination, both oral and
written parts to be taken prior to the approval of the
Ph.D. thesis prospectus.
- A thesis equivalent to 5.0 credits.
Comprehensive Examinations
The comprehensive examination is designed to test the
candidate's competence both in comparative literary theory and
in the chosen area of specialization. The comprehensive
examination is to be completed after course requirements for
the Ph.D. have been completed.
Students admitted to the program who have a master's degree
in the area of literary studies (or in related subjects
approved by Comparative Literary Studies) must normally satisfy
the comprehensive examination requirement by the end of the
third term in the program.
Those students either admitted directly into the program
from the B.A. Honours program or transferring from the master's
to the doctoral program must satisfy the comprehensive
examination requirement no later than the end of the third year
or ninth term of study.
Normally the comprehensive examination must be completed no
later than four years or twelve terms after the initial
part-time registration following the M.A. (or equivalent).
Students admitted directly from the B.A. Honours program or
transferring from the master's to the doctoral program must
earn 15.0 credits beyond the B.A. honours and most of the
master's program in Comparative Literary Studies, with the
exception of the comprehensive examination which may be
replaced by course work equivalent to 1.0 credit.
Thesis
The Institute appoints a thesis supervisor and an advisory
committee for each doctoral candidate. A minimum of two faculty
members will constitute the thesis advisory committee and one
of the two members will be from outside Comparative Literary
Studies. Both the thesis supervisor and the advisory committee
determine when a thesis proposal may proceed to the graduate
committee of Comparative Literary Studies for approval.
Specialization Requirements
Each candidate must demonstrate competence in an area of
specialization chosen from the following list: postmodernism,
post-colonialism, feminism, gender and literature, the Hebrew
Bible, intellectual history, Latin American literature,
literary history, literary theory, literature and historical
studies, literature and linguistics, literature and religious
studies, literature of the Francophonie, literature written in
English, language and social sciences, medieval and early
renaissance Hispanic literature, modern theatre and dramatic
literature, nineteenth- and twentieth-century French
literature, nineteenth- and twentieth-century German
literature, nineteenth- and twentieth-century Italian
literature.
Candidates who enter the Ph.D. program with a master's
degree in a special area or discipline, and who wish to either
continue in that area or discipline or choose another
specialization in their doctoral program, will be tested in
their chosen area in the specialization portion of the
comprehensive examination.
Candidates admitted directly from a B.A. Honours program or
transferring from the master's to the doctoral program will be
required to take the equivalent of 3.0 credits in the area of
specialization, and will be tested in this area in the
specialization portion of their comprehensive examination.
Language Requirement
Doctoral students must acquire a reading knowledge in a
third language, to be approved by Comparative Literary Studies,
before beginning the comprehensive examination. Candidates must
successfully complete either 0.5 credit at the master's level
in the literature(s) of that language (extra-to-the-degree) or
a reading proficiency test administered by Comparative Literary
Studies.
Academic Standing
All candidates are required to maintain a GPA of B-.
Of the 10.0 credits required beyond the master's level, no
more than 1.0 credit may be at the 5000-level.
Guidelines for Completion of Doctoral Degree
Students admitted with a B.A. (Honours) degree and
registered full-time must normally complete the comprehensive
examination requirement by the end of the third year or ninth
term of full-time study. The thesis proposal must normally be
presented after three and one-half years or ten terms of
study.
Students admitted with a master's degree and registered
full-time must normally complete the comprehensive examination
requirement by the end of the third term of study. The thesis
proposal must normally be presented no later than the fourth
term of study.
Students admitted with a B.A. (Honours) degree and
registered part-time must normally complete the comprehensive
examination requirement by the end of the ninth year or after
twenty-seven terms of study after their initial part-time
registration. The thesis proposal must normally be presented no
later than ten years or thirty terms of study following the
initial part-time registration.
Students admitted with a master's degree and registered
part-time must normally complete the comprehensive examination
requirement by the end of the fourth year or after twelve terms
of study after the initial part-time registration. The thesis
proposal must normally be presented no later than five years or
fifteen terms of study after the initial part-time
registration.
Graduate Courses
Not all of the following courses are offered in a given
year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings and to
determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at:
central.carleton.ca
A prerequisite for all graduate-level courses is appropriate
linguistic ability and approval of Comparative Literary
Studies.
A student will not receive credit for both a 0.5 credit
course and a 1.0 credit course which bears the same topic
title.
- CLST 6001 [0.5 credit]
- Doctoral Seminar I: Literature and Other
Discourses
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6002 [0.5 credit]
- Doctoral Seminar II: Literature and Other
Discourses
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6003 [0.5 credit]
- Modernism
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6004 [0.5 credit]
- Postmodernism
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6100 [0.5 credit]
- Narrative and Non-Fiction
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6200 [0.5 credit]
- Literary History
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6205 [0.5 credit]
- Hermeneutics and Aesthetic Experiences of
Literature
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6300 [0.5 credit]
- Text Theory
- Topic may vary from year to year. (Also listed as ENGL
5000.)
- Prerequisite: permission of Comparative Literary
Studies.
- CLST 6305 [0.5 credit]
- Translation Studies: Theory and Practice
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6400 [0.5 credit]
- Gender and Literature
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6500 [0.5 credit]
- Rhetoric and Literature
- Topic may vary from year to year.
- Prerequisite: permission of Comparative Literary
Studies.
- CLST 6505 [0.5 credit]
- Iconicity and Medieval and Early Renaissance
Literature
- Topic may vary from year to year.
- Prerequisite: permission of Comparative Literary
Studies.
- CLST 6600 [0.5 credit]
- Sign, Language and Society
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6803 [0.5 credit]
- Seminar in Comparative Literary Studies
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6804 [0.5 credit]
- Seminar in Comparative Literary Studies
- Topic may vary from year to year. Students should
consult Comparative Literary Studies regarding the topic
offered.
- CLST 6903 [1.0 credit]
- Comprehensives
- CLST 6909
- Ph.D. Thesis
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