Comparative Lit vs. Traditional Lit Program

[dimanche0829]

I was talking to my professors about grad school recently, and several had mentioned the obvious negative outlook for traditional lit programs and overall competitiveness. They also mentioned, however, that comparative lit is a little less competitive and a job after graduation is more likely.

What are your thoughts on comparative lit. vs. traditional lit programs? Any of you torn between the two? I'm still in the process of figuring out where I'd like to end up, but am pretty dead set on the traditional route, despite its grim outlook.

[Timshel]

I've thought about this a lot myself, especially since most schools that do trauma studies, which is my primary area of interest, do it in their comp lit departments. However, I have no other language skills, and most programs require you to graduate with I think 2-3 other languages under your belt. I know a bit of French, so I could pick that one up, but I don't know about two more. The reason they mostly do that, too, is because you are, from what I understand, dealing with books from other countries, whereas I am interested specifically in American lit.

Does anyone have anything else to offer to this?

[ahembree]

I was once encouraged by a grad student to go the comparative route rather than traditional, and I have to admit that I am still toying with the idea. Nevertheless, I am afraid that my language preparation is not quite adequate. I double-majored in English/Italian, but it will have been two years since my last Italian class when I enter a program. I feel confident that I can get back into form fairly quickly, but I feel much less confident about any second foreign language. Most comp lit programs I have seen require two foreign languages, and the only other experience I have is with Latin in high school. As most of my interests are Renaissance forward, that wouldn't really lend itself to a dissertation. I would be all about delving into French or German, as both would be very useful for philosophy/critical theory, but I'm not sure applying with little/no expertise in a second language is advisable.

In summation, I guess I'm aiming for more of an English Ph.D. with a comparative focus. Some departments play very nicely with each other, so I'm not sure if I need to take the comparative plunge to meet my needs. If anyone has thoughts about the language requirement, though, I would love to hear them. I was also unaware that comp lit's prospects were much better job-wise.

[dimanche0829]

I was also unaware that comp lit's prospects were much better job-wise.

From what my profs told me, Comp Lit has a better outlook because it lends well to teach more courses that won't require a specialization. Many schools (Rutgers, my undergrad, being one) are looking to teach more courses that stray away from all the classics in an effort to gain popularity among students - both to recruit and to keep non-majors interested in participating. This semester, for example, they've added a course on comic books, which is a pretty big jump from their normal offerings.

Edited August 22, 2011 by dimanche0829

[runonsentence]

I'm not authoritative on this, but I've heard that comp lit programs prepare candidates well for comp lit programs (but they have trouble cross-marketing themselves to traditional lit programs). Something to consider, if it's true.

[Timshel]

I'm not authoritative on this, but I've heard that comp lit programs prepare candidates well for comp lit programs (but they have trouble cross-marketing themselves to traditional lit programs). Something to consider, if it's true.

So wait, what you're saying is that people with a comp lit degree may have a hard time finding a job in a traditional lit program? I know at my school where I got my masters many of the instructors got their degrees in comp lit, but that school also doesn't have a comp lit department.....

I know that when I was looking at Emory, in their comp lit department, they actually have a trauma studies track, which was tempting for me, but I was thinking it could be better to go the traditional lit program and just take classes in the comp lit department, which they allow......

[runonsentence]

Erm, on second thought, don't quote me on that...my info comes from browsing this past thread:

Edited August 22, 2011 by runonsentence

[Alephantiasis]

The language requirement depends on the school. In most cases, you should acquire proficiency in one foreign language and instrumental knowledge in one or two others. It's not as daunting as it sounds. Instrumental knowledge is easy to get and you'll only need to follow a graduate seminar in the language to meet the requirement (since most seminars are offered in English, it's not very challenging). By the time you get your PhD, you'll have many opportunities to go abroad and work on your main language.

All of my Comp Lit professors had a "day job" in another department. Getting a job depends on a variety of factors, such as your publications, your network, and so on, and so forth. You should not choose a focus or a program because you think that it may be easier to get a job. Instead, to get a job, pick a program in which you'll thrive.

[Timshel]

So would it be crazy for me to apply to Emory's Comp Lit program since they have a Trauma Studies track, which is my interest, even though my primary interest is still American Lit?

[bdon19]

So would it be crazy for me to apply to Emory's Comp Lit program since they have a Trauma Studies track, which is my interest, even though my primary interest is still American Lit?

Even if you don't necessarily have a number of interests that fall outside the realm of American lit, I think you've almost answered your own question here. How many other programs, if any, have a specific Trauma Studies track?? I know this is really your major area of interest, so I would say, go for it! I think you could make your SoP say a LOT tailored to that individual program.

Hopefully I wrote real sentences. I took the GRE this morning. My brain's decided to shut down.

[Timshel]

I guess I just thought comp lit programs were for people interested in literature of other countries.

[bdon19]

I guess I just thought comp lit programs were for people interested in literature of other countries.

Good point. I don't really know anything about comp lit. I probably shouldn't be posting anything right now. My brain is utterly failing me.

[Timshel]

I actually looked at their program and they are more interdisciplinary and theoretical, which could work for me. A LOT of their students are doing things similar to what I want to do....I wonder if I could apply to both their traditional lit and comp lit programs.

[dimanche0829]

Good point. I don't really know anything about comp lit. I probably shouldn't be posting anything right now. My brain is utterly failing me.

Yeah, taking the GRE has a funny way of turning your brain into mush! I'm sure you did great, though!

I actually looked at their program and they are more interdisciplinary and theoretical, which could work for me. A LOT of their students are doing things similar to what I want to do....I wonder if I could apply to both their traditional lit and comp lit programs.

Interesting, I've never thought about the possibility of applying to both programs. Most of the schools I'm applying to treat them as separate departments, so I imagine you'd be able to apply to both, but that's just a guess. Hmmm, anyone out there have any insight on this?

[bdon19]

Yeah, taking the GRE has a funny way of turning your brain into mush! I'm sure you did great, though!

Interesting, I've never thought about the possibility of applying to both programs. Most of the schools I'm applying to treat them as separate departments, so I imagine you'd be able to apply to both, but that's just a guess. Hmmm, anyone out there have any insight on this?

Thanks, dimanche! I won't know *officially* how I've done until November, of course, but it went pretty well! Even the math...whoa.

As I've already noted, I know virtually nothing about comp lit programs, but I'd guess it'd be just like those programs that make you apply separately to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Since a lot of them are considered separate departments, I don't see any reason why you couldn't apply to both, but you would most likely have to submit two different applications.

...Why do I feel compelled to respond, even when I know nothing about these things? My online personality is so much more annoying than my real-life one, I promise. I'm also still loopy on caffeine, sleep-deprivation, and leftover adrenaline. Gahhhhhh.

[chaussettes]

Yeah, taking the GRE has a funny way of turning your brain into mush! I'm sure you did great, though!

Interesting, I've never thought about the possibility of applying to both programs. Most of the schools I'm applying to treat them as separate departments, so I imagine you'd be able to apply to both, but that's just a guess. Hmmm, anyone out there have any insight on this?

Many (if not most) schools will not allow you to apply to more than one department at a time. You can certainly apply to both English and Comp Lit programs during your application cycle, but don't count on being able to apply to both at the same school.

[rising_star]

So would it be crazy for me to apply to Emory's Comp Lit program since they have a Trauma Studies track, which is my interest, even though my primary interest is still American Lit?

Really, that depends. How prepared are you to meet the language requirements ("3. Demonstration of a high degree of proficiency in a language other than English; 4. Demonstration of a reading knowledge of a second language other than English")? Are those language proficiencies going to help you or just be an obnoxious hurdle on your way to the dissertation?

[wreckofthehope]

another option is finding schools that have graduate minors. i'm pretty comparative by nature as a caribbeanist, but my home dept is english. i only need 9 credits for a comp lit minor, but so many of my classes will be in that dept anyway that it won't be any extra work (and it allows me to focus only on "comparing" my relative areas rather than dip into a third foreign language that isn't necessarily "needed"). the graduate minor does require reading knowledge of 2 foreign languages, but my program of study pretty much will require that anyway.

so, with emory for example, if you're mostly interested int he trauma studies track and would rather be in their proper english dept, ask about minors/certificates/etc.

From what I remember, Emory has a plethora of certificates that you are encouraged to take and Comparative Literature is one of them, so you could apply to the English department and take the Comparative Literature certificate, allowing you to take a structured set of courses in that department (possibly all with a Trauma Studies bent?). Other certificates they offer, that I can remember, are: Psychoanalytic Studies (which could also satisfy your Trauma Studies interests); Film Studies; Mind, Brain , Culture; Women's and Gender Studies; and Digital and Media Studies... there were others also - you should look into them.

Edited August 25, 2011 by wreckofthehope

[Timshel]

From what I remember, Emory has a plethora of certificates that you are encouraged to take and Comparative Literature is one of them, so you could apply to the English department and take the Comparative Literature certificate, allowing you to take a structured set of courses in that department (possibly all with a Trauma Studies bent?). Other certificates they offer, that I can remember, are: Psychoanalytic Studies (which could also satisfy your Trauma Studies interests); Film Studies; Mind, Brain , Culture; Women's and Gender Studies; and Digital and Media Studies... there were others also - you should look into them.

Yeah, I actually looked into that. I think I might do that instead.

[Origin=Goal]

The language requirement depends on the school. In most cases, you should acquire proficiency in one foreign language and instrumental knowledge in one or two others. It's not as daunting as it sounds. Instrumental knowledge is easy to get and you'll only need to follow a graduate seminar in the language to meet the requirement (since most seminars are offered in English, it's not very challenging). By the time you get your PhD, you'll have many opportunities to go abroad and work on your main language.

All of my Comp Lit professors had a "day job" in another department. Getting a job depends on a variety of factors, such as your publications, your network, and so on, and so forth. You should not choose a focus or a program because you think that it may be easier to get a job. Instead, to get a job, pick a program in which you'll thrive.

Good post. I've been told almost universally that you should let your fields of interest dictate what/where to study; if you're not experienced with/interested in literatures beyond the "traditional" (I'm guessing that the OP means English language lit here), there's no reason to pursue it. It sounds like you're interested in psychoanalytic theory, and if you're married to that idea I imagine that there are plenty of English (and Cultural or even American studies) departments that can accommodate this interest. I wouldn't let employment cache determine much, since, speaking for Comp Lit here (my field), the general academic employment situation is rather bleak: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,72948.0.html Unfortunately I love it anyway

[Alephantiasis]

I wouldn't let employment cache determine much, since, speaking for Comp Lit here (my field), the general academic employment situation is rather bleak: http://chronicle.com...ic,72948.0.html Unfortunately I love it anyway

I'm not sure about that. It looks like a lot of universities shut down foreign languages departments and merge them into a Comp Lit department. I'd say it's better to have a Comp Lit PhD rather than a French or Russian PhD in terms of marketability.

[Origin=Goal]

I agree, my comment simply referred to the state of Comp Lit faculty appointments sui generis and more generally warned against applying to a program based on what we think the job situation is/will be like. A Comp Lit PhD who can teacher and publish in all three of their language areas (which fyi is by no means the norm, often times only the primary is up to that level) will of course be "more marketable" in a time when language departments (French one of the foremost) are in peril; the OP would however need to be dedicated to the rigorous research into three (or four, if English or American lit was also an interest) different languages and their greater cultural/literary tradition in a particular era. If this sounds beyond the breadth of what you want to do, Comp Lit may not be the right program, but theirs tons of alternatives besides "traditional" literary departments (which I'm again assuming this to mean Anglo and related literature): American Studies, Cultural Studies (pace UCD or Minnesota), Rhetoric programs, etc.