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2025-2026 Undergraduate Bulletin
Comparative Literature, Literary Translation Track, B.A.
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Lytton Smith, Coordinator (smithlj@geneseo.edu)
The flexibility to combine courses from several national literatures and to study literature along with other disciplines, and to consider the political stakes of national literatures and reading transnationally, is the hallmark of the Comparative Literature & Literary Translation major. The major offers two tracks: Comparative Literature and Literary Translation. In the former, a minimum of eight credits must come from literature courses in which texts are primarily read in a language other than English. In the latter, creative writing courses help students focus on the theory and practice of translating into English(es).
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Program Learning Outcomes
- Formal Understanding: Students will be able to combine close attention to textual practices with a global perspective on literature, using methods of studying texts across national and linguistic boundaries.
- Historical Understanding: Students will be able to identify and articulate how texts are related to social and cultural categories (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, ability) as well as ideologies and belief systems (e.g. philosophy, science, politics, religion, education).
- Interpretation: Students will be able to interpret literary works in conversation with a range of critical and theoretical frameworks and to identify and articulate the ways difference, power, and inequality shape the production and reception of literature.
- Argumentation: Students will be able to “join the conversation” that is always ongoing among critics and scholars regarding texts, authors, contexts, and paratexts, developing analytical arguments in accordance with developing conventions of comparative criticism; they will also be able to provide and to receive feedback from peers.
- Craft: students in the Literary Translation track will be able to, through a research process that includes engaging, interpreting, and responding to model texts, create an original work that thoughtfully transmits both textual and cultural features of a work in a language other than English.
General Education Requirements (30-40 Credits)
Prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy certain General Education courses and will count as elective credit. Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 40-44
Basic Requirements: (16 Credits)
Two courses in the craft of creative writing from this list, at least one at the 300- or 400-level (7-8 credits)
Two literature courses (8 credits)
Two courses in cross-linguistic theory and practice (6-8 credits)
One course in global politics and culture (3-4 credits)
- ENGL 113 - Contemporary Global Challenges in Literature and Culture: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- ENGL 207 - Creative Writing Approaches to Contemporary Global Challenges: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- ENGL 308 - Modernity in West Africa Credit(s): 4
- ENGL 420 - Topics in Irish Literature: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- ANTH 215 - Ancient Civilizations of the Old World Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 226 - Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 235 - Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica and the Andes Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 238 - Ethnomedicine in Latin America and the Caribbean Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 301 - Religion, Society, and Culture Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 307 - Anthropology of Development Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 313 - Global Health Issues Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 319 - Cross-Cultural Politics of Reproduction Credit(s): 3
- ANTH 328 - Language Socialization Credit(s): 3
- ARTH 205 - Museum Studies - Art and Global Politics Credit(s): 4
- ARTH 281 - Pre-Columbian and Latin American Art Credit(s): 3
- ARTH 402 - Latin American Art From Late Colonial to Contemporary Credit(s): 4
- BIOL 318 - Health and Developing World Credit(s): 3
- BLKS 225 - Black Cinema Credit(s): 4
- COMN 342 - Mass Media and Society Credit(s): 4
- COMN 359 - Political Rhetoric Credit(s): 4
- COMN 476 - Social Change, Development & Activism Credit(s): 4
- DANC 104 - Global Technique I: (subtitle) Credit(s): 2
- DANC 204 - Global Technique II: (subtitle) Credit(s): 2
- DANC 221 - Global Dance History Credit(s): 3
- EURO 215 - Central European Cultural History Credit(s): 4
- FREN 312 - Modernity in West Africa Credit(s): 4
- GEOG 263 - Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Credit(s): 3
- GEOG 363 - Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa Credit(s): 3
- GEOG 376 - Political Geography Credit(s): 3
- HIST 112 - History Matters: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- HIST 232 - Early Modern Europe and the World, 1450-1750 Credit(s): 4
- HIST 270 - History of Latin America to 1825 Credit(s): 4
- HIST 272 - Pacific Worlds, 1500 to Present Credit(s): 4
- HIST 275 - Global History of Sexual Science Credit(s): 4
- HIST 282 - History of Modern East Asia Credit(s): 4
- HIST 284 - Studies in Global History: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- HIST 287 - Modern Africa Credit(s): 4
- HIST 453 - Nationalism and Ethnic Violence Credit(s): 4
- HIST 485 - African Environmental History Credit(s): 4
- HUMN 222 - Black Humanities Credit(s): 4
- INTD 117 - Contemporary Global Challenges: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
- INTD 354 - Medieval Studies: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
- INTD 356 - The Age of Dante Credit(s): 3
- LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages Credit(s): 1
- MUSC 337 - Music, Race, and Ethnicity: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
- PASC 105 - Performance as Social Change I Credit(s): 4
- PASC 106 - Introduction to Performance as Social Change I Credit(s): 1
- PLSC 120 - Mentoring New Political Science/International Relations Majors Credit(s): 2
- PLSC 140 - International Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 344 - Climate Change Leadership and Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 352 - Civil War and Conflict Resolution Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 355 - Politics of East Asia Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 356 - Politics of South Asia Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 358 - Politics of Eastern Europe Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 359 - Politics of Western Europe Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 360 - Developing World Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 361 - Women and Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 362 - Government and Politics in Africa Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 370 - Political Parties and Interest Groups Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 372 - Community, State, and Regional Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 375 - Politics of Judicial Process Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 380 - Asia in the Global Setting Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 381 - Politics of Genocide Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 391 - Enduring Issues in Comparative and International Politics: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 416 - Political Power in American Cities Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 417 - Identity & Politics in the United States Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 421 - State and Society in the Nonwestern World Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 425 - Politics of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 426 - Government and Politics of South America Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 428 - Middle East Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 429 - Politics of Russia and Eurasia Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 440 - International Law Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 441 - Democracy and International Relations Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 442 - Human Rights in a Global Perspective Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 448 - Politics of International Economic Relations Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 454 - Government and Politics of Latin America Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 492 - Theories of Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 494 - Theories of International Relations Credit(s): 3
- PLSC 496 - Global Issues Credit(s): 3
- SOCL 105 - Introduction to Global Social Change Credit(s): 3
- SOCL 325 - Global Social Change Credit(s): 3
- WGST 204 - Global Issues of Sex and Gender: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
- WGST 340 - Gender and Global Education Credit(s): 3
Minimum Competence Requirement
A grade of C- or better is required in all courses submitted in fulfillment of the Comparative Literature major. Department Writing Requirement
Upper-division courses in Comparative Literature emphasize the skills of effective writing and academic conversation. Completion of at least 16 Credits at the 300-level or above fulfills the department writing requirement. Sample Course Map
For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022: please select the bulletin year in which you entered the college (matriculated) at the top right of this page. Curriculum Map - First Year
- Fall - 16 Credit Hours
- WRTG 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- CMLT 200 - Reading Transnationally: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
- Math/Quantitative - Credit(s): 4
- World Language 101 - Credit(s): 4
- Spring - 14 Credit Hours
- Scientific Reasoning - Credit(s): 4
- World Language 102 - Credit(s): 4
- Global Society #1 DPP - Credit(s): 3
- Global Society #2 CGC - Credit(s): 3
- Second Year
- Fall - 14 Credit Hours
- World Language 213 - Credit(s): 4
- Creative Writing Course #1 - Credit(s): 4
- Global Society #3 WCV - Credit(s): 3
- Global Society #4 SST - Credit(s): 3
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
- Upper Level Literature Course - Credit(s): 3-4
- ENGL 309 - Credit(s): 4
- ENGL 361 - Credit(s): 4
- Global Society #5 CAI - Credit(s): 4
- Third Year
- Fall - 16 Credit Hours
- Upper Level Creative Writing Course #1- Credit(s): 4
- Cross-Linguistic Course #1 - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
- Upper Level Literature Course #2 - Credit(s): 4
- Cross-Linguistic Course #2 - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Fourth Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
- CMLT 499 - Credit(s): 4
- Course on Global Politics & Culture #4 - Credit(s): 4
- IAL - Credit(s): 4
- Elective- Credit(s): 3
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 4
- Elective - Credit(s): 3
Total Credit Hours: 120
Note: Variation in the order of courses is possible, depending upon prerequisites. Consult course information in the bulletin or your academic advisor to customize your eight semester plan. KEY - Participation in a Global Society (PGS)
Attributes:
Sub Areas | Abbreviation | Definition | | DPP | Diversity, Pluralism, Power | | WCV | World Cultures & Values | | CGC | Contemporary Global Challenges | | CAI | Creativity & Innovation | | SST | Sustainability | Learning Areas | Abbreviation | Definition | | ARTS | Arts | | HUMA | Humanities | | SOSC | Social Science | |
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