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| Program Information Applications Important Note: Before applying, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the program director for information and assistance. To contact Dr. Stone now, click here . In addition, in order to render the application process as fast and efficient as possible, all prospective students are encouraged to use the online application form . Application Procedure
Applicants must request at least three letters of recommendation from
individuals who are acquainted with them as a student and/or teaching
assistant. They should write directly to the Director of the Program.
Preparation An undergraduate major in language or literature is the normal prerequisite for graduate work in Comparative Literature. The undergraduate major should consist of not fewer than thirty semester hours in the major field. Applicants lacking this minimum, if accepted, may be required to add to their program of study a number of undergraduate hours in language and/or literature up to the difference between their undergraduate total of literature courses and the acceptable minimum. These courses will count toward a full academic load but will not count for graduate degree credit. Criteria for admission Admission to the program is determined on the basis of information gathered from all of the sources mentioned above under "Procedure." In addition, a personal interview, if feasible, is highly recommended. Internal applicants to the Ph.D. program from the M.A. program are evaluated in largely the same way as outside applicants, with the difference that internal (in place of external) letters of recommendation and performance in the master's program are taken into account. A judgment on the applicant's potential for success in graduate study is made on the basis of all the information supplied to program's selection committee: no single factor is decisive. Renewal of assitantships Because of its commitment to teacher training and to undergraduate education, the program requires new teaching assistants to undertake appropriate training and carefully supervises their work in the classroom. Renewal of assistantships is contingent on satisfactory performance of assigned duties and on satisfactory progress toward the degree. "Satisfactory progress towards the degree" requires at least a grade point average of 3.0 and the completion of nine hours of graduate credit in each fall and spring semester. If teaching in the summer, an assistant must complete six hours during that summer. Students may hold assistantships for up to two years while in an M.A. program, and for up to four years in a Ph.D. program. These figures are cumulative. Board of Regents Fellowship Outstanding applicants for Fall 2004 admission to the Louisiana State University Ph.D. Program in Comparative Literature will be nominated to compete for Board of Regents Graduate Fellowships. Recipients will receive a stipend of $18,000 per year for four years plus a full tuition waver. The stipend will be distributed on a 12-month basis; students holding the fellowship will be required to enroll for 6 credit hours during the summer term. Successful applicants will be expected to have GRE scores of 1250 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Howerver, there will be some flexibililty to consider applicants who may not meet one of these requirements but who demonstrate excellence in various other ways. Recipients must be American citizens or resident aliens holding permanent visa status. The deadline for submission of applications and supporting material is February 1, 2004. Graduate School Requirements Graduate students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the Graduate School regulations governing all graduate study at LSU. These regulations appear in the current General Catalog. Of particular importance is the information contained in the sections "Admission and General Information," "General Graduate School Regulations," and "Requirements for Advanced Degrees." These sections deal with such matters as minimum admissions requirements, application procedures, types of admission, residency requirements, minimum and maximum course loads, time limits on degree programs, and course, examination, thesis and dissertation requirements for the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. What follows is a guide to additional regulations governing graduate study on the Program in Comparative Literature. Program Requirements Students in the Program in Comparative Literature are required to study literature and criticism in at least three languages. They are also responsible for determining, in consultation with their faculty advisory committee, three broadly defined "areas of concentration" that will guide them in designing a curriculum suited to their individual interests and inspirations. Course Requirements The Program is organized around a simple core curriculum. All students are required to take both CPLT 7010 (History of Literary Theory and Criticism: From Antiquity to Romanticism) and CPLT 7020 (History of Literary Theory and Criticism: From the Late Nineteenth Century to the Present). MA students must take both CPLT 7120 (Topics in the Theory of Criticism) and CPLT 7130 (Topics in Comparative Literature) at least once. MA students are also encouraged, but not required, to take CPLT 7140 (Topics in Interdisciplinary Study). Since the specific topics of these three courses differ from semester to semester, each may be taken more than once, up to a maximum of 9 credit hours. Ph.D. students must take each of the following three courses at least once: CPLT 7120 (Topics in the Theory of Criticism), CPLT 7130 (Topics in Comparative Literature), and CPLT 7140 (Topics in Interdisciplinary Study). Since the specific topics of these three courses differ from semester to semester, each may be taken more than once, up to a maximum of 9 credit hours. For all students, the distribution of the remaining courses required for the degree is designed by the student in consultation with his or her Major Professor and Advisory Committee. In all cases, a primary aim is to make sure that the Comparative Literature graduate has sufficient training in at least one national literary tradition (e.g., English, French, Spanish) to compete effectively in today's academic job market. Additional Requirements * All students must demonstrate advanced reading ability (proficiency) in three languages, of which English or the student's native language may be one. Proficiency in the second language must be demonstrated in the first year, and in the third language before the end of the second year, by passing a departmentally-administered examination or by performing satisfactory relevant course work at LSU, as attested by a member of the LSU faculty. *All students must pass a general examination at or near the end of course work, assessing the student’s command of the three areas of his or her concentration. For MA students, this is known as the "Final Comprehensive Examination." For Ph.D. students, it is known as the "General Examination." * For Ph.D. students, a satisfactory dissertation on an approved topic and its defense. Comparative Literature Minor Students who wish to have a minor in Comparative Literature must obtain 9 credits of Comparative Literature coursework. |
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