Graduate

An interdisciplinary approach to literary study

As a graduate student in the Department of Comparative Literature, you have the opportunity to develop foundational skills in the study of languages and literatures while exploring an individualized field of specialization. Whether you seek a master’s degree or a doctorate, you have many ways to deepen your breadth of knowledge.

While doing so, you can take advantage of the innovations our department is known for throughout the world—integrating interdisciplinary study into the field of comparative literature. Critical theory is one crucial link enabling cross-disciplinary research and inquiry. We stand out as translators, interpreters, and thinkers who make original connections across geographical, subject area, and temporal boundaries.

Access to a wealth of multicultural programs

Indiana University is famous for its wide-ranging expertise in the arts, cultures, and languages of the world, and campus resources are exceptionally rich and dynamic. The Department of Comparative Literature enjoys close ties with many internationally focused units and programs, including Classical Studies, Culture Studies, Film Studies, Folklore and Ethnomusicology, Media Studies, Gender Studies, Jewish Studies, Medieval Studies, Musicology, Religious Studies, Renaissance Studies, and Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance, as well as area studies programs such as African Studies, Caribbean and Latin American Studies, East Asian Languages and Cultures, and the Russian and East European Institute.

Our department’s graduate students come from around the world, with fascinations that cut across common themes. Our graduate program currently includes students from seventeen countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most culturally diverse anywhere.

In this multilingual and multicultural atmosphere, innovative thinking thrives. You’ll find the inspiration and support you need to pursue your own passion in the field.