The Department of Comparative Literature recognizes students with a number of annual awards and prizes. Contact our academic advisor or director of undergraduate studies to learn more.

Students must self-nominate to be considered for a department award via IU Scholarships. 

The Outstanding Senior Award was established in 1972 to recognize a graduating Comparative Literature major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, potential, and service to the department.

In 1992, Harry M. Geduld established this award in memory of Annie Geduld. The prize is given in alternate years to an outstanding graduate or undergraduate student in the Comparative Arts component of the Comparative Literature Program.

The Ilinca Zarifopol Johnston Award is given in honor of the life of Professor Johnston, an accomplished translator, scholar, and teacher who earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and then taught in the Department from the 1990’s until her death in 2005.

The award is given in alternate years to a graduate or an undergraduate student, chosen on the basis of GPA, breadth of interests, originality, academic and/or creative achievement, and overall promise.

The Wertheim Awards in Comparative Drama were established by the family and friends of Albert Wertheim in 2016. Professor Wertheim was an internationally recognized drama scholar and devoted teacher, who taught at IU from 1969 until his death in 2003.

Each year, the Department of Comparative Literature awards one undergraduate and one graduate student for the best papers about drama submitted to Comparative Literature courses.