The language literature concentration examines literature within the frameworks of particular languages or national and regional traditions, and requires that texts be read in the original language. Enrollment in upper-division language literature courses normally requires completion of two years of college-level language coursework, or the equivalent.
The language literature concentration of the literature major requires: (1) completion of two years of college-level language coursework, or the equivalent; and (2) 12 courses in literature.
- The 12 required courses must include two lower-division and 10 upper-division courses.
Lower-Division Requirements
• Language proficiency: Two years (six quarters or equivalent) of college-level study of a non-English language or demonstrated reading ability at this level.
Lower-division courses are introductions to critical reading and writing. Students should complete their lower-division coursework before beginning upper-division work.
• Two lower-division courses are required:
LIT 1 | Literary Interpretation | 5 |
Plus
One LIT 60/LIT 61-series course
or
One LIT 80/LIT 81-series course
LIT 1 is a writing-intensive course.
LIT 60/LIT 61-series courses focus on categories, methodologies, and problems of literary study.
LIT 80/LIT 81-series courses focus on topical, thematic, and comparative studies of literary and filmic texts.
LIT 60/LIT 61 and LIT 80/LIT 81 courses are also recommended for non-majors.
Upper-Division Courses
Ten upper-division courses are required:
Students must successfully complete the language proficiency requirement before enrolling in LIT 102.
Students may substitute one upper-division non-English literature course studied in the original language for LIT 102.
Plus
• Eight additional upper-division literature courses.
These eight courses must between them fulfill the requirements specified below. Some courses may be used to fulfill more than one requirement, as specified below.
Upper-division courses provide detailed treatment of literary and theoretical problems, themes, and periods. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses across chronological periods and national boundaries, and to balance small seminars with lecture courses.
Language Literature Concentration Requirements
• Five courses in a single language literature.
French Literature (courses in the LIT 182 series)
The study of French and Francophone literatures, languages, and cultural practices of France, Africa, and the Caribbean.
German Literature (courses in the LIT 183 series)
The study of the literature, language, and cultural practices of the German-speaking areas of central Europe including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Greek and/or Latin Literature (courses in the LIT 184 and LIT 186 series)
The study of the literature, languages, and cultural practices of ancient Greece and Rome. Students may choose to concentrate in Greek or Latin or both.
Italian Literature (courses in the LIT 185 series)
The study of Italian literature, language, and cultural practices from the Middle Ages to the present.
Spanish/Latin American/Latino Literatures (courses in the LIT 188-LIT 189 series, LIT 190X)
The study of literatures, language, and cultural practices of Spain, Latin America, and Latino populations in the United States.
Each of these courses may also satisfy one or more distribution requirements (see below).
Distribution Requirements
• Two upper-division courses on literature written before 1750.
• One upper-division course on non-Western literature or literature in a global perspective.
• One upper-division course on poetry and poetics (may not be a creative writing course).
• A senior seminar (a course in the LIT 190 series) or a senior thesis (LIT 195), which satisfies the campus comprehensive requirement (see below).
The course descriptions in the General Catalog specify the distribution requirements satisfied by each course.
Some courses satisfy more than one distribution requirement.
Students can consult Distribution Requirement course offerings for each of the above categories.*
*Revised 3/23/23 to incorporate course lists previously published on Literature Department's website into the General Catalog.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division disciplinary communication (DC) requirement. Literature majors must satisfy the disciplinary communication requirement by passing:
Comprehensive Requirement
Students must successfully complete LIT 101 before taking any comprehensive requirement.
Seniors must select one of the following options to satisfy the campus exit requirement:
Senior seminar.
The senior seminar (courses in the LIT 190 series) may be counted as one of the required upper-division courses. Several senior seminars are offered each quarter; extensive writing is required in all seminars.
Senior thesis.
Students who wish to propose a senior thesis (30–40 pages) must apply to a Literature Department faculty sponsor at least two quarters before the projected date of graduation. The application must include a proposed subject, a brief outline, a bibliography, and a sample of previous written work. Only those students who have received written permission from the faculty supervisor may complete a thesis to satisfy the senior exit requirement.
A student whose application has been approved may receive course credit toward the major for one independent study (LIT 195A or LIT 195B), and may count LIT 195A or LIT 195B as one of the upper-division courses required for the major.
The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
Four-Year Major Planner
1st (frosh) |
LIT 60/LIT 61
or LIT 80/LIT 81 |
LIT 60/LIT 61
or LIT 80/LIT 81 (optional) |
LIT 1 |
Language Level 1 |
Language Level 2 |
Language Level 3 |
|
|
|
2nd (soph) |
Upper-division LIT course (pre-1750 and poetry distribution requirements) |
LIT 101 |
Upper-division LIT course (global distribution requirement) |
Language Level 4 |
Language Level 5 |
Language Level 6 |
|
|
|
3rd (junior) |
Upper-division LIT
Language course |
LIT 102 |
Upper-division LIT
Language course
(pre-1750 distribution requirement) |
|
Upper-division LIT Language course |
|
|
|
|
4th (senior) |
Upper-division LIT
Language course |
Upper-division LIT Language course |
LIT 190 (senior seminar) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Courses required for the major fulfill the TA general education requirement. Other requirements may be fulfilled depending on the choice of electives. The MF, SI and SR requirements are never fulfilled.
Transfer Student Planner #1 (for transfer students who have completed literature's lower-division, most general education requirements, and one year of language coursework at the time of transfer)
3rd (junior) |
Upper-division LIT course
(pre-1750 and poetry
distribution requirements) |
LIT 102 |
LIT 101 |
|
Upper-division LIT course (global distribution requirement) |
Upper-division LIT Language course |
Language Level 4 |
Language Level 5 |
Language Level 6 |
4th (senior) |
Upper-division LIT
Language course |
Upper-division LIT Language course |
Upper-division LIT
Language course |
Upper-division LIT
Language course
(pre-1750 distribution requirement) |
|
LIT 190 (senior seminar) |
|
|
|
Transfer Student Planner #2 (for transfer students who have completed literature's lower-division requirements and two years of language coursework at the time of transfer)
3rd (junior) |
Upper-division LIT
Language course |
LIT 102 |
LIT 101 |
|
Upper-division LIT
Language course |
Upper division LIT
Language course |
|
|
|
4th (senior) |
Upper-division LIT
Language course
(pre-1750 distribution requirement) |
Upper-division LIT
Language course
(poetry distribution requirement) |
Upper-division LIT course
(pre-1750 and global
distribution requirements) |
Upper-division LIT course |
LIT 190 (senior seminar) |
|
|
|
|