Why Study Comparative Literature?
In a world shaped by technological change, global interconnection, and complex cultural challenges, Comparative Literature offers an essential way of thinking across boundaries. More than a traditional major, it is an intellectual approach that moves fluidly between languages, media, and disciplines, equipping students to address the kinds of problems that define the present moment.
At Oregon, Comparative Literature trains students to be agile, cross-disciplinary thinkers who can synthesize ideas across fields and interpret meaning in many forms, whether in literature, film, new media, or performance. Students develop advanced skills in critical analysis, communication, and cultural translation, learning how ideas shift across contexts and how to engage diverse audiences with clarity and precision.
The program also fosters deep global awareness and cultural fluency, grounded in multilingual study and an understanding of how histories, values, and perspectives shape the world. Just as importantly, Comparative Literature cultivates the distinctly human capacities that remain vital in an age of AI: interpretation, ethical reasoning, creativity, and nuanced attention to context.
By combining theoretical rigor with practical, transferable skills, Comparative Literature prepares students for a wide range of career paths from law, policy, and international work to media, technology, publishing, and the arts.
Major in Comparative Literature
The undergraduate program in Comparative Literature at the University of Oregon is designed as an individualized course of study with a high degree of flexibility, allowing students to shape the major around their own intellectual interests and goals. Through a range of tracks and customizable focus fields, students can pursue topics that span languages, cultures, media, and historical periods while building a coherent and meaningful academic trajectory.
A key strength of the program is its openness to interdisciplinary exploration. Students are encouraged to take courses both within and beyond the department—in areas such as cinema studies, media and cultural studies, creative writing, history, philosophy, and area studies—enabling them to connect literary analysis with broader questions about culture, technology, and society. This structure not only deepens academic engagement but also supports students in developing diverse methodological and critical perspectives.
Because of this flexibility, Comparative Literature pairs easily with other majors and minors, making it an ideal complement to a wide range of fields. Whether combined with another humanities discipline or with programs in the social sciences, arts, or STEM, the major equips students with strong analytical, interpretive, and communicative skills that enhance any course of study. The result is a program that is both intellectually rigorous and uniquely adaptable, preparing students to pursue their interests with creativity and depth.
Get Real-World Experience
Students in the Department of Comparative Literature can expand their skills through study abroad programs, research-based internships administered by faculty, and other experiential learning opportunities, such as the Nomad Mentorship Program.
Advising and Academic Support
Schedule an appointment with a faculty or peer advisor, find important department forms and get answers.
Scholarships and Awards
Learn about ways to apply for funding through the College of Arts and Sciences.