Comparative Literature Master’s program at Cornell University

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Comparative Literature Cornell Arts Sciences

course
The graduate program in Comparative Literature emphasizes flexibility and creativity. Our students tend to thrive under Cornell's graduate field system. As early as possible students choose a three-member special committee (whose membership can--and often does-- change as interests and approaches evolve). Only the committee chair must be a member of the Graduate Field in Comparative Literature. The other two members may be chosen from any other Fields at Cornell. Some students do end up with a committee of members from Comparative Literature, English or one of the national literature departments, but our students have ranged as far as Architecture and Experimental Biology in selecting mentors. The committee is endowed with significant autonomy in guiding the student through coursework, exams, teaching, dissertation and beyond. The program imposes no required courses, thus allowing the student maximal latitude in composing a program of study. We understand "comparison" in a very generous sense and we encourage work that is theoretical, anthropological, critical, or historical as well as grounded in the study of particular cultural or linguistic traditions and in different media. Normally students to have the ability to do advanced work in at least two languages as well as having reading knowledge of a third language. Recently, students and faculty have worked reading literature with trauma theory, cognitive science, environmental humanities, new media studies, and many more. We maintain close collaboration with other fields and programs at Cornell including Anthropology, Philosophy, Art History, Performing and Media Arts, Religious Studies, The Law School, Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Asian American Studies, Africana Studies.
60 Months Duration
- Credit hours
Yes GRE Required
No Scholarships Available

Composition of student population

4 Female Students
3 Internation Students
10 Graduate Students Enrolled

Graduate School

The Admission to Candidacy examination is usually taken in the third year of study and is both written and oral.

Applicants are required to submit a writing sample, a statement of purpose and to demonstrate proficiency in two foreign literatures

All Graduate School Requirements, including the English Language Proficiency Requirement for all applicants.

How does the Comparative Literature Master’s degree program tuition at Cornell University compared with other universities in New York?

Tuition for Master’s in Comparative Literature program at Cornell University

$30,042 In-state Tuition & Fees
$30,042 Out-of-state Tuition & Fees
UniversityIn state Tuition / Year
Comparative Literature Masters program at CUNY Brooklyn College$11,522
Comparative Literature Masters program at Fordham University$23,846
Comparative Literature Masters program at Stony Brook University$13,793
Comparative Literature Masters program at Columbia University in the City of New York$51,194

Which other public university offers Master’s program in Comparative Literature in New York?

Here is the list of top 4 public universities offering Comparative Literature Master’s program.

Program NameTuition / Year
Comparative Literature at Stony Brook University

In-state: $13,793

Out-state: $25,583

Comparative Literature at Binghamton University

In-state: $13,500

Out-state: $25,290

Comparative Literature at University at Buffalo

In-state: $14,238

Out-state: $26,028

Comparative Literature at CUNY Brooklyn College

In-state: $11,522

Out-state: $20,952

Which other private university offers Master’s program in Comparative Literature in New York?

Here is the list of top 4 private universities offering Comparative Literature Master’s program.

Program NameTuition / Year
Comparative Literature at Columbia University in the City of New York$51,194
Comparative Literature at New York University$36,892
Comparative Literature at University of Rochester$50,505
Comparative Literature at Fordham University$23,846

Comparative Literature Cornell Arts Sciences

Comparative Literature majors are invited to for the Edgar Rosenberg Travel Grant to support language study outside of the US during the 2019 calendar year. Professor Rosenberg was a devoted teacher who was passionate foreign language study, and has generously provided the Comparative Literature with an endowment that will allow us to award language study grants to majors on an annual basis, beginning this year. Students with an expected graduation date of December 2020 or later are eligible to and may request funding to study any foreign language at any level.

The Rosenberg Travel Grant Summer 2019 Recipients -.

The Rosenberg Travel Grant Summer 2017 Recipient -.

With the Rosenberg Travel Grant, I studied both Modern Standard Arabic and Moroccan Arabic for eight weeks in Rabat, a charming coastal city and the capital of Morocco. I spent most of my time learning the two languages, while sipping on highly caffeinated Moroccan tea, strolling through open-air markets, and making occasional visits to Roman ruins. As I develop my language skills, I also began to understand Moroccan history and politics, as well as the ongoing struggle with colonial legacies of people in Morocco. This opportunity allowed me to not only study Arabic but also develop cultural competency both of which are pertinent for my research in comparative literature. ~ Ivy Deng Summer 2017.

Jobs, Salaries and Career after Masters in Comparative Literature

Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. About 139,600 openings for postsecondary teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $80,560 in May 2020. Number of Jobs in 2020 was 1,276,900.

Universities with similar Graduate Program

Program NameTuition / Year
Comparative Literature Masters program at The University of Texas at Austin$12,028
Comparative Literature Masters program at University of California-Davis$13,598
Comparative Literature Masters program at Hofstra University$27,172
Comparative Literature Masters program at University of Louisville$13,461