All Graduate Courses

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated.


Comparative Studies 5061 The Global Mediterranean
This course examines the governments, societies, and cultures of the littoral states (empires/nations) of the Mediterranean Sea. We will pay attention to the 'East/West' paradigm as a prism through which to examine past and present events. Cross-listed in Italian and NELC.

Comparative Studies 5189S Comparative Studies Field School
Introduction to ethnographic field methods (participant-observation, writing field notes, photography, interviewing), archiving, and public humanities. An introduction to fieldwork is followed by a field experience (where students will reside together in local housing) followed by accessioning, exhibition planning, and reflection. Maximum credit hours include those for English 5189S. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 12 cr hrs. Cross-listed in English.

Comparative Studies 5240 Race and Public Policy in the United States
This course explores Race and Public Policy in the United States from Reconstruction to the present. In particular, the class is designed to look at the long list of "hot topics" in the current policy landscape, including policing, housing, wealth gap, immigration, voting, political representation, and others. Crossslisted in AAAS and PUBAFFAIRS.
 

Comparative Studies 5668 Studies in Orality and Literacy
Examination of major theories of writing and of oral composition and transmission, in juxtaposition to case material deriving from a variety of Middle Eastern cultures. Not open to students with credit for 648, or NELC 5568 (648). Cross-listed in NELC 5568.

Comparative Studies 5691 Topics in Comparative Studies
Critical study of selected themes and topics in a comparative and cross-cultural perspective; emphasis on issues of method, critical theory, representation, power, knowledge, and authority.  Repeatable to a maximum of 12 cr hrs including credit for 651.

Comparative Studies 5957.01 Comparative Folklore
Comparative study of folklore. Topics vary, e.g., folklore and gender politics; theories of myth; folklore, memory, and history.  Repeatable to a maximum of 6 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 5957.02 Folklore in Circulation
Study of transmission of culture.  Topics vary, e.g., tourists, travelers, tricksters; cultures of waste and recycling; orality and literacy. Study of transmission of culture.  Topics vary, e.g., tourists, travelers, tricksters; cultures of waste and recycling; orality and literacy.  Repeatable to a maximum of 6 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 5980 Ancient and Modern Narrative: Cognition, Affect, Ethics, Belief
This course will juxtapose narratives from an ancient culture with narratives from a modern culture to explore the hypothesis that the power of narrative arises from its capacity to affect the lives of audiences by engaging their cognition, affect, ethics, and beliefs. Team-taught w/ faculty in English. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for English 5980. Cross-listed in English.

Comparative Studies 6100 Critical Foundations: Comparative Analysis
This course prepares students to begin to approach their research interests and questions from a comparative perspective. The function of comparison is not to discover differences and similarities, but to understand more comprehensively the political, social, economic, and aesthetic dimensions of the various discourses and practices that constitute social and individual life.

Comparative Studies 6200 Critical Foundations: Interdisciplinarity & Methods
This course introduces interdisciplinarity as an approach to knowledge production that is problem and question driven and that therefore draws from varied approaches and methodologies. It considers a range of tools that scholars across humanities and social sciences disciplines use to critically analyze the pressing global issues.

Comparative Studies 6300 Critical Foundations: Cultural and Social Theory
This course offers an introduction to comparative cultural studies and social theory. It introduces students to a wide range of well-known thinkers, critical movements, and widely cited texts. Attention will be paid to the ways in which these thinkers, movements, and texts are situated within disciplinary and inter-disciplinary contexts.

Comparative Studies 6400 Critical Foundations: The Humanities and Collaborative Practices
The course introduces students to different forms of collaborative practices and participatory research in the humanities, recognizing the opportunities and possibilities it affords, as well as the challenges and limitations it entails. The course will also offer a space for critical reflection on how we engage other people's ideas, both in terms of our research and within the seminar community.

Comparative Studies 6425 Introduction to Latino Studies
Introduces graduate students to the broad themes, concepts, and questions raised in the interdisciplinary field of Latino studies. Not open to students with credit for 705, ArtsSci 705, or Spanish 6705 or 7705. Cross-listed in Spanish.

Comparative Studies 6500 Critical Foundations: Teaching Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies
The seminar will teach students to develop strategies to support students in questioning and challenging normative discourses while also developing teaching practices that problematize social reality and knowledge. The course topics focus on three areas: course content, methods of delivery, and issues related to in-class 'comportment.'

Comparative Studies 6750.01 Introduction to Graduate Study in Folklore I: The Philology of the Vernacular
Introduction to the canonical folklore genres and the history of folklore as a discipline. Why and how should we study the vernacular?  Not open to students with credit for 770.01, or English 6751.01 (770.01). Cross-listed in English 6751.01.

Comparative Studies 6750.02 Introduction to Graduate Study in Folklore II: Fieldwork and Ethnography of Communication
Introduction to fieldwork and ethnographic writing in the humanities - interviewing, participant observation, and research ethics. Focus on the ethnography of communication and community representations.
Not open to students with credit for 770.02 or English 6751.02 (770.02). Cross-listed in English 6751.02.

Comparative Studies 7193 Individual Studies
Designed to give able students an opportunity to pursue special studies not otherwise offered.
Repeatable to a maximum of 12 cr hrs or 12 completions. This course is graded S/U.

Comparative Studies 7256 Complex Ethnography
Critical analysis of relationships among the researcher, object of research, framing knowledge, and political context of ethnographic work.  Not open to students with credit for 706.

Comparative Studies 7301 Theorizing Literature
Provides an accelerated introduction to literary theory and criticism, surveying significant developments in modern and contemporary literary and cultural studies in global perspective. Cross-listed in NELC. *This course may be used toward a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Comparative Literature. More information about the GIS can be found here.

Comparative Studies 7320 Theorizing Race and Ethnicity
Advanced introduction to field of critical race theory; critical analysis of concepts of law in relation to race and ethnicity.  Not open to students with credit for 752.

Comparative Studies 7340 Theorizing Science and Technology
Introduction to comparative and cultural studies of science and technology.  Not open to students with credit for 730.

Comparative Studies 7350.01 Theorizing Folklore I: Tradition and Transmission
The transmission of cultural forms through time and space across social networks, with special attention to the dynamics of conservation and innovation, reflexivity and habit. Not open to students with credit for English 7351.01 or 7351.11.  Cross-listed in English 7351.01.

Comparative Studies 7350.02 Theorizing Folklore II: Ethnography of Performance
Performance as a heightened mode of communication characteristic of vernacular cultural process, studied in the context of ongoing social interaction. Not open to students with credit for 770.02 or English 770.02 or English 7351.02 or 7351.12. Cross-listed in English 7351.02.

Comparative Studies 7350.03 Theorizing Folklore III: Differentiation, Identification, and The Folk
Performance as a heightened mode of communication characteristic of vernacular cultural process, studied in the context of ongoing social interaction. Not open to students with credit for 770.03 or English 770.03 or 7351.03 or 7351.13. Cross-listed in English 7351.03.

Comparative Studies 7360 Theorizing Culture
The concept of culture as it has developed over time; emphasis on tension between descriptive and normative approaches. Not open to students with credit for 716.

Comparative Studies 7370 Theorizing Religion
Relationships between religion and other domains in a cross-cultural, comparative framework with attention to theoretical models and particular texts and traditions. Not open to students with credit for 725.

Comparative Studies 7380 Theorizing America
Interdisciplinary study of culture, identity, and representation in the U.S.  Not open to students with credit for 715.

Comparative Studies 7888 Interdepartmental Studies in the Humanities
Two or more departments present colloquia on subjects of mutual interest; topics to be announced. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs. *This course may be used toward a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Comparative Literature, depending on the topic. More information about the GIS can be found here.

Comparative Studies 7999 Research in Comparative Studies: Thesis
Research for Master's thesis. Repeatable to a maximum of 24 cr hrs. This course is graded S/U.

Comparative Studies 8100 Interdisciplinary Learning Laboratory I
The Comparative Studies Interdisciplinary Learning Laboratories are two-part courses that seek to give participants opportunities to engage in sustained interdisciplinary research, to workshop their research projects in conversation with one another, and to share their projects with broader publics. Expect to enroll in CompStd 8200 subsequent to this course. Repeatable to a maximum of 18 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8193 Individual Studies
Designed to give able students an opportunity to pursue special studies not otherwise offered.
Prereq: Grad standing or permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 12 cr hrs or 12 completions. This course is graded S/U.

Comparative Studies 8200 Interdisciplinary Learning Laboratory II
The Comparative Studies Interdisciplinary Learning Laboratories are two-part year-long courses that seek to give participants opportunities to engage in sustained interdisciplinary research, to workshop their research projects in conversation with one another, and to share their projects with broader publics. Taken in conjunction with CompStd 8100. Prereq or concur: 8100. Repeatable to a maximum of 18 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8791 Seminar in Interdisciplinary Theory
Discussion of interdisciplinary cultural theory. Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8802 Seminar in Life Narrative
Investigates modes of autobiographical and biographical writing, performance, representation in media. Focuses on particular theories and texts, varying with course topic. Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs. *This course may be used toward a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Comparative Literature. More information about the GIS can be found here.

Comparative Studies 8805 Seminar in Literature in Global Context
Discussion of literary texts, cultural-political documents, and theoretical discourses in global contexts. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs. *This course may be used toward a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Comparative Literature. More information about the GIS can be found here.

Comparative Studies 8842 Seminar in Science and Medicine
Explores relationships between science, technology and the health sciences and medical practices; topic varies.  Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8843 Seminar in Technology and Culture
Explores relationships between science and technology and other areas, including politics, gender and sexuality, popular culture; topic varies.  Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8858 Seminar in Folklore
Advanced seminar on current or specialized topics in folklore studies. Folklore GIS course.
Cross-listed in English. Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8865 Seminar in Critical Trauma Theory
Examines various topics in the growing field of critical trauma theory.  Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8866 Seminar in Culture and Capital
Exploration of theoretical approaches to relations between cultural and economic production; examines major materialist theories, materialist feminism, and other forms of materialist critique.  Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8872 Seminar in Religious Studies
Explores relationships between religious institutions and practices and other areas, including politics, gender and sexuality, technology, popular culture; topics vary.  Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs.

Comparative Studies 8888 Interdepartmental Seminar in Critical Theory
Interdisciplinary study of a movement or problem in critical theory.  Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs. Cross-listed in English, French, German, Spanish, and WGSS.

Comparative Studies 8890 Colloquia, Workshops, and Departmental Seminars
Departmental workshop, colloquium, or seminar.  Topics vary.  Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs or 9 completions. This course is graded S/U.

Comparative Studies 8896 Seminar in East Asian Philosophy
Seminar focusing on a particular thinker, school of philosophy, or set of texts from the East Asian philosophical tradition. Topics vary.  Repeatable to a maximum of 9 cr hrs. Cross-listed in EALL and Philos 8102.

Comparative Studies 8997 Writing Seminar
Writing seminar for CompStd doctoral students. Repeatable to a maximum of 3 cr hrs. This course is graded S/U.

Comparative Studies 8998 Research in Comparative Studies: Candidacy Examination
Research in preparation for Ph.D. exams.  Repeatable to a maximum of 27 cr hrs or 12 completions. This course is graded S/U.

Comparative Studies 8999 Research in Comparative Studies: Dissertation
Research for dissertation.  Repeatable. This course is graded S/U.


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