Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature Offered

A comparative-literature library
Wade Komisar

Thanks to a new program recently developed by the German Department Faculty, German Department graduate students may now receive a Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature. Courses in German or other literatures with a comparative, interdisciplinary, and/or theoretic focus, such as literary theory, narrative theory, or a course involving more than one national tradition may, if approved by the Chair of Comparative Literature, be counted toward the Comparative Literature certificate, as well as toward German. Admission to the new program is highly selective, restricted to U.Va. advanced-degree candidates with excellent records.

At this time, several graduate students have received permission to pursue the Comparative Literature certificate. Rising third-year Ph.D. candidate Kerstin Steitz spoke about her interest in the program. Noting that our graduate students have always read widely and taken courses in other literatures, Kerstin said it is good to have this broader approach officially recognized. Moreover, Kerstin pointed out that having the Comparative Literature certificate on one’s CV gives job candidates a better chance on the market, since it shows they can teach other literatures besides German. Kerstin concluded by saying that she welcomes the opportunity to get to know more of her colleagues by taking courses in other graduate departments.