Comparative Culture and Literary Studies (CCLS)

General Information

For details on:

Learning Aims
Core Language Requirement
Placement Tests in Modern Langauges

Go to Modern Languages and Literatures

The CCLS major is an interdisciplinary program which includes a strong foreign language emphasis. The major adopts a global perspective and establishes broader connections and contrasts across nations, cultures, languages, and ethnic groups. The comparative focus of the major benefits not only CCLS majors and minors, but all students interested in the world heritage of which we are part. The CCLS major also encourages acquisition of a second or third foreign language, chosen from course offerings in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish. Because of its broad humanistic base and strong interdisciplinary focus, this major is in conformity with the objectives of the University to prepare students "to learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world."

CCLS majors specialize in the comparative study of diverse cultures and literatures and acquire advanced-level reading and communication skills in at least one foreign language. The expected learning outcomes for CCLS majors are a high degree of multicultural awareness; acquisition of strong communication and reading skills in at least one foreign language; and the development and acquisition of strong critical and analytical skills through the process of comparison. To ensure achievement of these goals, student assessment is conducted through examinations, reports, papers, and special projects. As a capstone experience, seniors take one of the CCLS core courses and write a senior project paper in that course. The course instructor and the CCLS Steering Committee critiques and grades the paper to ensure proper coherence with the individual student's program.

All CCLS students must plan their program in consultation with the CCLS director. Students are encouraged to participate in a study abroad program. Usually, four courses for the major and two for the minor may be taken abroad. Students also are encouraged to minor in another modern or classical language or in another discipline to complement the CCLS major. CCLS students may double count only two courses from another major or minor as part of their CCLS major.

Requirements for the Major

The 12 courses required for the major are as follows:

Option One

Topics in Comparative Culture and Literary Studies (ML 307 ).
Two 200-level language courses in a language taught at Loyola.
Five ML 300-level courses. Two 300-level literature courses may be substituted for two ML courses.
Four courses from participating disciplines (AH, CL, EN, HS, PL, and TH).

Option Two

Topics in Comparative Culture and Literary Studies (ML 307 ).
Two 200-level language courses in a language taught at Loyola.
Two 200-level language courses in a second language taught at Loyola.
Three ML 300-level courses. Two 300-level literature courses may be substituted for two ML courses.
Four courses from participating disciplines (AH, CL, EN, HS, PL, and TH).

Capstone Paper

The capstone paper is written in the senior year in a Modern Languages CCLS course. Seniors research and write a paper integrating the course topic into the specific orientation chosen for their comparative studies. The course instructor, CCLS director, and CCLS Steering Committee monitor, advise, critique, and grade the paper. Completion of the paper is necessary for graduation with a CCLS major.