Courses Offered

The following is a list of all Comparative Literature courses offered. To check the availability of any particular course, refer to the UWM Schedule of Classes or the UWM Academic Catalog.

COMPLIT 133 Contemporary Imagination in Literature and the Arts
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Introduction to comparative literature, focusing on the study of world literatures and their relations to other arts, and to cultural and social currents.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019.
COMPLIT 135 Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Critical study of literary forms (e.g. romance, comedy, short story) and their connections with other arts and media, such as cinema, TV, and music.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2020.
COMPLIT 192 First-Year Seminar:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Specific topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: Open only to freshmen. Students may earn cr in just one L&S First-Year Sem (course numbers 192, 193, 194).
Last Taught: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2012, Fall 2009.
COMPLIT 199 Independent Study
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
For further information, consult dept chair.
Prerequisites: 2.0 GPA; consent of instructor, department chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.
Course Rules: May be retaken to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Summer 2011, Spring 2011, Spring 2010, Fall 2004.
COMPLIT 207 Global Literature from Antiquity to the 1600s:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Literary analysis through a survey of world literature from antiquity through the 1600s.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May not be retaken for cr.
Last Taught: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017.
COMPLIT 208 Global Literature from the 17th Century to the Present:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Literary analysis through a survey of world literature from the 1600s to the present.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May not be retaken for cr.
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018.
COMPLIT 230 Literature and Society:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Relationships between literature and aspects of society, e.g., philosophical movements; history; gender, race, class, or sexuality.
Prerequisites: none. CompLit 133(R).
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Spring 2018, Summer 2017, Spring 2017.
COMPLIT 231 Literature and Religion:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
A close study of the interrelationship of literature and religion across a wide historical spectrum.
Prerequisites: none. CompLit 133(R).
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Fall 2018, Spring 2017, Fall 2016.
COMPLIT 232 Literature and Politics:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Multiple ways literature and politics shape and influence one another, with particular focus on links between literary and political representation.
Prerequisites: CompLit 133(R).
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2013, Fall 2009, Spring 2008, Fall 2007.
COMPLIT 233 Literature and Film:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Themes, styles, and ideology in cinematic and literary texts.
Prerequisites: CompLit 133(R).
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018.
COMPLIT 289 Internship in Comparative Literature, Lower Division
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of basic principles of comparative literature in a business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate settings.
Prerequisites: CompLit 100- or 200-level course; 2.25 gpa; cons supervising faculty member.
Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship. May be retaken to 6 cr max.
COMPLIT 293 Literature and Science:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Dehumanization of mankind by technology as theme for changing literature.
Prerequisites: none.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 1985.
COMPLIT 297 Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Summer 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2009.
COMPLIT 299 Ad Hoc:
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept & assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add'l sem.
Prerequisites: none; add'l prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 1999.
COMPLIT 309 Great Works of Modern Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Literature of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with emphasis on theme, movement, trend, genre, or mode.
Prerequisites: jr st; CompLit 207(R) or 208(R).
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2019, Fall 2018.
COMPLIT 309G Great Works of Modern Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Literature of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with emphasis on theme, movement, trend, genre, or mode.
Prerequisites: jr st; CompLit 207(R) or 208(R).
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2019, Fall 2018.
COMPLIT 316 World Cinema:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
National cinemas in first, second, and/or third world nations; relationships among representation, narrative, and social forms.
Prerequisites: jr. st or English 290(P); satisfaction of OWC-A.
Course Rules: Retakable w/chg in topic to 9 cr max. CompLit 316, English 316 & FilmStd 316 are jointly offered; w/same topic, they count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018.
COMPLIT 320 Mediaeval Literature and Culture:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Major genres, themes, and figures of the Middle Ages through representative literary works, devotional writings, visual art, architecture, and other examples of cultural production.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2006, Fall 2005.
COMPLIT 320G Mediaeval Literature and Culture:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Major genres, themes, and figures of the Middle Ages through representative literary works, devotional writings, visual art, architecture, and other examples of cultural production.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2006, Fall 2005.
COMPLIT 321 Renaissance Literature and Culture:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Major genres, themes, figures, tenets, aspects, influences, and trends in Renaissance literature through representative literary works, visual art, architecture, and other examples of cultural production.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2007, Spring 2006.
COMPLIT 321G Renaissance Literature and Culture:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Major genres, themes, figures, tenets, aspects, influences, and trends in Renaissance literature through representative literary works, visual art, architecture, and other examples of cultural production.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2007, Spring 2006.
COMPLIT 340 Studies in Literary Genres and Modes:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Literary genres and modes from at least one international cultural context.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Fall 2016.
COMPLIT 340G Studies in Literary Genres and Modes:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Literary genres and modes from at least one international cultural context.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2020, Fall 2016.
COMPLIT 350 Topics in Comparative Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
One or more areas of comparative literature across periods, genres, or regions.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020, Spring 2020.
COMPLIT 350G Topics in Comparative Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
One or more areas of comparative literature across periods, genres, or regions.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020, Spring 2020.
COMPLIT 360 Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
How culture is expressed in literary works with specific emphasis on how dominant and marginalized groups are represented in literature.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020, Spring 2020.
COMPLIT 360G Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
How culture is expressed in literary works with specific emphasis on how dominant and marginalized groups are represented in literature.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020, Spring 2020.
COMPLIT 362 Transnational Asian Cinemas:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Critical study of the cinemas of Asia, their film masters, avant-garde genres, and movements in relation to world cinema culture.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2014.
COMPLIT 362G Transnational Asian Cinemas:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Critical study of the cinemas of Asia, their film masters, avant-garde genres, and movements in relation to world cinema culture.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2014.
COMPLIT 363 Chinese Literature in the Global Context:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Modern or contemporary Chinese literature; focus on a period, theme, genre, or movement in relation to literary cultures of other countries and regions or world events.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
COMPLIT 363G Chinese Literature in the Global Context:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Modern or contemporary Chinese literature; focus on a period, theme, genre, or movement in relation to literary cultures of other countries and regions or world events.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
COMPLIT 365 Literatures and Cultures of the Americas:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Comparative study of the literatures and cultural expressions of three or more national, ethnic, or linguistic traditions within North and South America and the Caribbean.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020.
COMPLIT 365G Literatures and Cultures of the Americas:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Comparative study of the literatures and cultural expressions of three or more national, ethnic, or linguistic traditions within North and South America and the Caribbean.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2020.
COMPLIT 381 Honors Seminar:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Critical study of a problem in comparative literary relations.
Prerequisites: soph st; Honors 200(P); cons Honors College dir.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Spring 2017, Fall 2007, Spring 2001.
COMPLIT 410 Classical Backgrounds of Modern Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Influences of classical literature and art upon modern literature.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2005, Spring 2002.
COMPLIT 410G Classical Backgrounds of Modern Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Influences of classical literature and art upon modern literature.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2005, Spring 2002.
COMPLIT 457 Topics in French and Francophone Studies in Translation:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Critical reading, lectures, and discussion of important works on a topic, genre, or historical period, with particular emphasis on intellectual and cultural context.
Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: COMPLIT 457 & FRENCH 457 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Summer 2020, Fall 2015.
COMPLIT 457G Topics in French and Francophone Studies in Translation:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Critical reading, lectures, and discussion of important works on a topic, genre, or historical period, with particular emphasis on intellectual and cultural context.
Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Course Rules: COMPLIT 457 & FRENCH 457 are jointly offered; they count as repeats of one another. May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Summer 2020, Fall 2015.
COMPLIT 461 Film-Fiction Interaction:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Growth and development of film in conjunction with literary devices (narrative, setting, etc.), novels, plays, biographies, and poetry. Mutual influences of literary and cinematic arts.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2015, Spring 2013.
COMPLIT 461G Film-Fiction Interaction:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Growth and development of film in conjunction with literary devices (narrative, setting, etc.), novels, plays, biographies, and poetry. Mutual influences of literary and cinematic arts.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2015, Spring 2013.
COMPLIT 463 Literary Criticism: Major Authors
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
The development of critical theories from Plato to the present.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Last Taught: Spring 2014, Spring 2011.
COMPLIT 463G Literary Criticism: Major Authors
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
The development of critical theories from Plato to the present.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Last Taught: Spring 2014, Spring 2011.
COMPLIT 464 Seminar in Comparative Literary Criticism:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Principles and theories of literary criticism in a given period; major approaches to literature.
Prerequisites: jr st, completion of OWC-A; or grad st.
General Education Requirements: OWCB
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2017, Spring 2016.
COMPLIT 464G Seminar in Comparative Literary Criticism:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Principles and theories of literary criticism in a given period; major approaches to literature.
Prerequisites: jr st, completion of OWC-A; or grad st.
General Education Requirements: OWCB
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2017, Spring 2016.
COMPLIT 489 Internship in Comparative Literature, Upper Division
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of advanced principles of comparative literature in a business, organizational, educational, political, or other appropriate setting.
Prerequisites: jr st; 300-level or above course in CompLit; 2.25 gpa; cons supervising faculty member.
Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hours in internship. May be retaken to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2008.
COMPLIT 497 Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: jr st; acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2017, Spring 2010.
COMPLIT 497G Study Abroad:
1-12 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared program course work.
Prerequisites: jr st; acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2017, Spring 2010.
COMPLIT 499 Ad Hoc:
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept & assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add'l sem.
Prerequisites: jr st; add'l prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.
COMPLIT 533 Seminar in Trends in Modern Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Development of important trends, ideas, and forms of world literature, and their contributions to cultural modernity.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2008, Fall 2006.
COMPLIT 533G Seminar in Trends in Modern Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Development of important trends, ideas, and forms of world literature, and their contributions to cultural modernity.
Prerequisites: jr st.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2008, Fall 2006.
COMPLIT 699 Advanced Independent Reading
1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Advanced independent work under the supervision of a CompLit faculty or instructional academic staff member. For further information, consult CompLit prog coord.
Prerequisites: jr st; 2.0 GPA; consent of instructor, department chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Summer 2016, Summer 2013.