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Comparative Literature Courses

This is a list of all courses offered in the program. Visit the Upcoming Courses page for a list of courses offered for the current and next semester (when available).

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 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023.
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: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2023.
COMPLIT 199 Independent Study
1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
For further information, consult dept chair.
Prerequisites: 2.0 GPA and 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 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021.
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 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021.
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.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2020, Spring 2018, Summer 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.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2021.
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: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2013, Fall 2009, Spring 2008.
COMPLIT 233 Literature and Film:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Themes, styles, and ideology in cinematic and literary texts.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Fall 2021.
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, and consent of 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 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 Program.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2019.
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: Fall 2023.
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: Fall 2023.
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: junior standing or ENGLISH 290(P); satisfaction of OWC-A.
Course Rules: Retakable with change in topic to 9 cr max. COMPLIT 316, ENGLISH 316 & FILMSTD 316 are jointly offered; with the same topic, they count as repeats of one another.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023.
COMPLIT 340 Studies in Literary Genres and Modes:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Literary genres and modes from at least one international cultural context.
Prerequisites: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
COMPLIT 340G Studies in Literary Genres and Modes:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Literary genres and modes from at least one international cultural context.
Prerequisites: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025.
COMPLIT 350 Topics in Comparative Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
One or more areas of comparative literature across periods, genres, or regions.
Prerequisites: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Fall 2020.
COMPLIT 350G Topics in Comparative Literature:
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
One or more areas of comparative literature across periods, genres, or regions.
Prerequisites: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Fall 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: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2022, Fall 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: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 6 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2022, Fall 2020.
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: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
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: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
COMPLIT 381 Honors Seminar:
3 cr. Undergraduate.
Critical study of a problem in comparative literary relations.
Prerequisites: sophomore standing, HONORS 200(P), and consent of Honors College director.
General Education Requirements: HU
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2021.
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: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2021.
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: junior standing.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 9 cr max.
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2021.
COMPLIT 463 Literary Criticism: Major Authors
3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
The development of critical theories from Plato to the present.
Prerequisites: junior standing.
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: junior standing.
Last Taught: Spring 2014, Spring 2011.
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: junior standing; 300-level or above course in comparative literature; 2.25 GPA and consent of 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: junior standing and acceptance for Study Abroad Program.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2017.
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: junior standing and acceptance for Study Abroad Program.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2017.
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 additional semester.
Prerequisites: junior standing; additional prerequisites may be assigned to specific topic.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
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: junior standing, 2.0 GPA, and consent of instructor, department chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.
Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic.
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Summer 2016.

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