Comparative Literature Department
Admission to the Program
Admission to the Master of Arts degree program requires completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university, with a major in a field relevant to comparative literary study. (Note: Students admitted on a provisional basis must present proof of completion of the B.A. upon their arrival at Indiana University.) Successful applicants usually have at least a 3.5 grade point average in courses for their major. Applicants for the M.A. must also present evidence of their ability to read fluently texts written in at least one foreign langugae. Ordinarily, applicants must show that, as undergraduates, they have completed at least one foreign language course at the third-year level, in which they have read texts in the original language. Students whose native language is not English may offer English as their foreign language, though in this case a higher level of profiency is required, since all applicants are expected to read, write, and communicate orally in fluent English.
Masters degree students will not exceed 35 credit hours, and if students exceed these credit hours before being admitted to the Ph.D. program, the credits may not count toward the Ph.D. degree requirements. At the end of the Masters Degree requirements the student will have to petition to enter the Ph.D. program.Students must submit a letter indicating their desire to enter the Ph.D. program, along with 3 letters of recommendation supporting their Ph.D. admission to Comparative Literature. (Please contact the Graduate Studies Office for further infotmation/details). Admission to the Ph.D. program is by no means an automatic procedure.
Admission to both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs is competitive. The Department’s Admissions Committee oversees the assessment of applications. Among the evidence used to evaluate applications are academic record, letters of recommendation, test scores, and preparation in foreign language and literary study. Applicants for both the M.A. and Ph.D. should submit the following:
1) the completed application form
2) the applicant’s statement of purpose
3) transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
4) at least three letters of recommendation
5) official score reports from the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test (required) and Subject Achievement Test (recommended but not required)
6) a sample of written work (such as an honors project, Master’s thesis, or research paper).
7) all applicants whose native language is not English must also submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL)
For application forms, U.S. citizens may contact the Comparative Literature Graduate Studies Office by phone (812-855-9602) or by e-mail (Connie May). To download a printable PDF version of the application form, click here. Applicants may also apply online. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens should submit the international application form, which is available from the International Admissions Office, 300 N. Jordan Ave., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 (phone: 812-855-4306); or online at . U.S. citizens who have completed all or part of their undergraduate or graduate education outside the U.S. should submit a domestic application plus a "Supplemental Application for Admission," available upon request from our Graduate Studies Offiec.
No applications for admission with fellowship can be considered unless they are complete by January 15. (Please note: Deadline for international student application is December 15th.) Applications for admission only must be complete by February 1. Applicants should therefore take the required examinations early enough so that their scores will reach the Department before the deadlines. The Department will notify applicants whose files are incomplete; but each applicant must take responsibility for having the required items submitted. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Graduate Studies Office, Ballantine Hall Room 914 of the Department of Comparative Literature by recommenders, not by the applicant.
