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The Comparative Literature Program at Columbia was founded in 1899, and is the oldest of such programs in the U.S. In recognition of major changes in the nature and scope of literary studies in the past few decades, Columbia's program reorganized itself in 1998 as the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society. The Institute's program draws on a large number of comparatists in the language and literature departments as well as in related disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, architecture, law, and the various area studies institutes. It is designed for post-M.A. students interested in the cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural study of texts and traditions, media and discourses. Study in comparative literature and society is directed by an interdepartmental committee of representatives from affiliated departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and other Schools: Anthropology, Art History and Archaeology, Classics, East Asian Languages and Cultures, English and Comparative Literature, French and Romance Philology, Germanic Languages, History, Italian, Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Slavic Languages, Sociology, Spanish and Portuguese and the Schools of Architecture and Law.

Entering students apply directly to a participating degree program (see list above), clearly indicating their interest in Comparative Literature and Society on the cover of their application or in the subfield section in the Application Part 1. Continuing students may apply to CLS after completing an M.A. degree in a national or area literature or by completing a comparable course of study in another discipline. Application forms are available on line. This training in a home discipline establishes the intellectual and linguistic foundation for comparative study and constitutes an important asset for later professional activity. Students in the language and literature departments; English; and Classics are eligible to earn the Ph.D. in the home department with a concentration in Comparative Literature and Society. Students in other humanities departments, social sciences departments, and in the Schools of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation; Law; and International and Public Affairs earn degrees in the home department and/or program and the Certificate in Comparative Literature and Society.

All interested students must take the course, Introduction to Comparative Literature and Society (G4900), in the first year of graduate study, continuing students in the first year after admission. The main focus of Ph.D. work may be either one or more linguistic and literary tradition or work in history, anthropology, art history or other affiliated Columbia departments and schools. Upon receipt of the application, the Center sets up an advisory structure to determine the program of study for each student.

For a complete and updated listing of faculty and offerings, please consult http://www.columbia.edu/cu/icls/courses/courses/intro/index.html