Master of Arts in Comparative Literature

1. Knowledge and Comprehension:
   1. To demonstrate a critical understanding of the general historical and cultural background of global literatures.
   2. To discuss the contexts of global literatures and their dialogue with global literary criticism, their reception and adaptation
   3. To recognize literary and critical terminology and research tools in the field.
   4. To classify information
   5. To convert information into effective communication
   6. To give examples from a variety of cultural standpoints.
   7. To Identify multi perspectives.
   8. To discover points of similarities between and across cultures
2. Mental Skills:
   1. The ability to use theories of comparative literature to analyze and culturally comprehend literary texts.
   2. The ability to critically relate the relationship between literature and culture.
   3. The ability to distinguish erroneous arguments.
   4. The ability to defend and argue.
   5. The ability to describe accurately.
   6. The ability to explain points of view.
   7. The ability to express coherently.
   8. The ability to infer similarities and differences.
   9. The ability to produce reports that demonstrate creative thinking.
3.  Professional and Practical Skills:
   1. To write critical and analytical essays in English and Arabic.
   2. To produce literary and critical research.
   3. To interpret comparative literary studies.
4. General Skills:
   1. The ability to argue and debate in English and Arabic.
   2. To culturally connect with the English-speaking world.
   3. To build bridges between the Arabic and Islamic culture on the one hand and the other cultures on the other.
   4. To inform decision makers regarding dialogue between these cultures

In addition to the admission requirements mentioned in the unified regulations for graduate studies in Saudi universities and the organizational and executive rules and procedures for postgraduate studies at King Saud University, the program’s council requires the following to enroll in the program:

1. The applicant must hold a full-time bachelor’s degree in Arabic or English literature, comparative literature, translation, media, history, anthropology, fine arts, linguistics, political science, culture studies, theology, psychology, sociology, film studies or theater with a Very Good GPA of no less than 3.75 out of 5, or equivalent.
2. Obtaining a minimum score of (6) in the IELTS or its equivalent. The program does not accept STEP.
3. Submitting a statement of purpose.
4. Passing the program written exams.

First Year – First Semester

LIT 511 – Research Methods for Comparative Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 512 – Origins & Development of Comparative Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 513 – Literary Criticism: Classics to 19th Century – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included

Total: 9 Study Units

First Year– Second Semester

LIT 521 – Contemporary Theories of Comparative Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 522 – Modern Theories of Criticism – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT Elective (1) – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included

Total: 9 Study Units

Second Year – First Semester

LIT 531 – Comparative Rhetoric – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT Elective (2) – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT Elective (3) – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included

Total: 9 Study Units

Second Year– Second Semester

LIT 599 – Research Project – 3 Study Units (0 + 6) – Project – Assessment: Pass/Fail
LIT Elective (4) – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT Elective (5) – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included

Total: 9 Study Units

List of Elective Courses

Students must select five (5) courses from the following list:

LIT 561 – Studies in Influence and Intertextuality – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 562 – Literary Translation & Comparative Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 563 – Minority and Otherness in Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 564 – Literary Orientalism and Occidentalism – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 565 – Topics in Popular Culture – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 566 – Topics in Women’s Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 567 – Issues in Postcolonial Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 568 – Studies in Autobiography – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 569 – Studies in Digital Humanities – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 570 – Topics in Children’s and Young Adult Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 571 – Issues in Comparative Literary Theory – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 572 – Studies in World Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 573 – Topics in Comparative Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 574 – Modernism and Postmodernism Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 575 – The Saudi Novel in the Global Context – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 576 – Saudi Literary Criticism in the Global Context – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 577 – Anglophone and Arabophone Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 578 – Islam in Western Literature – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 579 – Comparative Literature in Andalusia – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 580 – Nahdawists’ Interactions with the West – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 581 – Travelers to Arabia – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 582 – Muslim Scholars and the European Renaissance – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included
LIT 583 – Film Studies – 3 Study Units (3 + 0) – Lecture – GPA: Included