The World Literatures Minor offers students a structured yet flexible course of study focused on global literatures, cultural analysis, and cross-cultural understanding. Through the study of texts and media from diverse linguistic and cultural traditions, the minor develops students’ ability to analyze how stories, ideas, and artistic forms circulate across borders and reflect social, political, and historical realities.

The curriculum emphasizes:

• Comparative and global perspectives on literature and culture
• Interdisciplinary approaches to textual, visual, and digital media
• Critical analysis of cultural production across time and place
• The study of literature in both translation and original languages

Minor Structure and Requirements

The minor requires 18 credits organized across introductory, elective, and advanced coursework.

• Introductory requirement:
  One global literature survey course (LIT/ENG 174 or 175)
• Lower-division coursework:
  Up to two courses (maximum 6 credits)
• Upper-division coursework:
  A minimum of four courses (12 credits) in literature and cultural studies at the 300 level or above
• At least three courses (9 credits) must be taken within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

The minor is designed to balance foundational knowledge with flexibility, allowing students to shape their coursework around specific interests while maintaining coherence and academic rigor.

Interdisciplinary and Global Breadth

The minor emphasizes both interdisciplinarity and global scope:

• No more than three courses may be taken within the same program
• Coursework must span multiple world regions, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, or transregional topics
• Students may not concentrate more than four courses in a single region

This structure ensures broad exposure to diverse cultural traditions and perspectives.

Language Study

Language study is a key component of the minor:

• Students must complete at least one semester of a non-English language before declaring the minor
• Additional language coursework at the 200 level or above may count toward the minor by petition

This requirement reinforces the program’s focus on understanding literature and culture across linguistic contexts.

Skills and Learning Outcomes

Students completing the minor develop the ability to:

• Analyze and contextualize global literary traditions across time and place
• Recognize differences in form, style and content across cultures
• Apply critical and comparative methods to a range of texts and media
• Communicate ideas clearly through discussion and writing
• Reflect on cultural perspectives and intellectual traditions different from their own

Academic and Career Preparation

The minor prepares students to engage thoughtfully with global cultures and equips them with broadly applicable skills in analysis, communication, and interpretation. It complements a wide range of majors and supports career paths in media, publishing, education, international fields, cultural organizations, and beyond, as well as further study in the humanities and related disciplines.