Comparative Literature

Welcome to the Department of Comparative Literature. In this age of global exchange, our Master’s program promotes a study of literature that expands cultural connections among societies and bridges disciplines. The program’s course offerings include classes in world literature, critical theory and interdisciplinary studies where students work intensively with a distinguished faculty of scholars in Turkish, Ottoman, European and Anglophone literary and cultural studies. At the same time, our program encourages students to take advantage of the rich offerings of courses in other KU departments. The program’s graduates can seek careers in a variety of areas such as publishing, journalism, the cultural sector, education, international relations, and film and visual arts, or continue their studies at the doctorate level.

Faculty

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Courses

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MA with Thesis

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Program Overview

In an increasingly globalized world, it is more important than ever to study different languages ​​and literatures and to have the ability to understand other cultures. In the age of information, creating written or visual narratives and interpreting existing narratives is essential. The Comparative Literature Master’s program offers a study of literature that develops cultural relations between societies and brings together different disciplines. In the program, which includes world literature, critical theory, and interdisciplinary courses, students have the opportunity to work with distinguished faculty members in the fields of Turkish, Ottoman, European and Anglophone literary and cultural studies. In addition to raising awareness of various genres and topics in different kinds of literature, the program aims to inform students about current critical and theoretical debates and examine the relationship between literature and other disciplines and art forms.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) program in comparative literature offers a theoretically driven and interdisciplinary approach to the study of literature and other artistic media in a global context, across time periods, subjects and genres. The program gives students a strong grounding in recent methodologies and critical debates in comparative literature, and also an opportunity to conduct research in multiple languages, including Russian, Italian, German, French and Arabic.

The M.A. program is a two-year degree program. Students take courses in the first year, and conduct research and complete a thesis in the second year under the supervision of select faculty members. The program is especially designed to encourage students to conduct research on Ottoman and Modern Turkish literature in a broad comparative framework.

Graduates of the M.A. program will be prepared to use the knowledge and transferable skills gained from the study of literature and other artistic media to pursue a range of careers that demand a global perspective or a knowledge of, and appreciation for, diverse cultures, including those in academia, government, private sector, and non-governmental and non-profit organizations.

The Master’s program, along with its interdisciplinary approach, theoretical and methodological diversity, gives students the opportunity to conduct research in various languages, including Turkish, Ottoman, Arabic, German, French, Russian, Italian, and English. The program is especially designed to enable multilingual comparative research. Moreover, the program will prepare students who wish to continue onto doctoral programs in Türkiye, North America and Europe.

  • To master the main concepts and approaches in comparative literature and critical theory;
  • To learn the key methods of comparative literature and to apply them for research;
  • To develop effective research skills across different literary and artistic media;
  • To develop knowledge of different literatures and cultures;
  • To develop skills in critical and analytical thinking;
  • Identify and analyze current debates in comparative literature and in related fields;
  • To master methods and approaches used in the chosen area of research, and to conduct original work; 
  • To develop awareness of social, political, and environmental issues through textual analysis;
  • To understand the relationship of comparative literary studies with other disciplines.

Graduates of Koç University Comparative Literature graduate program can continue their academic careers in Türkiye and abroad in the following areas: Academia; Culture Industry; Translation sector; Publishing; Advertising; Corporate international relations; Public relations