Course content and focus areas
The consecutive, four-semester master's program in Comparative Literature is an interdisciplinary and research-oriented degree course offered by the Institute for General and Comparative Literature Studies in cooperation with the Institute for German Literature and its Didactics, the Institute for English and American Studies, the Institute for Romance Languages and Literatures, and the Institute for Theatre, Film, and Media Studies.
This program aims to expand theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills in the area of literature studies in a cross-disciplinary manner, while deepening insights into specific phenomena of literary transfer and the relationship between literature and other arts and media. In addition to general academic and subject-specific competencies, students will acquire knowledge of intra- and interdisciplinary methodological discussions, as well as skills in analyzing, commenting on, and interpreting texts.
The course combines a General and a Comparative study component. The General component is mandatory and focuses on building and expanding cross-disciplinary knowledge in literature studies, particularly in literary theory, poetics, aesthetics, and hermeneutics. The Comparative component allows students to specialize in specific areas of philology, explore interactions between literatures and poetics of different languages and cultures, and address media and theatre studies questions within a chosen focus area. The following focus areas are available:
- General and Comparative Literature Studies (AVL)
- General and Comparative Media Studies (AVM)
- General and Comparative Theatre Studies (AVT)
- Anglophone Literature Studies (ANG)
- Francophone Literature Studies (FRA)
- German Literature Studies (GER)
In an optional component, students can further develop their foreign language skills, establish connections to related disciplines, or carry out a practical project in scenic arts.
This program provides the theoretical foundations for doctoral studies and prepares students for a wide range of challenging careers in the cultural and media sectors.