Studies in Comparative Literatures and Arts (MA)

Location(s): Main Campus

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Please note: this program will not be admitting students for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Master of Arts in Studies in Comparative Literatures and Arts

Program Website: Studies in Comparative Literatures and Arts

Faculty and Administration

For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.

Program Description

The MA program in Studies in Comparative Literatures and Arts is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the study of literature from different cultures and examines the ways in which literature enters into dialogue with the fine and performing arts. Students critically explore contemporary approaches to texts of various types, as well as the possibilities and problems that arise in comparative studies, including issues related to the translation and adaptation of works. Through coursework, students are encouraged to develop a cross-disciplinary understanding of how works of art or cultural production evolve, are received, and are interpreted.

The SCLA program has been designed to challenge students with an interest in the multi- and interdisciplinary collision of ideas in the Humanities, particularly questions of comparison between different forms of creative expression. In the context of advanced interdisciplinary inquiry, it provides the opportunity for the conjunction of a range of different languages and theoretical perspectives. Literature and the languages of the Visual Arts, Music, and Dramatic Arts are investigated in the context of dynamic comparability. Such generative encounters provide students (and indeed, teaching Faculty) with the opportunity for the development of fresh insights, rich innovative methodological terrains, and the creation of new concepts and post-disciplinary ideas.

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of four year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline or interdisciplinary program (for example, Modern Languages and Literatures, Comparative Literature, English Language and Literature, Classics, Dramatic Arts, Visual Arts, Music, Film Studies, Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, Canadian Studies, or Women’s Studies), with an average of not less than 75%. Applicants with an honours degree in a discipline not listed above should have completed some courses related to literary, performing, or visual arts as part of their undergraduate program. Students entering the program are expected to have a reading knowledge of at least one language other than English.

Part-time study is available.

Degree Requirements

While the program offers both a thesis and a major research paper option, students are strongly encouraged to pursue the major research paper option, as the additional coursework required by this choice provides more opportunity for comparative analysis across the arts. The thesis option is by application and recommendation of the Graduate Program Committee.

For a full list of graduate course offerings by subject area, please refer to the Courses tab in the navigation menu.

Major Research Paper Option

Students pursuing the major research paper option are required to take six half-courses:

SCLA 5P01 - Critical Theory and Research Creation in Literature and Arts
SCLA 5P02 - Interdisciplinary Methodologies
SCLA 5P03 - Critical Theory and the Arts
Three elective courses:
- one selected from SCLA 5P60-5V99
- two from a graduate level course in Humanities. These two electives will be arranged in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.

In addition to the courses, each student must complete a major research paper (SCLA 5F91 ) of 40-50 pages.

Full-time students normally complete the program in three terms.

Thesis Option

Students approved for the thesis option will take five half-courses:

SCLA 5P01 - Critical Theory and Research Creation in Literature and Arts
SCLA 5P02 - Interdisciplinary Methodologies
SCLA 5P03 - Critical Theory and the Arts
One elective course (selected from SCLA 5P60-5V99)
One elective course from another graduate program in Humanities

In addition to the courses, each student must complete and defend at a public oral examination a thesis (SCLA 5F90 ) of 75-100 pages.

Full-time students normally complete the program in four terms.

Research Creation

If approved, qualified students may choose to develop a research-creation project in lieu of the standard major research paper or thesis.

Research-creation is “An approach to research that combines creative and academic research practices, and supports the development of knowledge and innovation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation. The creation process is situated within the research activity and produces critically informed work in a variety of media (art forms). […]

Fields that may involve research-creation may include, but are not limited to: architecture, design, creative writing, visual arts (e. g., painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, textiles), performing arts (e. g., dance, music, theatre), film, video, performance art, interdisciplinary arts, media and electronic arts, and new artistic practices. ” (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)

In SCLA, the Research Creation option is available to cultural producers with an active practice and/or academic qualifications in relevant disciplines (music, theatre, creative writing, visual arts. etc.) who choose to create a cultural product (work of art, performance, play, text, etc.) for their major research paper or thesis. Students choosing the research-creation option are required to (1) include a sample of previous creative work in their Statement of Intent in their application; (2) work with a supervisor with professional experience in the arts, creative writing, and/or editorial and curatorial work; and (3) provide an analytic-theoretical text related to the work they create. Its length and approach will be determined in consultation with their supervisors. Documentation and/or presentation of production should be taken into account at all stages. However, production components are not to be considered as over and above written components.

The feasibility of the project, timeline and logistics of the final presentation should be addressed at the proposal stage. It is possible to present the process of development or conceptual design of a project as the research-creation output.

SCLA does not provide studio space or production facilities. Students are encouraged to discuss with their supervisor whether any support may be available through other units. They may also visit the following facilities: the Digital Scholarship Lab (Brock Library), the Makerspace and the Brock LINC (Rankin Family Pavilion).

All SCLA students are graduate associates in the Research Centre in Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Culture (in the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture) and are invited to use its resources for the publication, exhibition or performance of their creative project.

Students are also encouraged to become members of the Humanities Research Institute, where some funding for production elements may be available.