比较文学专业的学生采用全球研究方法，跨越国家和文化界限（从斯拉夫语到西班牙语，从英语到东亚语言，从意大利语到阿拉伯语），同时也跨学科（从文学研究到黑人研究，奇卡纳州） / o研究以及电影和媒体研究）。他们可以灵活地为自己的兴趣量身定制一系列课程，并学习古代到现代文学的多种方法。比较文学专业提供两个重点：1）外语：学生用原始语言进行文学的深入研究。2）跨学科：学生探索跨学科问题以及文学与艺术，社会科学或自然与物理科学之间的关系。
Comparative literature, an interdepartmental undergraduate and graduate program, combines the study of national literatures with courses that address the relationships between literature and other disciplines and fields such as cultural studies, gender studies, linguistics, philosophy, religious studies, translation studies, media and technology studies, psychology, cognitive sciences as well as the fine and performing arts. The Comparative Literature Program offers two undergraduate major tracks leading to the B.A. degree, Comparative Literature with Foreign Language Emphasis and Comparative Literature with Interdisciplinary Emphasis, a Minor in Translation Studies, and M.A./Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs at the graduate level. A degree in comparative literature provides preparation for possible careers as teachers and scholars in literary and cultural studies as well as for careers that require expertise in foreign languages and familiarity with multi-cultural perspectives, such as international journalism, business, law, and diplomacy.