DEPARTMENTAL LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Registration for the Language Examinations:
At least four weeks prior to the examination, the student must inform the advisor of his or her intention to take the examination and must provide the Department, through the advisor, with a list of graduate coursework.

Examination in the Second Language:
This mandatory examination must be taken by the end of the second semester of graduate study and before the Second Year Examination. It will usually be administered in April of each academic year. The student will have four hours to translate and critically analyze a selected passage from a foreign language literary text. The examination will be administered by one professor and evaluated by that professor and one additional faculty member.

Requirement in a Third Language: Proficiency in a third language will be demonstrated by the completion of an appropriate intermediate or advanced literature course with a grade of "AB" or better. This requirement must be satisfied before the Comprehensive (or “prelim”) Examinations.

Ancient Language Requirement: Each candidate must demonstrate reading knowledge of at least one of the following languages: Sanskrit, Hebrew, Classical Greek, Latin, a Medieval language, or a major Asian or African language. This requirement is satisfied by the completion of an appropriate course with a grade of "AB" or better.

Please note: In the event that the linguistic tradition under examination cannot be covered by a member of the Comparative Literature faculty, the advisor will invite an appropriate member of the U.W. Madison faculty to assist in the administration of the examination.