Our curriculum requires students to complete courses and tutorials that demonstrate familiarity with literature from diverse historic periods (pre-1700; 1700-1899; 1900-present), of different genres (prose fiction, poetry, drama/theater), and of multiple national or linguistic traditions.
Our curriculum requires students to complete courses and tutorials that demonstrate familiarity with literature from diverse historic periods (pre-1700; 1700-1899; 1900-present), of different genres (prose fiction, poetry, drama/theater), and of multiple national or linguistic traditions. These may be met by a combination of courses, tutorials, and ISPs. Most students meet all program requirements in 10-12 courses or projects (6-8 is typical for a joint-disciplinary AOC). All students at NCF complete at least seven contracts, three ISPs, and a senior thesis project. Semester contracts generally consist of three to five academic activities—courses, tutorials, internships—designed to help students reach their specific academic goals.
Students who wish to complete an AOC in Literature, or a joint-disciplinary AOC that includes Literature, submit an application, usually in the fifth contract. Links to the application and to the detailed explanation of the program requirements in the New College Catalog are here:
This concentration allows students to study literature from diverse national and linguistic traditions, gaining a familiarity with genre and periodization across literary fields and an understanding of literary works in a comparative context. Our curriculum includes surveys of literary history and courses that focus on specific historical periods, genres, or thematic questions. The AOC serves students wishing to study literature broadly, including works written in English as well as in other languages; most courses are taught in English (English translation) and some are offered for students who can read foreign languages in the original.
The requirements and procedures for areas of concentration in specific literary traditions (Chinese, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Classics) are distinct from those given below. Students should see the catalog entries regarding these other areas of concentration and consult their sponsors and literature faculty members about which concentration is best for them.The Area of Concentration in Literature involves the following requirements:
These requirements should be met through a balanced program of courses and tutorials (generally 10-12 courses, from the introductory level through advanced seminars, ISPs and tutorials), including work in at least three linguistic traditions either in the original or in translation. Students planning to undertake the concentration should work in close consultation with a sponsor from the literature faculty. Students are admitted to the AOC by application in the 5th semester (see below).The language requirement (point 5 above) may be met by:
Early in the first module of the fifth semester, the student submits to the Literature faculty an application for an Area of Concentration in Literature (available from the Humanities Division). Check with any Literature faculty member regarding the deadline for submission of the application, which is earlier than the deadline for submission of the College-wide Provisional Area of Concentration form. If a student chooses a split or interdisciplinary Area of Concentration of which “Literature” is one part, she or he must also submit an application to the Literature faculty.The faculty meets and considers the applications, reviewing each student’s progress in meeting the requirements and plans for future study. If the student is admitted to the AOC, the faculty will make stipulations as to further work the student needs to complete the program. In cases of split or interdisciplinary concentrations, appropriate adaptations of the Literature requirements will be approved by faculty consensus.
After admission to the AOC, the student completes the College-wide Provisional Area of Concentration form, in consultation with their sponsor, and submits it to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline. The faculty signatures required on this form may be provided by any Literature faculty members.
VIEW LITERATURE ACADEMIC LEARNING COMPACT
VIEW LITERATURE COURSES OFFERED IN LAST 5 YEARS
Here’s a list of recent course offerings in Literature. Please note that the list below is just a small sample of courses offered in Literature, and that tutorials add additional breadth to the curriculum. Most courses are taught in English, many have options for students interested in working in the original, and some courses are taught exclusively in the original. For a complete list of courses by semester, please click here.
Pre-1700:
1700-1899:
1900-present:
Prose fiction:
Poetry:
Theater/Drama:
New College students must satisfy both the requirements of the Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC), New College’s general education program, and the specific requirements for the Area of Concentration (AOC). With so many opportunities each term, the pathway below is provided as an example of how a student could complete the requirements for graduation. We’ve put some checkpoints in place so that you make the most of your time at New College. Each term you’ll meet with a faculty advisor to discuss courses, tutorials, internships, or other academic experiences. Schedule a meeting with your faculty advisor to discuss which courses satisfy the LAC and which satisfy the AOC. Each student completes a Provisional AOC Plan in the fifth contract to select an AOC, and each student submits a Thesis Prospectus/AOC Form in the sixth contract.
Year | Fall Term | January / ISP | Spring Term |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Begining I Study of a Language (Modern or Classic) | ISP of Student's choice | Begining II Study of a Language (Modern or Classic) |
A course in Literary history/literature of a particular period | A course focusing on a particular genre (prose fiction, drama, poetry) | ||
LAC | LAC | ||
LAC | LAC | ||
Year 2 | Intermediate Study of a Language (Modern or Classic) | ISP of Student's choice | A course focusing on drama |
A course focusing on prose fiction | A course focusing on prose fiction | ||
A course focusing on poetry | LAC | ||
LAC | LAC | ||
Year 3 | A course in Literary history/literature of a particular period | ISP (Pre-thesis exploration) | A course focusing on prose fiction |
A course focusing on poetry | A course/ tutorial to strengthen thesis or AOC. | ||
A course on critical approaches or literary theory (ie. Critical Theory in the US, or a tutorial on a specific field of theory) | Thesis | ||
LAC | Other Course | ||
Year 4 | Thesis | ||
Other course | |||
Other course | |||
Other course |
Year | Fall Term | January / ISP | Spring Term |
---|---|---|---|
Year 3 | Begining I Study of a Language (Modern or Classic) | ISP (Pre-thesis exploration) | Begining II Study of a Language (Modern or Classic) |
A course in Literary history/literature of a particular period | A course focusing on poetry | ||
A course focusing on a particular genre (prose fiction, drama, poetry) | A course focusing on prose fiction | ||
Student's choice | Student's choice | ||
Year 4 | Intermediate Study of a Language (Modern or Classic) | ISP Student choice | A course in Literary history/literature of a particular period |
A course focusing on drama | A course/ tutorial to strengthen thesis or AOC. | ||
A course focusing on a particular genre (prose fiction, drama, poetry) | Thesis | ||
A course on critical approaches or literary theory (ie. Critical Theory in the U.S., or a tutorial on a specific field of theory) | Student's choice |