Welcome to the Department of Comparative Literature. Comparative Literature at Princeton invites students both to read texts closely and to think about the nature, function, and value of literature within a broad context. Our courses are not confined to a single national literature but rather engage many different traditions, genres, and languages across the globe. They also set literature in juxtaposition to art, film, philosophy, psychology, history, law, and other fields that provide context and comparison. Students have considerable freedom to construct their own course programs within the guidelines set by the Department, and to use courses from other disciplines as part of the major. Here on the Princeton campus, we sponsor lecture series, conferences, publications, internships, and research opportunities at every level. Many of these programs are supported by our generous alumni and other friends of the department. They join our strong local community of professors, students, and staff as we pursue a global vision of literary and cultural study.