Comparative Literature Graduate Program

Admission

To be considered for admission to Graduate Programs in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies, all applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a suitable overall grade point average and with a high average in a major field appropriate to study in Comparative Literature. Applicants should also have a good command of at least one, and preferably two, foreign languages. In addition, they must submit the following by January 15th:

1. B.A. or M.A. degree from a recognized institution in a suitable area of study;

2. An official graduate application form, submitted online, and three letters of recommendation;

3.Two official copies of all previous college transcripts. (Transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate work must be submitted. If a student attended a junior college whose credits and grades are not listed on the senior college transcript, a separate junior college transcript is required.) International students must submit certified English translations of transcripts;

4.For international students, proficiency in English as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computer); OR an IELTS total score of 6.5. In order to teach, any graduate student whose native language is not English must score 55 or above on the TSE or SPEAK test OR obtain a score of 7.0 or better in the speaking component of the IELTS test. The website for ETS (TOEFL & GRE) is www.ets.org;

5. An appropriate score on the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE);
Institution Code 2548; Department Code 2902

6. Two term papers or other writing samples in literature or a related field;

7. For international students, a foreign student financial affidavit; due upon admission

8. For international students, a standard cassette or CD/DVD demonstrating ability to speak English;

9. An application fee of $60.00.

In addition to your online application, please send all paper documents to:

Stony Brook State University of New York
Department of Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies
Humanities Building - Room 2048
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5355

Tuition and Financial Support

As of January 2007, the tuition for one academic year of study for a resident of New York State was $6,900 (or $288 per credit). For non-residents the tuition for one academic year of study was $10,920 ($455 per credit).

Any applicant admitted to Graduate Studies in Comparative Literature is automatically considered for financial aid. A limited number of full and partial teaching assistantships are available.

During the academic year 2007-08, a full assistantship carries a stipend of $15,145, plus a full Tuition Scholarship. Students with excellent grades and GRE scores are strongly urged to apply early in the fall semester prior to the year they plan to begin their studies so that the program can nominate them for special fellowships, such as the Graduate Council Fellowship, which in 2006-07 carries a stipend of $17,572 plus a full Tuition Scholarship. In addition, minority applicants are eligible to be nominated for the Turner Fellowship, which also carries a stipend of $17,572 plus a full Tuition Scholarship.

All New York State resident graduate students who apply for a Tuition Scholarship must apply for TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). New York State residents who are ineligible for TAP for financial reasons must provide the Graduate School with documentation proving their ineligibility. Students from outside New York State should investigate other sources of financial aid. All students with Tuition Scholarship of any kind must apply for New York residency immediately on arrival at Stony Brook. Beginning with the student's second semester of study, Tuition Scholarship cover only the amount of in-state tuition; students who choose to maintain residency in another state are required to make up the difference from their own funds.