Comparative Literature, Media, and Society

Majors in Comparative Media, Literature, and Society study the intersection of art, literature, and life around the planet and for all of human history. Our major emphasizes crossing boundaries: between languages, between countries, between time periods, between forms of language or meaning. We support—and help create—students who become lifelong learners, using the knowledge and the skills they develop at Penn State to make a difference in the world, to find professional success, and to build a rewarding life for themselves and others. Our courses emphasize fundamental questions: What does it mean to be human? How does language work, and what makes it so powerful? How do culture, politics, and the intersections between them affect the shape of our lives? How do we relate to the nonhuman world and natural environment around us? As you answer these questions, while reading great works of literature, watching films, studying video games, or poring over important texts of philosophy, history, or social science, you will also develop key professional and life skills. Majoring in Comparative Literature, Media, and Society will give you a deeper understanding of this planet and its people, and open doors to new intellectual and cultural worlds. You will learn how to write better, think creatively, and address complex intellectual problems in an international context. Students who combine a Comparative Media, Literature, and Society major with professional and technical degrees develop skills that allow them to stand out from other applicants when they enter the job market and to build long-lasting careers.