BA in International Literary & Visual Studies

The program in International Literary and Visual Studies (ILVS) makes possible the study of literature, film/media, and visual arts in an international context.

The Major includes four tracks:

Literature World Literature Visual Studies Film

Questions about the major can be addressed to Professor Hosea Hirata, ILVS Program Director. 

Requirements Overview

Language and Cultural Requirements for the Major

Students are expected to have a firm grounding in two or more languages and cultures, one of which may be English. One of these languages usually serves as a primary area of cultural emphasis (e.g. Japanese language and culture), and the other as a secondary area for the course work of the major (e.g. English and Anglophone culture). In exceptional cases, the secondary area could be a conceptual one (e.g. realism, feminism, film noir, etc.). Also, at the discretion of the ILVS director, one may choose a different language/culture combination (e.g. Japanese language / Chinese culture).

All students, except those on the World Literature Track, must take one foreign language through the eighth semester, pursued concurrently with the course work of the major. Those who are on the World Literature Track could complete the major by finishing the regular Tufts foreign language requirement, though the completion of eight semesters of a foreign language is highly recommended. One could place out of the ILVS foreign language requirement through a language placement test. In that case, studying a new foreign language is advisable.

Recommended Additional Preparation for the Major

An introductory survey course in the literature of each cultural area of emphasis is strongly recommended, as are history courses in areas related to the conceptual focus of the major, and acquisition of technical proficiency in a visual discipline (e.g., calligraphy, painting, sculpture, filmmaking, theatrical design, or computer graphics and design), or a creative writing discipline (e.g., fiction, poetry, drama, essay, autobiography or journalism).We offer ILVS 60 "Intro to Literary and Cultural Studies" for the Literature Track, ILVS 70 "Intro to Visual Studies" for the Visual Studies Track, and ILVS 51 "Art of the Moving Image" for the Film Track.

Rules for the Major

The major consists of twelve courses plus a senior project (one semester) or an honors thesis (two semesters), not counting those taken for language preparation. Of the twelve courses, two could be hands-on courses (e.g. creative writing, studio art). At least six courses must have grades of C- or higher. No major courses may be taken Pass/Fail. The particular distribution of courses is determined by the emphasis selected by the student. Courses that may serve two categories of requirement cannot be double-counted within the major. Any changes in the proportions of these categories must be approved by petition to the ILVS executive committee.

The Conceptual Focus

Students are expected to define, in close consultation with an adviser, a suitable conceptual focus and interaction of subjects, so that the specific combination of courses is neither arbitrary nor superficial. The active role of the adviser is crucial to a student's pursuit of this major.

Conceptual focus for the major can examine domains such as: classical and medieval studies; Renaissance literature and art; the Age of Enlightenment; European Romanticism; literatures of the Third World; Asian literatures--China and Japan; Russia and the West, African-American and new world literatures; Jewish literatures in a world setting; the modern novel; studies in the epic; women authors and gender readings; world theater and film, literature and art, literature and film/media, art and film/media.

The past digitalized ILVS theses are stored at Tufts Digital Library.

Both students and faculty are invited to expand the repertoire of conceptual focuses, making the programs they design available to others.

Requirements by Track

 Literature

1. At least one foreign language up to the eighth semester (122)
2. National and ethnic literatures (6 courses)  
   The student must take six literature courses, four in the cultural area of the primary language and two in that of the secondary language.
3. Visual arts and/or film (2 courses) 
   The student must take two courses in film or other visual arts (normally, one in the cultural area of the primary language, the other in that of the secondary language), chosen from National/Single Cultural either Visual Arts or Film/Media.
4. Cross-cultural, gender-oriented and/or DEIJ focused literary studies (2 courses) 
   The student must take two cross-cultural or gender-oriented literature courses. 
5. One Literary theory 
   The student must take one course in literary theory. ILVS 60 Intro to Literary and Cultural Studies is recommended, but one could choose a different Literary theory course.
6. One Cultural theory The student must take one cultural theory course.
7. Honors Thesis or Senior Project

 World Literature

1. Tufts foreign language requirement, though the completion of a foreign language study up to the eighth semester level (122) is highly recommended.
2. National and ethnic literatures (6 courses) 
   The student must take six literature courses from at least three different regions (e.g. 2 Japanese literature, 2 Anglophone literature, 2 Middle Eastern literature).
3. Visual arts and/or film (2 courses) 
   The student must take two courses in film/media or visual arts.
4. Cross-cultural, gender-oriented and/or DEIJ focused literary, film, or visual studies (2 courses) 
   The student must take two cross-cultural or gender-oriented courses in literature, film/media, or visual arts.
5. One Literary theory 
   The student must take one course in literary theory. ILVS 60 Intro to Literary and Cultural Studies is recommended, but one may choose another literary theory course.
6. One Cultural theory                             
   The student must take one cultural theory course.
7. Honors Thesis or Senior Project

 Visual Studies

1. At least one foreign language up to the eighth semester (122)
2. National and ethnic literatures (3 courses)  
   The student must take three literature courses, two courses in the primary cultural area and one in the secondary cultural area.
3. Visual arts (5 courses) 
   The student must take five courses in visual arts normally including one in the primary culture and one in the secondary culture. The student may substitute, for one of the five courses, a course in film (hyperlinked to national/single cultural film drop down), or a studio course offered at SMFA or on the Medford campus. 
4. Cross-cultural, gender-oriented and/or DEIJ focused literary or visual studies (2 courses) 
   The student must take two courses of a cross-cultural or gender-oriented nature chosen from Literature, Visual Arts or Film. 
5. Visual and cultural theory (2 courses) 
   The student must take one course in visual theory and one course in cultural theory. 
6. Honors Thesis or Senior Project

 Film

1. At least one foreign language up to the eighth semester (122)
2. National and ethnic literatures (3 courses) 
   The student must take three literature courses, two courses in the primary cultural area and one in the secondary cultural area.
3. Film (5 courses) 
   The student must take five courses in film normally including one in the cultural area of the primary culture and another in that of the secondary culture. The student may substitute, for one of the five courses, a course in visual arts or a studio course in some domain of filmmaking (screenwriting, directing, acting, etc).
4. Cross-cultural, gender-oriented and/or DEIJ focused literary, film/media or visual studies (2 courses) 
   The student must take two cross-cultural or gender-oriented courses.
5. One Film/Media Theory Course 
   The student must take one film or media theory course.
6. One Cultural Theory Course  
   The student must take one cultural theory course.
7. Honors Thesis or Senior Project