SCLA Student Testimonials

Heidi Horvath

SCLA is an excellent choice for working professionals wishing to pursue post-graduate studies. The program is relatively condensed which allows for part-time students to complete their studies within a reasonable amount of time. All core courses are offered during evening timeslots and there are elective courses offered in evenings as well. SCLA is especially great for those with multiple interests because the program encourages an interdisciplinary approach. There is a strong camaraderie within SCLA. In addition, students are provided with opportunities to share ideas with scholars outside of Brock through conferences and various other events around the world. This summer, a group of SCLA students and I participated in a conference held at Oxford where we met scholars from various disciplines and geographies. It was truly an unforgettable experience. I am halfway through the program and am thoroughly enjoying my time here. Studying the ideas of various prominent theorists and movements across several disciplines has provided me with a sound basis for critical thought. On a personal note, my studies have also provided me with a great philosophical basis for understanding the world and life itself. SCLA has truly been an enriching experience for me.

Jonathan Allan, SCLA 2007

Brock's program in Comparative Literature is one of the best program in Comparative Literature in Canada because of its commitment to interdisciplinary and intercultural teaching and research. I am confident that any student interested in Comparative Literature would feel at home in the SCLA program because of its commitment to student  mentorship.
 

Adam Richards, SCLA 2010

SCLA, with its wide-view approach to literature and the arts, perfectly prepared me for my PhD in Humanities. I was able to find the common territory of poetry and philosophy which makes up the field of my life's work. I recommend it to any student with similar interests. There are few other programs available that compare to it.

Monica Dufault, SCLA 2011

I came to SCLA with a background in Drama and Theatre, unsure of what to expect from a Comparative Literatures program. I found the theoretical foundations upon which the courses are structured to be extremely useful, both as a way of thinking critically about work that I see and also about work that I make. The opportunity to talk with students and faculty from widely varying disciplines allowed me to gain new perspectives and to encounter schools of thought previously unknown to myself. The atmosphere of the program is welcoming and inclusive, encouraging of a broad spectrum of research and I recommend it to anyone interested in an inter-disciplinary MA degree.

Elizabeth D' Angelo, SCLA 2011

Miranda Baird, SCLA 2011

I know but one freedom, and that is the freedom of the mind.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Why take SCLA?...FREEDOM! Brock University’s MA program in Studies in Comparative Literature and Arts can be best encompassed in a single word, freedom. It is the freedom to break down barriers, the freedom to collaborate and the freedom to enrich ones research and awareness of topics from a variety of perspectives.

The SCLA program allows its students to pursue their individual interests across disciplines and faculties, in a setting that is conducive to optimal learning and growth both academically and personally. The small size of the program creates a strong sense of community. I have gained a wealth of information from both my professors and my peers, in addition to establishing relationships that will last a lifetime. The SCLA program far exceeded my expectations, as it has opened my eyes to new perspectives; the way in which I view the world, literatures and arts has been forever changed.
 

Alex Jankovic, SCLA 2009

After finishing the SCLA MA in October 2009, I took a year off, and then entered the Ph.D. Program in English Literature at the University of Ottawa in September 2010. The SCLA program helped me understand how to incorporate intertdisciplinary evaluations of literary texts without compromising the integrity of the scholarship that came beforehand. The major research paper component was particularly challenging, and required me to be fully immersed in firsthand research, unlike many of my colleagues from other schools who were required to do additional coursework. This in particular has helped me become a stronger, more confident, independent academic, and for that I will always be indebted to Corrado, Leslie, Derek, and all the other fantastic scholars who made the program into what it is - a first tier choice for those of us who wish to introduce new ideas in well established academic fields.

Melissa La Porte SCLA 2010

The SCLA program at Brock University is unique in that it combines the rigorous study of critical theory with the resources necessary to complete distinctly individual research projects. The structure of the program prepares students to analyze cultural products through coursework and then allows them to work with experts in the fields most pertinent to their Major Research Projects. My own experience working with faculty in the Classics and Visual Arts department was supportive and productive and allowed for a truly interdisciplinary project. I would recommend this program for any student who has research interests that cross disciplinary, chronological or geographical boundaries and wishes to ground their work in critical theory.