← Departments

LITTRANS

Literature in Translation

Get a feel for the department. Find your next class.

Explore prerequisite map →

Browse all Literature in Translation courses →

The department at a glance

All recorded grades
average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Spring 2027

Recorded this term
courses with offerings
instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Across course levels

Recorded this term

No released grades for this term.

Recorded offerings over time

Find your next class

19 courses

Explores the development of the vampire legend in folklore, literature, cinema, television, and popular culture in relation to colonization, race, gender, sexuality, and class.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Benjamin Mier-Cruz

There was lots of material, though attendance was required for some graded assignments and extra credit options.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Sexual Politics in Scandinavia: Read and discuss works by Scandinavian writers of the nineteenth and twentieth century reflecting sexual politics and the roles of women in literature. Taught in English.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Liina-Ly Roos

Expect a heavy viewing load, as students reported needing to watch many films outside of class time.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sample

Explores American Yiddish poetry, fiction, theater, and cinema by European Jews in the US, covering themes like language politics, minoritized status, and Jewish identity.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Phil Hollander

A student reported nightly homework assignments and long readings, describing the material as challenging and sometimes confusing.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Special Topics in German and World Literature explores diverse world literary traditions with an emphasis on German and German-speaking cultures.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Melissa Sheedy

The workload included weekly discussion posts, five short quizzes, two short papers, and a final project, with mandatory lecture attendance and sign-ins.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Explore major questions in animal studies through Nordic novels, tales, and films, examining human-animal distinctions and representations in the Anthropocene.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Survey of 19th and 20th century Russian literature in translation II examines Russian prose fiction from Anton Chekhov to the end of the 20th century.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Andrew Reynolds

Students reported heavy reading loads, including many books and short stories. While completing assignments likely prevents failure, securing an A requires significant effort.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Examines Russian prose fiction, Anton Chekhov to the end of the 20th century. More writing intensive thanLITTRANS 202.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Andrew Reynolds

The workload included long, difficult novels, lots of reading, and many quizzes and essays. Attendance was part of the grade, though students noted you just had to show up.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Explores Slavic contributions to Science Fiction through literature and film, surveying Czech, Polish, and Russian works and their adaptations.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · David Danaher

The course was heavy on readings, and the films could feel a bit dry, though lectures helped make the material more interesting.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2025

Examines postrevolutionary Russian and Soviet visual arts, architecture, music, and cinema, offering an inside view of life under socialism through selected readings in Soviet literature.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Jennifer Tishler

The course felt like an advanced seminar, and the instructor enforced strict rules against using electronic devices during class.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Introduction to Spanish American literature in English translation covering five centuries of history, key authors, genres, and contemporary critical debates.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Glen Close

One student reported being graded on four essays without a rubric, and said grading seemed inconsistent and aimed at showing Glen Close was smarter.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Explores periods, genres, writers, and themes in Russian and Eastern European literature within Slavic literatures in translation.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Kirill Ospovat

Students reported that timed quizzes and tests were stressful, though they found the material manageable if they completed the readings.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Topics in Dutch Literature in Translation studies an author or theme in modern Dutch/Flemish literature, presented by the current Dutch/Flemish writer in residence.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Jolanda Taylor

Homework load was described as not much, and the required reading consisted of texts chosen to be enjoyable. Students reported feeling free in class, suggesting a manageable pace for the literature material.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2025

Topics in Japanese Literature focuses on a specific theme in Japanese literary history for in-depth study, such as Contemporary Japanese Novels or Japanese Women Writers.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Adam Kern

The course received a difficulty rating of 4. The reviewer noted that the instructor remembered individual writing, which they advised students to consider if they planned to skip class.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2023 · limited sample

Special topics in Italian literature focusing on a specific period, genre, theme, or movement. Students analyze texts and recognize cultural and philosophical influences.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Ernesto Livorni

Students read approximately five to eight books and wrote a 10-12 page final research paper, with one student noting the grade was based on a midterm, final, and two major papers.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Explores Black Death and medieval life via Boccaccio's Decameron, examining medicine, art, politics, gender, and daily existence in the Middle Ages and early modernity.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Jelena Todorovic

The reviewer advised coming to class prepared and completing the readings.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Elementary special topics course exploring periods, genres, writers, and themes in Russian and Eastern European literature and culture.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Intermediate special topics in Slavic and Central and Eastern European languages and literatures.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2024 · limited sample