The Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan is a five-year doctoral program that emphasizes the international and interdisciplinary nature of comparative literature. Our curriculum is designed to be as flexible as possible in order to allow students to develop expertise in areas of traditional interest to comparatists as well as in such newer areas as cultural studies, gay and lesbian studies, postcolonialism, and women's studies. The curriculum has strong language requirements but provides great flexibility in the ways that students put their expertise in language and culture to use. It places a strong emphasis on literary theory but makes possible a variety of definitions of theory. We hope that the flexibility of the program will be something that our graduates will emulate in their own careers as they adapt to and influence changes in comparative literature as a discipline.