Best Universities offering graduate programs in Slavic Studies

The Slavic Department and the Program in Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies express solidarity with Ukraine.

For on the department and program on Ukraine solidarity.

The Slavic Department aspires to develop in its majors a critically informed appreciation for the literature and culture of Russia and the Slavic world.

The Princeton Slavic Department Ph.D. program provides students with a firm foundation in their major area as well as the opportunity to explore related fields.

Slavic Film Series: Love Histories Films from Soviet and former Soviet Republics (1960-2000).

Program in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies.

In conjunction with the Center for Digital Humanities, the Slavic DH Working group will hold workshops, talks, and other events beginning fall 2017. The working group features many ongoing projects, including Playing Soviet: The Visual Language of Early Soviet Children Books, 1917-1953.

Slavic Linguistics are normally fulfilled during the first two years of study. All students are required to demonstrate graduate-level knowledge of the language of the major field. If a student’s major linguistic area is a Slavic language other than Russian, one of the four required courses for the major must be on Russian language. Graduate students will study at least one language in addition to their major language. Many students choose to pursue a second Slavic language (Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, or BCS). It makes sense to begin this study in the first year, perhaps followed up by a summer program abroad after the first and/or second year of study.

The Combined Ph.D. Program in Film Studies and Slavic Languages and Literatures.

The courses in the Slavic Department should normally cover nineteenth and twentieth Russian century literature. The language requirements for admission to candidacy are the same as for Slavic graduate students. In order to advance to candidacy, students must take four comprehensive examinations in the Slavic Department during their third year of study. These comprise two written exams, one on nineteenth century literature and one on twentieth century literature, an oral exam on Russian film, and an oral “pre-prospectus” exam on the topic of their dissertation prospectus.

The Slavic Department�at the University of Chicago�has a long-standing reputation as one of the major research programs in the field.

Graduate Graduate Program Graduate Program Ph.D. Workshops Funding Courses.

Students with a cultural interest in Russia or Eastern Europe may apply for the MA program in Slavic Cultures, housed in the Department of Slavic Languages. Originally conceived to provide valuable training to professionals working in enterprises that deal with Russia and Eastern Europe, the interdisciplinary MA in Slavic Cultures now serves a broad spectrum of students interested in the languages, cultures, and history of that region.

Students work with the director of graduate studies to select the most appropriate courses in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Anthropology, Art History, History, Sociology, or any other department that offers course work in Slavic cultures.

Proficiency in a Slavic language is desirable, but not required. This program does not lead toward a doctorate.

Northwestern Doctoral Program in Slavic Languages and Literatures, one of the best in the country, specializes in Russian literature and culture. It focuses on the readings of major works, their relation to cultural and intellectual history, and the questions they raise for problems of literary criticism and theory.

See Slavic Languages Degree Requirements for specific classes and procedures needed to complete this program.

The Slavic Languages offers a comprehensive doctoral program in Slavic studies specializing in Russian literature and culture, in modern Czech culture and in Polish literature and culture.

The program will train flexible and innovative scholars able to address varying teaching and research needs in the future job market. Students receive close guidance and are mentored in the pedagogy of language and literature culture teaching.

Slavic library and reading room, commons room for lectures and presentations, audiovisual equipment.

Advanced competence in Russian. Knowledge interest in another Slavic language (preferably Czech or Polish) is encouraged but not required.

Sixteen courses, including five graduate seminars, and two to four courses in a secondary field of study theory and methods of foreign language teaching, reading knowledge of the second language related to the student specialization teaching qualifying examinations dissertation and defense.

The Slavic Languages and Literatures PhD graduate program is designed to train future scholars and teachers of Slavic languages and literatures. Students specialize either in literature or linguistics, combining a core curriculum with independent research early in their graduate career.

Students are admitted to the PhD or MA PhD program only the department will not consider applicants for the MA only.

The program in literature and culture provides a thorough knowledge of the evolving literary canon along with attendant historical contexts while encouraging students to acquire expertise in literary and cultural theory.

Slavic students may pursue official designated emphases in Film, Folklore, Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, Critical Theory, or Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, as well as individually designed areas of specialization. The Slavic Department works in collaboration with the departments of Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Anthropology, History, Theater, Music, Art History, and with the Institute of Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies, which houses the Berkeley Program in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies and The Caucasus and Central Asia Program.

The majority of students at Berkeley choose Russian as their major language. We encourage students who wish to explore the diverse literary and cultural traditions of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. We accept a small number of students who choose Polish, Bulgarian or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) language and literature as their major field in such cases, special programs are established and students do much of their graduate work independently. These students normally take Russian as a minor field. Berkeley does not administer a PhD Program in Czech, but Czech can be chosen as the second Slavic language.

The Slavic linguistics concentration of our program has been considerably reduced in recent years.

The following minimum requirements apply to all graduate programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:.

If the applicant has completed a basic degree from a country or political entity (e.g., Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the iBT test, 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 on a 9-point scale (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these) and.

The Graduate Council views academic degrees not as vocational training certificates, but as evidence of broad training in research methods, independent study, and articulation of learning. Therefore, applicants who already have academic graduate degrees should be able to pursue new subject matter at an advanced level without the need to enroll in a related or similar graduate program.

Applicants with doctoral degrees may be admitted for an additional doctoral degree only if that degree program is in a general area of knowledge distinctly different from the field in which they earned their original degree.

Applicants may apply only to one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission cycle.

Unofficial transcripts must contain specific information including the name of the applicant, name of the school, all courses, grades, units, degree conferral (if applicable).

Letters of recommendation: Applicants may request online letters of recommendation through the online application system. Hard copies of recommendation letters must be sent directly to the program, by the recommender, not the Graduate Admissions.

Evidence of English language proficiency:All applicants who have completed a basic degree from a country or political entity in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. However, applicants who, at the time of application, have already completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at a US university may submit an official transcript from the US university to fulfill this requirement. The following courses will not fulfill this requirement:.

Courses conducted in a language other than English,.

Courses that will be completed after the application is submitted, and.

Official TOEFL score reports must be sent directly from Educational Test Services (ETS). Official IELTS score reports must be sent electronically from the testing center to University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall, Rm 318 MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720. TOEFL and IELTS score reports are only valid for two years prior to beginning the graduate program at UC Berkeley. Note: score reports can not expire before the month of June.

We select our graduate students on the basis of prior academic achievement and promise of success in scholarship and teaching. Students admitted to the PhD program with an MA in Slavic or a related field from another institution are required to pass a screening (permission-to-proceed) examination. Students who have earned the MA degree from this department may receive permission to proceed to the PhD program following successful performance on the MA comprehensive examinations and demonstrated aptitude for advanced work. The department does not accept applications for a terminal MA program of study.

SLAVIC Literature electives, as per specialized study list.

SLAVIC Linguistics electives, as per specialized study list.

Students of linguistics are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of either French or German before taking the MA exams. They must demonstrate a reading knowledge of both before taking the PhD exams.

Students of literature are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of either French or German before taking their MA exams. As an alternative, students of literature have the option to complete two semesters of a second Slavic language on a letter-grade basis. Students may, with prior permission granted on an individual basis and with a view to pursuing specific research goals, fulfill this requirement by studying a non-Slavic language from a region within the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe (e.g., Armenian, Georgian, Estonian, and Hungarian).

At the beginning of the semester in which the examination is taken, students who will take the PhD qualifying exam must file the Application for the Qualifying Examination. Note that it requires the names of the student examination committee (including the outside member). By the Graduate Division rules, applicants must list at least three subject areas in which the candidate will be examined. Students in our department list their major and minor fields (literature) or three subject areas (linguistics) as well as the general field for all students: Russian language (or another major Slavic language). The completed form must be signed by the graduate adviser, and if applicable, the designated emphasis graduate adviser. The form is then submitted to the Graduate Division for approval.

Print and fill the form if necessary, consult with the graduate assistant .

Make a copy for your department file and hand it to the graduate assistant and.

Deliver the form to 318 Sproul Hall, Graduate Division.

Research Requirement (qualifying paper or publishable paper): All graduate students are required to submit an extended research paper (on a topic of their choice) to satisfy the departmental research requirement. Usually, but not necessarily, the research paper is a revised and expanded version of a course seminar paper. In some cases, this paper may further lead to a dissertation topic. The paper is submitted to the graduate adviser at the end of the third year (or by exception, at the beginning of the semester which precedes the exam). In some cases, additional revisions of the paper may be asked, which makes timing essential.

Advancement to candidacy is an important official procedure. To qualify for advancement, a student must have passed the qualifying examinations and completed all other requirements for the degree (course requirements and language requirements).

The dissertation prospectus is a detailed outline of the project. The department requires that a student complete an approved prospectus by the end of the semester following the PhD qualifying examination.

The prospectus generally includes a justification of the topic and a description of methodology, objectives, available scholarly literature, the potential relevance of the work, and the structure of the dissertation and includes a working bibliography.

The doctoral dissertation represents the final demonstration, in the graduate program, of a student research and scholarly abilities, and constitutes an original contribution to the field of study. The dissertation must receive the unanimous approval of the committee members in order for it to be accepted as final completion of the degree requirements.

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Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2020, Spring 2018 Introduction to Old Church Slavic, with special attention to inflexional morphology. Assigned translations and sight reading of selected texts.Old Church Slavic: [+].

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Fall 2018, Fall 2016 Assigned translations and sight reading of selected Medieval Orthodox Slavic texts.Medieval Orthodox Slavic Texts: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2011, Fall 2008, Fall 2005 Reconstruction of Common Slavic phonology and morphology in relation to Indo-European and modern Slavic languages.Comparative Slavic Linguistics: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2020, Fall 2018 Survey of morphology and syntax of a contemporary Slavic language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian Croatian) see departmental announcement for topic. Recommended for prospective teachers.Descriptive Grammar of Slavic Languages: [+].

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Descriptive Grammar of Slavic Languages: Read Less [-].

SLAVIC 223Advanced Structure of Slavic Languages: Grammatical Analysis and Theory4 Units.

Terms offered: Fall 2008 Analysis of synchronic grammar and structure of discourse of a Slavic language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian Croatian) with attention to theoretical models see Department announcement for topic.Advanced Structure of Slavic Languages: Grammatical Analysis and Theory: [+].

Advanced Structure of Slavic Languages: Grammatical Analysis and Theory: Read Less [-].

Terms offered: Spring 2011, Fall 2009, Spring 2004 Historical phonology, morphology, and syntax of a Slavic language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian Croatian). Some coverage of dialectology. See Department announcement for topic.Historical Grammar of Slavic Languages: [+].

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Terms offered: Spring 2012, Spring 2006, Spring 2004 Analysis of language and style of a Slavic literary language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian Croatian) from the beginnings to the present, with emphasis on periods of particular significance. See Department announcement for topic.History of Slavic Literary Languages: [+].

Prerequisites: Advanced knowledge of the modern language, 210 214 and at least one advanced or graduate level literature course.

History of Slavic Literary Languages: Read Less [-].

Terms offered: Spring 2010, Fall 2006, Fall 2001 Linguistic history and dialectology of Slovenian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbian Croatian.South Slavic Linguistics: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2017, Spring 2014 Attempts to describe literary forms, poetic usage of language, and cultural infrastructure, as a code, examined as a consistent trend in 20th-Century literary theory. Consideration of this scholarly trend in historical perspective its sources, evolution, and eventual dissipation.Twentieth-Century Slavic Literary Theory: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2017, Spring 2016 Studies in poetry, drama, and fiction, covering major figures between 1730 and the end of the century.Eighteenth-Century Russian Literature: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2019, Spring 2016 Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.Contemporary Russian Literature (1920-present): [+].

Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2009, Spring 1998 This seminar addresses the problems and methods of cultural history within the Russian context. Special attention will be given to the social, political, and historical matrices which determine (and may be determined by) aesthetic production, as well as to the role of culture in the construction of everyday life. Topic and period variable. Instruction in English texts in English and Russian.

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2014, Spring 2013 Selected topics in Slavic folklore, with focus on contributions to folklore theory based on Slavic material.Topics in Slavic Folklore: [+].

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

SLAVIC 258Languages, Peoples, and Cultures of the Greater Slavic World4 Units.

Terms offered: Spring 2010 Topics in the languages, peoples, and cultures of Eastern and Central Europe, the CIS, and diasporas. Topics vary as to region (e.g., Northeastern Europe, the Baltic Coast, the Caucasus) and approach (e.g., sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics, studies of ethnic and language minorities). Readings include sources in the original languages of the area.Languages, Peoples, and Cultures of the Greater Slavic World: [+].

Languages, Peoples, and Cultures of the Greater Slavic World: Read Less [-].

SLAVIC 280Studies in Slavic Literature and Linguistics4 Units.

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021 Advanced studies in the several fields of Slavic literatures and linguistics. Content varies.Studies in Slavic Literature and Linguistics: [+].

Studies in Slavic Literature and Linguistics: Read Less [-].

SLAVIC 281Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Literary Scholarship4 Units.

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 Course designed for new graduate students in literature. Introduction to modern literary theory and criticism principles of textual analysis methods of bibliographical research.Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Literary Scholarship: [+].

SLAVIC 282Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Linguistic Scholarship4 Units.

Terms offered: Fall 2010, Spring 2009, Spring 2006 Course designed for new graduate students in Slavic linguistics. A survey of general and Slavic linguistics, Slavic philology, semiotics, and the relation of linguistics to literary studies. Methods of research and critical analysis. Current issues and goals of research.Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Linguistic Scholarship: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2009 A survey of the religious history and thought of Eastern Europe and the Levant with an intent of providing greater insight into the shaping of faith and cultures of both halves of Europe.Eastern Christianity: History and Thought: [+].

SLAVIC 298Special Study for Graduate Students2 8 Units.

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 Preliminary exploration of a restricted field involving research and a written report.Special Study for Graduate Students: [+].

Special Study for Graduate Students: Read Less [-].

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 Normally reserved for students directly engaged upon the doctoral dissertation.Directed Research: [+].

Terms offered: Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2012 Independent study. Consideration of special issues in the teaching of Slavic languages. Offered according to interest and need.Issues in Slavic Pedagogy: [+].

Prerequisites: Graduate status in the Slavic Languages and Literatures.

SLAVIC 310Internship in the Teaching of Literature Linguistics1 2 Units.

Discussion of course aims, syllabus preparation, lecture and assignment planning, grading, and related matters. Students may prepare a representative portion of the work for such a course (e.g., lecture outline and assignments for a course segment) and may participate in presentation of the material and in evaluation of samples of student work.Internship in the Teaching of Literature Linguistics: [+].

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Terms offered: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 Course on practical teaching methods, grading, testing, and design of supplementary course materials.

Prerequisites: Graduate student standing and teaching appointment in the Slavic Languages and Literatures.

Teaching Methods for Slavic Languages: Read Less [-].

SLAVIC 375BTeaching Methods of Reading and Composition3 Units.

SLAVIC 601Individual Study for Master Students2 8 Units.

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 Individual study for the comprehensive or language requirements in consultation with a field adviser.Individual Study for Master Students: [+].

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 16 units.

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SLAVIC 602Individual Study for Doctoral Students2 8 Units.

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 Individual study in consultation with a major field adviser, intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required of candidates for the Ph.D.Individual Study for Doctoral Students: [+].

Credit Restrictions: Course does not satisfy unit or residence requirements for doctoral degree.

Individual Study for Doctoral Students: Read Less [-].

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 An introduction to Armenian language and culture, aiming to give students basic competence in all four skills and an introduction to traditional and contemporary Armenian culture.Introductory Armenian: [+].

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 An introduction to Armenian language and culture, aiming to give students basic competence in all four skills and an introduction to traditional and contemporary Armenian culture.Introductory Armenian: [+].

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 The purpose of this course is to further develop students' Armenian proficiency in all four language skills, using discussion, oral presentations, written assignments, and a variety of readings (literature, non-fiction, folklore, newspaper articles, etc.) chosen partly for their cultural significance and partly based on student needs and interests. Emphasis on particular skills (e.g. reading) depending on student needs and interests.Continuing Armenian: [+].

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 The purpose of this course is to further develop students' Armenian proficiency in all four language skills, using discussion, oral presentations, written assignments, and a variety of readings (literature, non-fiction, folklore, newspaper articles, etc.) chosen partly for their cultural significance and partly based on student needs and interests. Emphasis on particular skills (e.g. reading) depending on student needs and interests.Continuing Armenian: [+].

Language skills and to link language competence to the study of the contemporary politics, culture, and society in Armenia and the Armenian diaspora.

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2020, Spring 2018 This course covers selected works and topics in Armenian literature treated in a broad socio-cultural context. Lectures, readings and discussions in English. No knowledge of Armenian language is required (students with knowledge of Armenian read in the original).Armenian Literature in Social Context: [+].

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Lectures, readings and discussions in English. No knowledge of Armenian language is required (students with knowledge of Armenian read in the original).Armenian Culture and Film: [+].

ARMENI 128Arts and Culture in Armenia and the Diaspora Since 19913 Units.

The course examines contemporary developments in the arts in the context of the major socio-political changes of the period.Arts and Culture in Armenia and the Diaspora Since 1991: [+].

Arts and Culture in Armenia and the Diaspora Since 1991: Read Less [-].

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 Beginner course.

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 Beginner course.

Formerly known as: Slavic Languages and Literatures 117A.

Formerly known as: Slavic Languages and Literatures 117B.

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Sequence begins in the fall. Practical instruction in the Bulgarian language with a focus on integrated skills (reading, grammar, conversation). Course offered as staffing permits.Introductory Bulgarian: [+].

Formerly known as: Slavic Languages and Literatures 28A.

Formerly known as: Slavic Languages and Literatures 28B.

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This course consists of a review of Bulgarian grammar covered in 28A-28B, a thorough presentation of the complex verbal tense-mood system and readings in contemporary Bulgarian prose.Continuing Bulgarian: [+].

Formerly known as: Slavic Languages and Literatures 118A.

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This course is a contin

The Department offers two M.A. tracks. Only students in the Slavic Languages and Literatures track may request to proceed to the Ph.D. program. Graduate courses are typically offered on a three-year cycle. Graduate students are expected to take available Slavic offerings.

The doctorate in Slavic Languages and Literatures is designed to prepare students for a career of teaching and scholarship at the university level. It provides a thorough grounding in Russian literary and cultural history as well as in the theoretical perspectives current in the field. The linguistic component of the curriculum together with the experience as a teaching assistant in Russian language courses that many students gain also serves as preparation for positions involving language teaching. Depending on departmental offerings, further study in a second Slavic language and culture may also be possible.

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

The M.A. degree is intended only as a transitional degree in the process of completing requirements for the Ph.D. in Slavic languages and literatures. The department does not accept applicants for a Master of Arts degree in Slavic languages and literatures. The M.A. portion of the program comprises 30 units.

512, History of the Russian Language (3 units).

Students pursuing the Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures are required to complete a minimum of 60 units of course work beyond the baccalaureate.

SLL 650, Seminar in Russian Literature (3 units).

SLL 665, Seminar in Russian Culture and the Arts (3 units).

Plus electives from SLL or relevant offerings in CSLC, COLT, ENGL, FREN, SPAN etc., as approved by the department. At least 9 of these units must be completed in SLL.