Graduate Programs: RUSSIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES

NOTE: This document was generated from the 1995-1997 UIUC Programs of Study. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but be advised that requirements may have changed since this book was published. Errors may have also been introduced in the conversion to a WWW document. Thus for items of importance, it might be wise to seek confirmation from either the paper version or a live human being.

Director of the Russian and East European Center: D. P. Koenker

Correspondence and Information: Director, Russian and East European Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 104 International Studies Building, 910 South Fifth Street, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-1244; FAX: (217) 333-1582

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors: P. P. Bernard, E. C. Bristol, R. H. Burger, M. T. Choldin, M. Friedberg, J. Gorecki, F. M. Gottheil, K. A. Hitchins, H. H. Hock, R. C. Jennings, R. E. Kanet, D. P. Koenker, P. B. Maggs, H. P. Maguire, J. P. McKay, L. H. Miller, R. G. Ousterhout, T. Pachmuss, K. H. Schoeps, P. W. Schroeder, D. M. Shtohryn, O. Soffer, M. G. Weinbaum, L. Zgusta

Associate Professors: F. Y. Gladney, S. P. Hill, M. M. Shorish, R. Tempest, B. Uroff

Assistant Professors: D. V. Bobyshev, C. S. Leff, J. W. R. Lepingwell

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Russian and East European Center administers a two-year interdisciplinary program of language and area courses leading to a master of arts degree. The M.A. degree may be earned either as a terminal degree or as the first stage of preparation toward a doctor of philosophy degree or a professional program with specialization in Russian and East European studies.

ADMISSION

Applicants for admission to the master of arts program should have completed at least two years of Russian or another East European language and hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education. The Graduate Record Examination is required. Admission requirements of the Graduate College also apply.

MASTER OF ARTS

A Candidate must complete 9¹/2 units of graduate credit, including 1 unit in the Seminar in Russian and East European Studies (REES 450) and ¹/2 unit in Slavic Bibliography (LIS 433), both normally taken during the first semester in residence. Of the remaining units, at least 6 must be in Russian and East European studies core courses. Two units must be at the 400 level, of which 1 unit must be selected from REES core courses. Russian and East European studies core courses must be distributed among at least three different disciplinary units. Language courses do not count toward the 6 units in core courses, but may be counted toward the total of 9¹/2 units if taken at the 300 level or above. Students will be expected to achieve third-year competency in Russian or another language of Central Eurasia, normally by the end of the first year of study. A major research paper is required, using primary sources, including sources in the language used to meet the competency requirement. Normally, this paper would be written in a research seminar in a disciplinary department, but students who need or wish to do so may complete this requirement under the center's own rubric (REES 495). Candidates for the M.A. degree are expected to maintain a GPA of 4.25 in courses taken for the program.

CERTIFICATE OF GRADUATE SPECIALIZATION IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND AREA STUDIES

This certificate is offered by the Russian and East European Center in cooperation with various departments. It is for persons with the baccalaureate who are enrolled in advanced studies in any discipline and who wish at the same time to gain a knowledge of the Russian language and area. The requirements are as follows: (1) A good command of written and spoken Russian, as determined by special examinations. (2) At least 6 graduate units in course work relating to Russia, of which at least ¹/2 unit must be Library and Information Science 433C. The remaining units must be distributed among at least three of the departments represented in the program (anthropology, economics, geography, history, law, library and information science, political science, Slavic languages and literatures, and sociology) other than the student's own major department. If the student's major department is one of these nine, up to 1 unit from the major department may be counted as part of this requirement. (3) A special essay based largely on Russian sources, which must meet, at the minimum, the standard usually required in a master's thesis. A copy of the student's master's or doctoral thesis may be submitted in fulfillment of this requirement.

Students in other disciplines and in professional schools and colleges who seek knowledge of Russian and East European studies are invited to consult with the director of the center in order to design individualized programs.

FINANCIAL AID

Students in the M.A. program who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to compete for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships, offered with support to the center from the U. S. Department of Education's Title VI program. Qualified students may also be eligible to compete for other fellowships at the campus level. A limited number of teaching and graduate assistantships, and tuition and fee waivers are also available to outstanding students. Some employment opportunities are available through the Slavic and East European Library and other nonteaching units on campus. Information on need-based financial aid may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

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