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The requirements listed below are particular to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School.

The sequential M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees are officially granted in Slavic Languages. Students earn these degrees through the study of Russian literature, Czech literature, Polish literature, South Slavic literatures, or Ukrainian literature. The requirements for the degrees earned through the study of Russian literature are described below separately from those for other Slavic literatures.

Students wishing to earn a free-standing M.A. degree in Russian, Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian literature enroll in the M.A. program in Slavic Languages. The requirements for these Master's degrees are the same as those for the sequential M.A. degree programs.

Russian Literature

For the M.A. in Russian Literature

Program of study: Two Residence Units are required for the M.A. degree. Full-time students in this M.A. program normally complete it in two or three semesters; part-time student in the free-standing M.A. program must complete all requirements within four years.

Coursework: 30 points at the graduate level (4000 and higher), as follows:

- four courses in Russian literature

- Proseminar in Literary Studies (SLLT G8001)

- Master's Research Instruction (SLLT G9000)

- a Directed Research course for the completion of the Master's essay

- two graduate-level Russian language or linguistics courses, consisting of Russian for Russian Instructors (RUSS W4436) and one of the following seven courses: Reading Practicum (RUSS 4431); Practical Stylistics (RUSS W4434); Introduction to Old Church Slavonic (SLLN G4005); History of the Russian Literary Language (RUSS G6225); Structure of Modern Standard Russian (RUSS G6021); Chteniia po russkoi kul'ture (RUSS W4435), or Chteniia po russkoi literature (RUSS W4438).

- one additional elective course. Students in the Ph.D. program who plan to pursue the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society should fulfill this requirement in their first year with CPLS G4900.

All courses required for the M.A. are to be selected in consultation with the Director of Graduate studies. Two of the literature courses may be taken for R (registration) credit, in addition to Masters Research Instruction (SLLT G9000), which all students take for R credit; all other courses must be taken for a letter grade. Students who are exempt from Russian for Russian Instructors (RUSS W4436) should take the Practicum in Foreign Language Pedagogy (PEDG G4000) instead, ideally during their first semester of language teaching.

Languages: Additional Russian language study at Columbia, or in summer programs elsewhere, if the Department’s annual placement and progress examinations indicate such a need. A second Slavic language is encouraged but not required.

M.A. essay: Minimum of 50 pages. Students in the Ph.D. program and full-time students in the free-standing program in Slavic Languages begin the M.A. essay during the second semester in the context of SLLT G9000 (Masters Research Instruction) and submit it in final form no later than the end of the third semester of study.

For the M.Phil. in Russian Literature

Prerequisite: The M.A. degree in Russian Literature and formal approval by the department.

Faculty mentor: Each student is assigned a faculty mentor for the duration of the M.Phil. program.

Program of study: Four Residence Units beyond the M.A. (for a total of six) are required for the M.Phil. degree. Students are expected to complete all requirements for the M.Phil. before the end of their eighth semester of graduate study. Students complete a combined total of at least 36 points of coursework in their major field of Russian literature and a minor field or concentration in Comparative Literature and Society, as follows:

Coursework in the major field: Seven courses in Russian literature; Practical Stylistics (RUSS W4434) and Introduction to Old Church Slavonic (SLLN G4005), if not taken at the M.A. level; and either the History of the Russian Literary Language (RUSS G6225) or the Structure of Modern Standard Russian (RUSS G6021), if neither was taken at the M.A. level. Courses should be chosen in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. Three of the literature courses may be taken for R credit; all other courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Minor Field or Concentration:

All students must complete at least 12 points of coursework for a letter grade in a departmental minor or in the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society.

Departmental Minor Fields

(1) a second Slavic literature (Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian): four or more courses, two of which may be in language above the elementary level. The student is responsible for a general knowledge of the history of the chosen literature and a firm grasp of one selected period, genre, or theme.

(2) a non-Slavic literature: four or more courses in the literature, as approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. The student is responsible for a general knowledge of the history of the chosen literature and a firm grasp of one selected period, genre, or theme that links that literature to Russian literature.

(3) Russian history and culture: four or more courses in Russian history, art history, music, philosophy, religion, or another relevant field. The student is responsible for a general knowledge of Russian intellectual history and a firm grasp of one period or aspect of Russian culture apart from literature.

(4) Slavic linguistics: four or more courses, including CLSL G6100 (Comparative Grammar of Slavic Languages); other courses, selected in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, may include courses in Slavic linguistics and Slavic medieval studies offered in the department as well as courses in general linguistics offered outside the department; one of those courses may be an advanced course in a Slavic (non-Russian) language.

(5) In consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, and with the approval of the department, individual students may develop their own minor.

Concentration in Comparative Literature and Society:

Students interested in comparative study may elect to complete a concentration in Comparative Literature and Society instead of a minor in a single field. For this concentration, the student develops two fields of study in addition to his or her primary field of Russian literature. For a full description of the concentration and the expectations in regard to the fields of study and to proficiency in additional languages, please see the web pages of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society. Students completing the concentration should work closely with the Directors of Graduate Studies in Slavic Languages and in Comparative Literature and Society while choosing courses and developing their fields of study within the concentration.

The requirements for the concentration are as follows:

Introduction to Comparative Literature and Society (CPLS G4900), two doctoral seminars in comparative topics (which may overlap with required courses in Russian literature), and one seminar in each of two minor fields (one of which must be in literature and literary theory). Additional courses in the minor fields may be needed in preparation for the required graduate seminars. With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies of the Slavic Languages department, students may substitute courses in their minor fields for up to three of the courses required for the M.Phil. in Russian Literature.

*Please note: Concentrators are encouraged to take CPLS G4900 in their first year of graduate study.

Languages: A reading knowledge of (1) French and German; or (2) either French or German and one other language of demonstrable importance to the student's research. Proficiency is established by a departmental examination. Both research languages should be chosen in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies.

Teaching requirement: Participation in the instructional activities of the department for three years. As a rule, in the second, third, and fourth years of study, students gain exposure to teaching through participation in the language and the literature programs.

M.Phil. examination: Students are expected to take the comprehensive examination for the M.Phil. degree during their fourth year of graduate study, preferably at the beginning of the seventh semester and at the latest at the beginning of the eighth semester. Students are examined in five areas: Old Russian Literature; Literature of the Russian Baroque and Eighteenth Century; Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature; Twentieth-Century Russian Literature; and Criticism, Genre and Literary Institutions. Students take the written portion of the examination on two consecutive days, writing for three hours on each day. Approximately one week after the written examination, the student meets with a three-member faculty committee for the oral portion of the examination, which lasts up to two hours. It uses the written portion of the examination as the point of departure for a discussion that ranges over the whole field.

Students completing the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society take modified written and oral portions of the exam, in which they answer questions about Russian literature and each of their minor fields.

Minor or concentration colloquium: This is the student's opportunity to exhibit the work completed in the minor field(s) (the "portfolio") and to reflect on its relationship to the major field and its role in the student's intellectual development. Three faculty members take part in the discussion with the student. (For a full description, please see the Guide to the Minor Colloquium on the Slavic Department website.) Students should hold the colloquium before the end of their eighth semester of graduate study.

Harriman Institute Certificate: Not required for the M.Phil degree, but encouraged.

For the Ph.D. in Russian Literature

Prerequisite: The M.Phil. degree in Russian Literature and formal approval by the department.

Faculty advisor: In consultation with the department, the student chooses a faculty advisor for the dissertation. This advisor works with the student to secure second and third readers as well as the two outside members of the dissertation defense committee.

Dissertation brief: In consultation with the advisor, the candidate prepares a dissertation brief (approximately 12 pages), consisting of the following parts: a presentation of the thesis and the rationale for the dissertation; an outline of the argument; an expanded table of contents; and a bibliography. The candidate then defends this brief before a committee consisting of the advisor and two other faculty members. Upon receiving their approval, the candidate proceeds with the dissertation. It is expected that the dissertation brief will be defended within six months of completing the requirements for the M.Phil. degree and before the end of the ninth semester.

In preparing their dissertation brief, students with a concentration in Comparative Literature and Society will also need to abide by requirements set forth by ICLS.

Dissertation: To be completed, defended, and deposited in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, normally by the end of the seventh year of graduate study.

Czech Literature, Polish Literature, South Slavic Literatures, or Ukrainian Literature

For the M.A. degree in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian Literature

Program of study: Two Residence Units are required for the M.A. degree. Full-time students normally complete it in two or three semesters; part-time students in the free-standing M.A. program must complete all requirements within four years.

Coursework: 30 points at the graduate level (4000 and higher), including at least 12 points in the primary literature (Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian); the Proseminar in Literary Studies (SLLT G8001); Master's Research Instruction (SLLT G9000); a Directed Research course for the completion of the Master's essay; and the Practicum in Foreign Language Pedagogy (PEDG G4000, which is taken ideally during the first semester of language teaching). The remaining points may be taken in related fields of history, linguistics, comparative literature and society, or other Slavic literatures. Two of these electives may be taken for R credit, in addition to Masters Research Instruction (SLLT G9000), which all students take for R credit; all other courses should be taken for a letter grade.
Note that Directed Research courses (CZCH G8001-G8002; POLI G8001-G8002; SOSL G8001-G8002; UKRN G8001-G8002) may be repeated for credit since the content varies.
Students in South Slavic Literatures should include one or both of the following courses in their program: Literatures of the South Slavs from the Beginning to Realism (CLSS G4027) and Literatures of the South Slavs from Realism to Today (CLSS G4028).
Students who plan to pursue the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society should take CPLS G4900 in their first year.

Language Requirement: Demonstration (by examination) of an advanced level of proficiency in the primary language (Czech, Polish, Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, Bulgarian, or Ukrainian).

An additional Slavic language, particularly Russian, is encouraged but not required.

M.A. essay: Minimum of 50 pages. Students in the Ph.D. program and full-time students in the free-standing M.A. program in Slavic Languages begin the M.A. essay during the second semester in the context of SLLT G9000 (Masters Research Instruction) and submit it in final form no later than the end of the third semester of study.

For the M.Phil. in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian Literature with a Concentration in Comparative Literature and Society

Prerequisite: The M.A. degree in the relevant literature and formal approval by the Slavic Department and the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.

Program of Study: Four Residence Units beyond the M.A (for a total of six) are required for the M.Phil. degree. Students should complete all requirements for the M.Phil. degree before the end of their eighth semester of graduate study. Students work in their major field as well as toward a concentration in Comparative Literature and Society.

Coursework in the major and concentration: At least 36 points beyond the M.A. degree. Specific requirements are as follows:

- Five courses in the primary field (Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian), including one advanced language course;

- All courses required for the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society: Introduction to Comparative Literature and Society (CPLS G4900); two doctoral seminars in comparative topics (which may overlap with required courses in the primary field); one seminar in each of two minor fields (one of which must be in literature and literary theory)

-Three additional courses, to be decided on by the student in close consultation with the Directors of Graduate Studies of the Slavic Languages department and of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.

With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies of the Slavic Languages department, up to three courses may be taken for R credit.

Concentrators are encouraged to take CPLS G4900 in their first year of graduate study.

For a full description of the concentration and the expectations in regard to the fields of study and to proficiency in additional languages, please see the web pages of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.

Languages: reading knowledge of either (1) French and German or (2) French or German plus one other language of demonstrable importance to the student's research. Students in the Polish program must have a reading knowledge of Latin and either French or German.
Proficiency is established by a departmental examination. Both research languages should be chosen in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies.

Teaching requirement: Participation in the instructional activities of the department for three years. As a rule, in the second, third and fourth years of study, students gain exposure to teaching through participation in the language program.

M.Phil. examination: Students are expected to take the comprehensive examination for the M.Phil. degree during their fourth year of graduate study, preferably at the beginning of the seventh semester and at the latest at the beginning of the eighth semester. Students are examined in their primary literature as well as in their minor fields. Students take the written portion of the examination on two consecutive days, writing for three hours on each day. Approximately one week after the written examination, the student meets with a three-member faculty committee for the oral portion of the examination, which lasts up to two hours and which uses the written portion of the examination as the point of departure for a discussion that ranges over the area of study.

Concentration colloquium: This is the student's opportunity to exhibit the work completed in minor fields (the "portfolio") and to reflect on the role of this comparative work in the student's intellectual development and academic profile. Three faculty members take part in the discussion with the student. (For a full description, please see the Guide to the Minor Colloquium on the Slavic Department website.) Students should hold the colloquium before the end of their eighth semester of graduate study.

Harriman Institute Certificate: Not required for the M.Phil. degree, but encouraged.

For the Ph.D. in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian Literature

Prerequisite: The M.Phil. degree in the relevant literature and formal approval by the department.

Faculty advisor: In consultation with the department, the student chooses a faculty advisor for the dissertation. This advisor works with the student to secure second and third readers as well as the two outside members of the dissertation defense committee.

Dissertation brief: In consultation with the advisor and in accordance with the requirements set forth by ICLS, the candidate prepares a dissertation brief (approximately 12 pages), consisting of the following parts: a presentation of the thesis and the rationale for the dissertation; an outline of the argument; an expanded table of contents; and a bibliography. The candidate then defends this brief before a committee consisting of the advisor and two other faculty members. Upon receiving their approval, the candidate proceeds with the dissertation. It is expected that the dissertation brief will be defended within six months of completing the requirements for the M.Phil. degree and before the end of the ninth semester.

Dissertation: To be completed, defended, and deposited in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, normally by the end of the seventh year of graduate study.

Financial Aid

A comprehensive program of financial aid, including fellowships and appointments in teaching, is available to Ph.D. students. Students on fellowship receive annually the prevailing stipend and appropriate tuition and health fees through the fifth year, provided that they remain in good academic standing. It is expected that students will apply for external fellowships as well. If students receive a year of advanced standing, they are entitled to four years of GSAS fellowship funding.

The Free-Standing M.A. Degree in Russian Translation

This program is intended for graduate students who are primarily interested in working as translators. It leads only to the free-standing M.A. degree. Students are required to register for two Residence Units and to complete at least 30 points (ten courses) at the graduate level, selected in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, in Russian language, literature, history, and culture or in other relevant disciplines. Up to six points (two courses) may be taken for R credit. All students must take, for a letter grade, Practical Stylistics (RUSS W4434) and Literary Translation (RUSS W4910). All students are required to complete an individual translation project (translation and introduction), begun in the Literary Translation course. A bound copy of the finished translation should be submitted to the department office.

Two Residence Units are required for the M.A. degree. Full-time students normally complete this degree in two or three semesters. Part-time students must complete the program within four years.

The Free-Standing M.A. Degree in Slavic Cultures

This program is designed for graduate students with an interest in the cultures of Russia and Eastern Europe. It leads only to the free-standing M.A. degree. Students are required to register for two Residence Units and to take at least 30 points (ten courses) at the graduate level (numbered 4000 and above), selected in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. These may include relevant Slavic-related courses in departments other than the Department of Slavic Languages, such as Art History and Archaeology, History, Political Science, Human Rights, Economics, and Sociology. Up to six points (two courses) may be taken for R credit.

All students must either write an M.A. essay (approximately 40 pages) or take a comprehensive examination on their course work.

Two Residence Units are required for the M.A. degree. Full-time students normally complete this degree in two or three semesters. Part-time students must complete the program within four years.