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M.A./M.Phil./Ph.D. Programs

The Department of Slavic Languages offers sequential degrees (M.A./M.Phil./Ph.D.) in Russian, Czech, Polish, South Slavic, and Ukrainian literature. For the M.A. degree, students work in their primary literature. For the M.Phil. degree, students do more advanced work in their major field. Students earning a Ph.D. in Russian literature may choose to complete either a minor in a related field or the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society. Students earning a Ph.D. in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian literature must complete a concentration in Comparative Literature and Society.

The doctoral programs are rigorous, requiring extensive study of the literature from the middle ages to the present, with some fundamental grounding in the region's history, linguistics and culture. At the same time, the department provides training to equip students with sophistication in literary theory and literary analysis. Ph.D. candidates in the Department complete their program prepared to conduct serious scholarship in the field and to teach both language and literature at all levels. The training in the minor field or the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society broadens the candidate's range to include other literary traditions, other modes of cultural expression, and other disciplines.

The Institute for Comparative Literature and Society (ICLS) at Columbia acts as an interdisciplinary institute bringing together faculty and students from different departments, but it is not itself a department and it does not have independent degree programs. Students who wish to study Comparative Literature with a focus on Russian, Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian literature should apply directly to the program in Slavic Languages and also indicate their interest in the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society on the application. Successful applicants complete the M.A. in a Slavic literature and then incorporate a concentration in Comparative Literature and Society into their studies at the M.Phil. level. For more details, see the ICLS website.

The Harriman Institute is a center for Russian, Eurasian, and East European studies at Columbia that draws together faculty and students from different divisions and schools. Students in the Slavic graduate programs who are interested in area studies may want to pursue a Harriman Certificate (link to http://www.harrimaninstitute.org/courses/harriman_certificate.html). This certificate is open to graduate students in both the sequential Ph.D. programs and the free-standing M.A. programs.

No student is admitted directly to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program first receive the M.A. degree and then proceed, with formal approval from the department, to earn the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. Students who have done prior graduate work may be eligible for advanced standing. All students submit a Master's Essay, whether or not advanced standing is granted.

Qualified applicants who do not intend to continue beyond the M.A. degree may apply for admission as candidates for the free-standing M.A. degree in Slavic Languages.

Fellowships are awarded in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success. Because teaching is considered an important aspect of graduate student training, all graduate fellowships include a teaching apprenticeship.

Programs Leading to the Free-Standing M.A. Degree

In addition to the free-standing M.A. degree in Slavic Languages, the department offers free-standing M.A. degrees in Russian Translation and in Slavic Cultures. These, too, are non-sequential programs of study that do not lead to a doctorate.

No fellowship support is available for students working toward a free-standing M.A. degree.

M.A. in Russian Translation

Students with strong Russian reading skills and a practical interest in translation may apply for the M.A. Program in Russian Translation. Students work with the director of the program, Professor Ronald Meyer (Harriman Institute) to select the most appropriate courses and projects. This program does not lead toward a doctorate.

M.A. in Slavic Cultures

Students with a cultural interest in Russia or Eastern Europe may apply for the M.A. Program in Slavic Cultures. Originally conceived to provide valuable training to New York area professionals working in enterprises that deal with Russia and Eastern Europe, the interdisciplinary M.A. 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.

For admission to the respective programs in Slavic languages, the department requires four years of college-level instruction (or the equivalent) in Russian or three years (or the equivalent) in Czech, Polish, Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, or Ukrainian. An undergraduate major in the appropriate Slavic language and literature is desirable but not required. The department will also consider applicants with solid backgrounds in other literatures, history, philosophy, religion, or other disciplines in the humanities. For admission to the free-standing M.A. program in Russian Translation, the department requires four years of college-level instruction (or the equivalent) in Russian. For admission to the free-standing M.A. program in Slavic Cultures, knowledge of a Slavic language is recommended but not required.

All applicants to the program in Slavic Languages should indicate their choice of subfield (Russian, Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian).

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit one official transcript showing courses and grades for each school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a writing sample (a course paper, term paper, etc.) and three letters of evaluation from academic sources. All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English, must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS. For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

For the programs in Slavic Languages:

DEGREE:	PHD	Master's Only
Deadline for Fall Admission	January 3	July 1
Deadline for Spring Admission	no spring admission	November 1
Resume/CV	yes	yes
Writing Sample	yes	yes
GRE General	yes	yes
GRE Subject	no	no
Miscellaneous	see above	see above

MA in Russian Translation:

M.A. in Slavic Cultures: