The M.A. in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian Literature
The M.A. degree in the corresponding literature is a prerequisite for the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees.
Program of study: Two Residence Units are required for the M.A. degree. Students normally complete this program in two or
three semesters. Part-time students in
the Free-Standing M.A. program must complete the program within four years.
Courses: Coursework: 30 points at the graduate level (numbered 4000 and above), 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);
- 3 additional points of Directed Research for the completion of the M.A. essay; and
- the Practicum in Foreign Language Pedagogy (PEDG G4000), taken ideally during the first semester of language teaching.
The remaining points, to be chosen in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, 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 Master’s Research Instruction, 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 G8001-8002; UKRN G8001-8002) 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 do the concentration in Comparative Literature and Society should take CPLS G4900 in their first year.
Languages: Demonstration (by examination) of an advanced level of proficiency in the primary language of study (Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian); an additional Slavic language, particularly Russian, is encouraged but not required.
M.A. Essay: A minimum of 50 pages. Students in the Ph.D. program and full-time students in the free-standing M.A. program begin the M.A. essay during the second semester in the context of Master's Research Instruction, and submit it in final form no later than the end of the third semester of study. For further information, see M.A. essay guidelines.
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The M.Phil. in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian Literature
with a Concentration in Comparative Literature and Society
Prerequisite: the M.A. 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. Students should work closely with the Directors of Graduate Studies of both Slavic and Comparative Literature and Society in choosing their courses. 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 literature), and one seminar in each of two minor fields (one of which must be literature and literary theory)
- three additional courses, to be decided on by the student in consultation with the Directors of Graduate Studies of the Slavic Department and the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.
With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies of the Slavic Department, up to three courses may be taken for R credit.
*Please note: 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 website of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.
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. 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 Department's language programs.
M.Phil. examination: Students are expected to take the
comprehensive examination for the M.Phil. degree during their fourth
year of graduate study. 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 the 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
schedule the colloquium before the end of their eight semester of
graduate study.
Harriman Institute Certificate: Not required for the M.Phil degree, but encouraged. (For more information, see the Harriman Institute website.)
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The Ph.D. in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian Literature
with a Concentration in Comparative Literature and Society
Prerequisite: the M.Phil. degree in the relevant literature and formal approval by the department.
Faculty adviser: In consultation with the department, the student chooses a faculty adviser for the dissertation.
This adviser works closely with the student to secure second and third readers as well as the outside members of the dissertation defense committee.
Dissertation brief: In consultation with the adviser and in accordance with the requirements set out 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 adviser and two other faculty
members whose expertise is relevant to the dissertation topic. Upon
receiving their approval, the candidate proceeds with the dissertation. It is expected that the student will defend the dissertation brief within six months of completing the requirements for the M. Phil. degree and before the end of the ninth semester of study.
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.
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Financial Aid
A comprehensive program of financial aid, including fellowships and appointments in teaching, is available to students in the Ph.D. programs. 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 in the academic program, they are entitled to only four years of GSAS fellowship funding.
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