Primary Faculty: Professors ALTSHULLER (Graduate Advisor), GOSCILO, HARRIS, SWAN; Associate Professors BIRNBAUM (Chair), CONDEE (Director, Cultural Studies), PADUNOV (Undergraduate Advisor); Lecturer VOTRUBA

Emeritus Faculty: Professors JASZCZUN, KOEHLER

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures offers graduate training leading to the MA and PhD degrees in Slavic Languages and Literatures with an Area of Concentration in Russian Literature and Culture. For detailed information on special features of the Slavic program, write for the departmental brochure.

Financial support opportunities other than fellowships and assistantships are available to incoming and continuing graduate students in the form of part-time employment in the residence halls, library, and so on. Outstanding students are encouraged to apply to the international exchange programs sponsored by the Nationality Rooms Scholarship Committee, IREX, CIEE, the Kosciuszko Foundation, AFS Teacher Exchange, and other organizations. Each year grants are available for study in Central and East Europe, including Russia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Serbia, and Croatia.

Teaching Certification: The above-mentioned master's program may be combined with teaching certification. Recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in the teaching of foreign languages in the Pennsylvania public school systems (or elsewhere). This is a combined program sponsored in conjunction with the School of Education. Students in this program will also have to meet the requirements and be admitted to the School of Education. Upon successful completion of this program, the student will receive the Pennsylvania Instructional 1 (Provisional) Certificate of teaching Russian in the public school system. For credit and course requirements, students should consult the foreign language education supervisor in the School of Education.

Certificate Program: The MA program in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures may also be combined with a certificate program in Russian and East European Studies. Recommended for (a) all students primarily interested in pursuing careers in government or business, not excluding students interested in teaching, or (b) students whose primary language interest is Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian, or Serbian. The Center for Russian and East European Studies is the coordinating hub for studies dealing with the people, history, politics, economics, and culture of Central and South East Europe and the territory of the former U.S.S.R. Requirements include meeting all departmental MA requirements, plus 18 credits designated as REES courses. Students do not need to apply for the REES certificate program in advance, but may do so upon arrival in Pittsburgh.

The PhD is offered only with an Area of Concentration in Russian Literature and Culture. At least 60 of the 72 required credits must be taken by the end of the term in which examinations are to be taken. Requirements include three courses (Historical Russian Grammar, History of the Russian Literary Language, and Theories of Literature); 9 -15 credits outside the department in an approved second area (Cultural Studies, European literature, Area Studies); and a reading knowledge of French and German.

Secondary Fields
Doctoral candidates may take 9-15 graduate credits in one of the following approved areas:

A Second Slavic Language and Literature: In exceptional cases, students who express a primary interest in, and knowledge of, another Slavic language and literature may be encouraged to pursue dual competency in both languages and literatures.

Literary Studies: Courses in other literatures (as approved by the department) and in the Literature Studies Program, of which at least six credits must be taken in the literature of a single language other than English, Russian, or other Slavic language; and a reading knowledge of two non-Slavic languages.

Slavic Linguistics: Nine courses in linguistics in addition to the usual Slavic linguistics requirements for literature specialists (see below).

Intellectual History: Nine courses in history, philosophy, political science, or other relevant courses at the 1000-level or above.

Cultural Studies: Students working toward an MA or PhD degree may concurrently earn a certificate in Cultural Studies (see Interdisciplinary Programs in the next section of this bulletin).

Other possible options may also be discussed with the graduate advisor and the departmental committee on graduate studies.

Additional Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of French and German (or of another approved non-Slavic language) is required as a research tool. Proficiency in one of these is to be demonstrated by the end of the student's first full year of candidacy and, in the other, before the student takes the PhD examinations. Elementary language courses do not count toward degree credit requirements.

Linguistics Courses
All students are required to take 2210 for the MA and PhD degrees (see the list of courses in the next section). Those planning to terminate their studies with the MA must also take 2220 and 2230. Those wishing to continue for the PhD may take 2220 and 2230 at any stage of their graduate studies.

Comprehensive Examinations
Candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in (a) the history of Russian literature, (b) the secondary field, and (c) literary criticism. The written examinations are of nine to twelve hours duration spread over a week; the oral examination is of two hours duration.

The Dissertation
To be completed in accordance with general University regulations. All topics must meet with the approval of the departmental committee on graduate studies.

After selecting a suitable dissertation topic and a dissertation committee in consultation with his/her advisor, the student must present a written prospectus to the doctoral committee describing the purpose, scope, and method of the proposed study and the sources upon which it will be based. This prospectus must receive the approval of all members of the doctoral committee at an overview examination (see Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in the first section of this bulletin). The acceptance of the prospectus completes requirements for admission to candidacy for the PhD degree. The dissertation must demonstrate the student's capacity to carry out independent, original research and analysis. The department will recommend conferral of a doctoral degree only after the dissertation is judged to demonstrate such competence during a formal defense in a final oral examination. Detailed guidelines covering examination procedures and dissertation requirements are available from the department.