The master of arts degree program in Russian, East European and Central Asian studies provides interdisciplinary area studies training for emerging professionals and future leaders in business, development, government, journalism, law, publishing, and the military. The curriculum is designed to promote a broad understanding of the cultural, political, economic, social, and historical factors that have shaped the development of societies in Eurasia, Russia, and Central and Eastern Europe; mastery in Russian, East European, or Central Asian languages at a level necessary for doing advanced research on and professional work in the region; and knowledge of methodological and analytical approaches of different disciplines that will contribute to a better understanding of the region and will prepare students for conducting advanced research. The program requires both area studies and language training.
The MA program is designed to be completed in three semesters, but motivated students who enter with prior language study and commit to intensive summer coursework have the option of completing the course of study within 12 calendar months. Students will work closely with the MA advisor, who serves as their primary graduate studies advisor, to ensure that their course of study is both coherent and sufficiently interdisciplinary.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 8 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required but may be considered if available. |
| English Proficiency Test | Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Students entering the master's program must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and provide evidence of academic achievement and intellectual ability, including a minimum total grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and a 3.4 in related area courses and letters of recommendation. There is no minimum admission requirement for language, but students are strongly advised to complete two years of area language study before entering the program.
Applicants for admission to the MA degree program in Russian, East European and Central Asian studies should submit an online application.
The following materials are required:
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Language questionnaire
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
Each year, a faculty committee selects a limited number of deserving graduate students (in any field of study) for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States and must demonstrate their commitment to the study of a language of Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia, and to related area studies topics. Applications and supporting materials for the FLAS fellowship competition must be submitted by approximately February 15 each year. For more information and an application, see Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships.
Students interested in studying Polish may be eligible to apply for a Michael and Emily Lapinski fellowship. The annual deadline is March 1. Please contact the Slavic program for more information.
CREECA also nominates eligible incoming graduate students in its MA program for the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (for targeted students). To be considered for university funding, all application materials must be received by the early January deadline indicated on the CREECA MA application form.
A limited number of teaching assistantships and project assistantships may be available in CREECA and in specific departments that offer high-enrollment courses on REECAS. Information about these assistantships can be obtained by writing or calling CREECA and the respective departments. In addition to these opportunities, other fellowships and financial assistance are available outside CREECA. For further information, incoming graduate students should write directly to the appropriate department or organization.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | Students have the option to complete a thesis. The master's thesis will demonstrate the student's ability to engage in original research in a student's chosen field, including the ability to use original-language material. Contact the program for more information. |
| Language Requirements | Language learning is an integral part of the program, and students will be required to enroll in language courses each term. Students already proficient in their main language will be expected to choose another Slavic or Central Eurasian language for the duration of their program. For degree completion, students must have a minimum of two years of university-level study (or the equivalent) of a regional language with at least three years of study strongly recommended. During the academic year, the program offers Kazakh, Persian, Polish, Russian, Turkish, and Ukrainian. Students entering with prior experience in Russian are required to take a pre-program assessment. Students are also required to take a language course each term. See below for more details. |
Required Courses
Students must complete 30 credits of coursework. A minimum of 22 credits must be in area studies (non-language) coursework. Specific requirements are outlined below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies | ||
| Five courses in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies numbered 300 or above. Courses must be distributed over at least three subject listings. At least 50% of the credits must be courses designed for graduate work. Courses with the graduate level coursework ("Grad 50%") attribute are identified and searchable in Guide. See the list below for courses. | 15 | |
| Seminars | ||
| Two graduate-level seminars (numbered 700-999). Refer to "Seminar Courses" list below. | 6 | |
| Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies MA students are expected to use original language source material in their graduate seminar papers. See lists below for courses. | ||
| Topics | ||
| Students must complete the following course: | ||
| SLAVIC 755 | Topics in Slavic Literature (Introduction to Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies) | 1 |
| Language Courses | ||
| Refer to "Language Courses" list for options. | 8 | |
| Optional Master's Thesis | ||
| Students may enroll in a 3-credit, faculty-supervised, independent research course in the home department of their advisor. These credits can be applied toward the required 22 non-language credits, but could not take the place of a required graduate-level seminar. | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
General Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E/ECON/REAL EST/URB R PL 306 | The Real Estate Process | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| ASIAN/AFRICAN/RELIG ST 370 | Islam: Religion and Culture | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology (Jews of Central & Eastern Europe) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology (People & Culture - Cen&East Eur) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology (Peoples & Cultures-Russia) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 690 | Problems in Anthropology (Late Pleistocene of E. Eurasia) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 690 | Problems in Anthropology (Nationalisms & Modern Wars) | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 690 | Problems in Anthropology (Understanding Human Rights) | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 310 | Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453 | 3 |
| ART HIST 556 | Proseminar in 20th Century European Art (Art & Visual Culture of WWI) | 3 |
| ART HIST 556 | Proseminar in 20th Century European Art (Art in Europe, 1945-1975) | 3 |
| ART HIST 556 | Proseminar in 20th Century European Art (Artistic Nat'l: Internat'l Age) | 3 |
| ART HIST 556 | Proseminar in 20th Century European Art (European Interwar Art) | 3 |
| ART HIST 556 | Proseminar in 20th Century European Art (Fascist/Totalitarian Modernity) | 3 |
| ART HIST 805 | Seminar-Ancient Art and Architecture (Achaemenid Persia) | 3 |
| ART HIST 805 | Seminar-Ancient Art and Architecture (Persia: The First World Empire) | 3 |
| ART HIST 815 | Seminar-Medieval Art (Icons and the Senses) | 3 |
| ART HIST 815 | Seminar-Medieval Art (Sem: Holy Image-East Orth Cult) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (Art & Visual Culture of WWI) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (Art in Europe, 1945-1975) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (European Avant-Garde:1900-1950) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (European Interwar Art) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (Fascist/Totalitarian Modernity) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (Grd Smr-20th C Eur Art:Hrd Art) | 3 |
| ART HIST 856 | Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art (Nat'lism in Era of Internat'l) | 3 |
| COM ARTS 463 | Avant-Garde Film | 3 |
| COM ARTS 958 | Seminar in Film History | 2-3 |
| ECON/A A E/REAL EST/URB R PL 306 | The Real Estate Process | 3 |
| ECON 390 | Contemporary Economic Issues | 3 |
| ECON 467 | International Industrial Organizations | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/LITTRANS 347 | In Translation: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | 3-4 |
| FOLKLORE/RELIG ST 352 | Shamanism | 3 |
| FOLKLORE/SCAND ST 443 | Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today | 4 |
| FOLKLORE/SLAVIC 444 | Slavic and East European Folklore | 3 |
| FOLKLORE 460 | Folk Epics | 3 |
| GEOG 318 | Introduction to Geopolitics | 3 |
| GEOG 518 | Power, Place, Identity | 3 |
| GEOG 918 | Seminar in Political Geography | 2-3 |
| GNS 324 | Literatures of Central Asia | 3 |
| HISTORY/MEDIEVAL/RELIG ST 309 | The Crusades: Christianity and Islam | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 357 | The Second World War | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 359 | History of Europe Since 1945 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 417 | History of Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 418 | History of Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 419 | History of Soviet Russia | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 420 | Russian Social and Intellectual History | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 424 | The Soviet Union and the World, 1917-1991 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 434 | American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 500 | Reading Seminar in History (East European Jewry 1648-1945) | 3 |
| HISTORY 500 | Reading Seminar in History (Holocaust: Destructn-Eur Jewry) | 3 |
| HISTORY/CURRIC/ED POL/JEWISH 515 | Holocaust: History, Memory and Education | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Central Asia) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Cold War on Ice: 1972) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Holocaust Victims & Survivors) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Russia & Its Crisis 1900-1917) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Russia's Great War, 1914-1917) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Russia/America 1880s-1960s) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Soviet Hist - Memoirs) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Stalin and Hitler) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Totalitarianism) | 3 |
| HISTORY 600 | Advanced Seminar in History (Twentieth Century Central Asia) | 3 |
| HISTORY 753 | Seminar-Comparative World History | 1-3 |
| HISTORY/FRENCH/GERMAN/POLI SCI/SOC 804 | Interdisciplinary Western European Area Studies Seminar | 3 |
| HISTORY 850 | Smr-Hist of the Soviet Union & Modern Hist of E Central Europe | 1-3 |
| HISTORY 891 | Proseminar in Modern European History | 1-3 |
| JOURN 620 | International Communication | 4 |
| LITTRANS/FOLKLORE 347 | In Translation: Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 473 | Polish Literature (in Translation) since 1863 | 3 |
| POLI SCI 334 | Russian Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 340 | The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 401 | Selected Topics in Political Science (The Soviet Jewish Experience) | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 439 | The Comparative Study of Genocide | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 659 | Politics and Society: Contemporary Eastern Europe | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/FRENCH/GERMAN/HISTORY/SOC 804 | Interdisciplinary Western European Area Studies Seminar | 3 |
| POLI SCI 814 | Social Identities: Definition and Measurement | 3 |
| POLI SCI 854 | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | 3 |
| POLI SCI 948 | Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics (Authoritarian Politics and Ins) | 3 |
| POLI SCI 948 | Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics (Nondemocratic Politics) | 3 |
| POLI SCI 948 | Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics (Post-Communist Politics) | 3 |
| SLAVIC 342 | Introduction to Serbian and Croatian Literature | 3 |
| SLAVIC 405 | Women in Russian Literature | 3-4 |
| SLAVIC 420 | Chekhov | 3-4 |
| SLAVIC 421 | Gogol | 3-4 |
| SLAVIC 422 | Dostoevsky | 3-4 |
| SLAVIC 424 | Tolstoy | 3-4 |
| SLAVIC 433 | History of Russian Culture | 3 |
| SLAVIC 434 | Contemporary Russian Culture | 3 |
| SLAVIC 449 | History of Serbo-Croatian Literature | 3 |
| SLAVIC 470 | History of Polish Literature until 1863 | 3 |
| SLAVIC 472 | History of Polish Literature after 1863 | 3 |
| SLAVIC 701 | Survey of Old Russian Literature | 2 |
| SLAVIC 702 | Eighteenth-Century Russian Literature | 2 |
| SLAVIC 705 | Special Topics in Russian Language/Linguistics | 3 |
| SLAVIC 755 | Topics in Slavic Literature | 1-3 |
| SLAVIC 801 | Slavic Critical Theory and Practice | 3 |
| SLAVIC 802 | The Structure of Russian | 2 |
| SLAVIC 803 | Introduction to Old Church Slavonic and the History of Russian Literary Language | 2 |
| SLAVIC 804 | Methods of Teaching Slavic Languages | 2 |
| SLAVIC 820 | College Teaching of Russian | 1 |
| SLAVIC 900 | Seminar: Slavic Literature and Culture | 1-3 |
| SCAND ST/FOLKLORE 443 | Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today | 4 |
| SCAND ST/MEDIEVAL 444 | Kalevala and Finnish Folk-Lore | 4 |
| SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology (Anti-Semitism in Eur Culture) | 1-3 |
| SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology (On Russia's War in Ukraine) | 1-3 |
| SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology (Pop & Society in Contem Russia) | 1-3 |
| SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology (Pop & Society in Former USSR) | 1-3 |
| SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology (Soc, Cul, Pol Contemp Russia) | 1-3 |
| SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology (Sociology of Eastern Europe) | 1-3 |
| SOC 633 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOC/FRENCH/GERMAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 804 | Interdisciplinary Western European Area Studies Seminar | 3 |
| THEATRE 911 | Seminar-Problems in Theatre and Drama | 2-3 |
Seminar Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 918 | Seminar in Political Geography | 2-3 |
| HISTORY 753 | Seminar-Comparative World History | 1-3 |
| HISTORY 850 | Smr-Hist of the Soviet Union & Modern Hist of E Central Europe | 1-3 |
| HISTORY 891 | Proseminar in Modern European History | 1-3 |
| POLI SCI 854 | Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | 3 |
| SLAVIC 800 | Proseminar-Slavic Literature and Culture | 1 |
| SLAVIC 900 | Seminar: Slavic Literature and Culture | 1-3 |
Language Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASIALANG 355 | First Semester Asian Language for Graduate Students (Persian) | 4 |
| ASIALANG 356 | Second Semester Asian Language for Graduate Students (Persian) | 4 |
| ASIALANG 357 | Third Semester Asian Language for Graduate Students (Persian) | 4 |
| ASIALANG 358 | Fourth Semester Asian Language for Graduate Students (Persian) | 4 |
| ASIALANG 337 | Fifth Semester Persian | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 338 | Sixth Semester Persian | 3-4 |
| GNS 331 | First Semester Kazakh | 4 |
| GNS 332 | Second Semester Kazakh | 4 |
| GNS 339 | First Semester Turkish | 4 |
| GNS 340 | Second Semester Turkish | 4 |
| GNS 351 | First Semester Central Eurasian Language | 4 |
| GNS 352 | Second Semester Central Eurasian Language | 4 |
| GNS 370 | Topics in GNS (Intermediate) | 3 |
| GNS 429 | Intermediate Summer Immersion Turkish | 8 |
| GNS 431 | Third Semester Kazakh | 4 |
| GNS 432 | Fourth Semester Kazakh | 4 |
| GNS 439 | Third Semester Turkish | 4 |
| GNS 440 | Fourth Semester Turkish | 4 |
| GNS 451 | Third Semester Central Eurasian Language | 4 |
| GNS 452 | Fourth Semester Central Eurasian Language | 4 |
| GNS 460 | Readings in Turkish: Contemporary Turkey through Literature and Media | 4 |
| GNS 471 | Advanced Topics in East European and Central Asian Languages and Cultures | 1-4 |
| GNS 529 | Advanced Summer Immersion Turkish | 8 |
| GNS 531 | Fifth Semester Kazakh | 3-4 |
| GNS 532 | Sixth Semester Kazakh | 3-4 |
| GNS 539 | Fifth Semester Turkish and Azeri | 3-4 |
| GNS 540 | Sixth Semester Turkish and Azeri | 3-4 |
| GNS 551 | Fifth Semester Central Eurasian Language | 4 |
| GNS 552 | Sixth Semester Central Eurasian Language | 4 |
| SLAVIC 301 | Introduction to Intensive Polish | 3 |
| SLAVIC 304 | Fourth Semester Intensive Polish | 4 |
| SLAVIC 305 | Fifth Semester Intensive Polish | 3 |
| SLAVIC 306 | Sixth Semester Intensive Polish | 3 |
| SLAVIC 315 | Russian Language and Culture I | 3 |
| SLAVIC 316 | Russian Language and Culture II | 3 |
| SLAVIC 321 | Fourth Year Russian I | 3 |
| SLAVIC 322 | Fourth Year Russian II | 3 |
| SLAVIC 331 | Fourth Year Polish I | 3 |
| SLAVIC 332 | Fourth Year Polish II | 3 |
| SLAVIC 341 | First Semester Intensive Serbo-Croatian | 3 |
| SLAVIC 351 | First Semester Intensive Czech | 3 |
| SLAVIC 352 | Second Semester Intensive Czech | 3 |
| SLAVIC 451 | Third Semester Intensive Czech | 3 |
| SLAVIC 452 | Fourth Semester Intensive Czech | 3 |
| SLAVIC 555 | Advanced Russian Listening & Speaking | 3 |
| SLAVIC 802 | The Structure of Russian | 2 |
| SLAVIC 705 | Special Topics in Russian Language/Linguistics | 3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. However, these credits are not allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless numbered 700 or above or are taken to meet the requirements of a capstone certificate and has the “Grad 50%” attribute. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
Every graduate student is required to have an advisor. To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree, the Graduate School expects them to meet with their advisor on a regular basis.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals
Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.
Academic decisions that may be appealed include:
- Dismissal from the graduate program
- Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
- Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
- Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards
Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:
- A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
- Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
- Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
- Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).
Appeal Process for Graduate Students
A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.
- The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
- If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
- If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
- To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
- The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case.
- The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
- If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).
Other
Accelerated language study available during summer. We encourage qualified US citizens and permanent residents to apply for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship through the Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA). Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) applications are due on or near February 15 of each year; please check the FLAS website for updates. The application form for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) is separate from the application for admission. We regret that other sources of funding, such as teaching assistantships and project assistantships, are limited.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, political, economic, social, and historical factors that that have shaped the development of societies in Eurasia, Russia, and East and Central Europe.
- Articulate, critique, and/or elaborate the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry in one or more of the disciplines represented in the interdisciplinary field of Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies (REECAS).
- Identify sources and assemble evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in REECAS.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies in a historical, social, or global context.
- Select and utilize appropriate methodologies and practices in one or more of the disciplines represented in the interdisciplinary field of REECAS.
- Evaluate and synthesize information pertaining to questions or challenges in REECAS and should communicate clearly in written and spoken work in ways appropriate to REECAS.
- Recognizes and apply principles of ethical and professional conduct in the context of Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies.
- (Language proficiency) Develop speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills in one or more of the languages of Russia, East and Central Europe, and Central Eurasia, and integrate these skills to communicate in a variety of social and academic situations.