College: College of Letters and Science
Designation: Interdisciplinary program
Major: Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies
Degrees Offered: M.A.
Other: Graduate Certificate in Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies; Ph.D. Minor
Faculty: Executive Committee--Professors Hendley (chair) (Law/Political Science), Khazanov (Anthropology), Kornblatt (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Longinovic (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Matthews (Business), Schamiloglu (Languages and Cultures of Asia). Other faculty members--Atis (Languages and Cultures of Asia), M. H. Beissinger (Slavic Languages and Literatures), M. R. Beissinger (Political Science), Bethea (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Bloch (Forest Ecology and Management), Chamberlain (History), Danaher (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Dolinin (Slavic Languages and Literatures), DuBois (Scandinavian Studies), Filipowicz (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Frank (History), Gehlbach (Political Science), Gerber (Sociology), Guillot (Sociology), Hirsch (History), Ismatoullaev (Languages and Cultures of Asia), Kaiser (Geography), Karpat (History), Kepley (Communication Arts), Lapina (Slavic Languages and Literatures), McDonald (History), Michels (History), Miernowska (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Morgan (History), Reynolds (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Shcheglov (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Stephenson (History), Suri (History), Tishler (Slavic Languages and Literatures), van de Water (Theatre and Drama), Wink (History)
The Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies (REECAS) program is housed administratively in the Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA). The program draws on the strength of long-established programs in anthropology, language and literature, political science, geography, history, and law. REECAS faculty represent the emergence of new fields of scholarly interest in the post-Soviet era including ethnicity and nationalism, legal problems of privatization, problems of indigenous peoples in Eurasia, and the thought and politics of East-Central Europe.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship, which is administered through CREECA and is due approximately February 10.
The departments offering courses pertaining to Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia are Agricultural and Applied Economics, Anthropology, Communication Arts, Economics, Folklore, Geography, History, Jewish Studies, Languages and Cultures of Asia, Law, Political Science, Slavic Languages and Literatures, Scandinavian Studies, Sociology, and Theatre and Drama.
The master of arts degree program in Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies provides interdisciplinary area studies training for students interested in pursuing professional careers in business, government, journalism, and law and for students planning further graduate study in an established academic discipline. 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 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; knowledge of methodological and analytical approaches of different disciplines that will contribute to a better understanding of the region; and knowledge of the methodological approaches in the student's chosen discipline to prepare students for advanced research. The program requires both area studies and language training.
The M.A. program is designed to be completed in two years, but motivated students have the option of completing the course of study within three semesters. Students will work closely with the M.A. advisor, who serves as their primary graduate studies advisor, to ensure that their course of study is both coherent and sufficiently interdisciplinary. Students will also work with a faculty advisor in their department of concentration, who serves as their principal research and thesis advisor.
The M.A. program is structured to provide the optimum career preparation for students interested in pursuing careers focused on Eurasia, Russia, and Eastern Europe. The M.A. advisors and faculty will provide career advising, and students will have access to the resources and contacts of CREECA.
At least two of the M.A. student's eight courses (6 out of 27 credits) must be graduate seminars, and at least one seminar must be in the student's department of concentration. (Students who elect not to write a thesis must take a third graduate-level seminar.)
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 Asian language for the duration of their program. For degree completion, students must have a minimum of three years of Russian, or two years of the other regional languages. Currently, the university offers regular instruction in Czech, Finnish, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish/Azeri, and Uzbek. Bulgarian, Kazak, and Romanian are taught from time to time.
Each student will be required to choose a department of concentration from the departments of Anthropology, Folklore, Geography, History, Languages and Cultures of Asia, Political Science, Scandinavian Studies, Slavic Languages and Literatures, or Sociology. Students will be required to complete one faculty-supervised independent research course (3 credits) in this department of concentration producing a 40-50 page master's thesis. This master's thesis will demonstrate the student's ability to engage in original research in his or her own chosen field, including the ability to use original language material. Students have the option of completing this research requirement by completing a third graduate-level seminar.
The certificate program in REECAS provides graduate students with a general background in the areas of anthropology, economics, foreign policy, geography, government and politics, history, language and literature, law, and sociology. It also provides specific knowledge about one of these areas. With its emphasis on interdisciplinary study, a REECAS certificate enhances the training of Ph.D. candidates who wish to teach and do research at the college level, and serves the needs of M.A. and Ph.D. students who wish to make a career in broadcasting, government service, journalism, library work, or other professions requiring a well-rounded acquaintance with this diverse and highly important area.
Although students may take advantage of the flexibility the REECAS certificate program provides to select courses and a language involving Eastern Europe other than Russian, anyone seeking a career in a field connected with REECAS would do best to combine the study of another language with Russian. Czech, Finnish, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish/Azeri, and Uzbek are offered regularly; Bulgarian, Kazak, and Romanian may be taught from time to time. The certificate student, in consultation with the graduate advisor, must choose an academically coherent group of courses which focuses on a specific geographic area and language.
To receive a certificate, a student must take 15 credits of required courses distributed over four disciplines, demonstrate a working knowledge of one language of Eastern Europe, Russia, or Central Asia before beginning the second year of REECAS, and take one seminar in which a research paper is written on a topic approved by the major professor. Students should contact the program office for specific information regarding these requirements.
Recognition of interdisciplinary training at the graduate level can be acquired with a REECAS certificate. Graduate minor requirements in specific fields can also be fulfilled under the REECAS program. The requirements for a Ph.D. minor under Option A may be satisfied by completing 12 credits of graduate courses in Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies outside the student's major department. Students should contact the program office for specific information regarding these requirements.
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 10 each year.
Students interested in studying Polish may be eligible to apply for a Michael and Emily Lapinski fellowship, administered through the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. The annual deadline is February 15. Please contact the Slavic Department for more information.
CREECA also nominates eligible incoming graduate students in its M.A. program for two university-wide competitions, one for Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (for traditionally under-represented students) and the other for university fellowships (for students with outstanding academic records). To be considered for university funding, all application materials must be postmarked by January 1.
A limited number of teaching assistantships and project assistantships are 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.
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, letters of recommendation, and strong scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). 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 M.A. 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 post-secondary institutions attended, three letters of recommendation, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, language questionnaire, and application for university fellowships for incoming students. Speakers of English as a second language must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores as well.
For more information: Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia, 210 Ingraham Hall, 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1397; 608/262-3379; fax 608/890-0267; assocdir@creeca.wisc.edu; www.wisc.edu/creeca.
374 Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy
474 Economic Problems of Developing Areas
369 Peoples and Cultures of Central and Eastern Europe
372 Jews of Central and Eastern Europe
441 Peoples and Cultures of the European parts of the Ex-Soviet Union
442 Peoples and Cultures of Ex-Soviet Asia
606 Ethnicity, Nations and Nationalism
622 Cross-Cultural Spread of World Religions
675 Pastoralists and Pastoral Nomads in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
690 Problems in Anthropology*
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
351 20th Century European Art
453 Art in Europe 1915-1955
556 Proseminar: 20th Century European Art*
856 Graduate Seminar in Twentieth Century European Art*
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
456 Russian and Soviet Film
463 Avant-Garde Film
958 Seminar in Film History: Film Historiography*
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
364 Survey of International Economics
365 Issues in Comparative Economics
390 Contemporary Economic Issues*
467 International Comparisons--Industrial Firms and Industrial Organizations
474 Economic Problems of Developing Areas
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
352 Shamanism
370 Romani (Gypsy) Culture in Russia and East Europe
443 Sami Culture, Yesterday and Today
444 Slavic and East European Folklore
445 Russian Folklore
875 Seminar in Turkish Oral Narrative
353 Russia and the NIS
518 Advanced Political Geography*
553 Russia and CIS: Problems in Human Geography
918 Seminar in Political Geography*
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
313 Introduction to Byzantine History and Civilization
314 Problems in Byzantine History and Civilization*
332 Islam: Reform and Revolution in Central Asia
357 The Second World War
409 Central Europe, 1648-1871
416 East European Jews in the United States, 1880s-1930s
417 History of Russia before 1800
418 History of Russia 1800-1917
419 History of Soviet Russia
420 Russian Social and Intellectual History
421 The Russian Revolutions, 1905-1921
423 Cultural and Intellectual History of the Soviet Union
424 Soviet Union & World, 1917-1991
425 History of Poland and the Baltic Area
434 American Foreign Relations, 1901 to present
439 Islamic History from the Origin of Islam to the Ottoman Empire
475 European Social History, 1914-Present
500 Reading Seminar in History*
513 European Cultural History, 1815-1870
515 Holocaust: History, Memory and Education
529 Intellectual and Religious History of European Jewry 1648-1870
539 Middle East & Balkans during Ottoman Era
540 Balkans and the Middle East, 1700-1910
562 Byzantine Medicine and Pharmacy
600 Advanced Seminar in History*
804 Citizenship and Identity in Central Europe
825 Seminar: 19th and 20th Century Europe: Europe and the Coming of the Great War
849 Seminar: Topics in History of Imperial Russia, 1649-1917
850 Seminar on the Soviet Union and East Central Europe
851 Seminar on Ottoman and Middle East History
858 Seminar: Problems of Islamic History
866 Seminar in Social History of Modern Europe
891 Proseminar in Modern European History
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
430 International Real Estate
615 Business in Emerging Markets
755 International Operations: Problems and Administration
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
621 Mass Communication in Developing Nations
357 Literatures of Muslim Societies
370 Islam: Religion and Culture
472 Women in Turkish Society
579 Fiction and Ethnography in Turkey
610 Proseminar: Intro to Turkic Linguistics
614 Social Structures of Muslim Societies
631 Advanced Readings in Turkic Languages
640 Proseminar in Central Asia History
850 Seminar in Turkic Studies
851 Seminar on Ottoman and Middle East History
875 Seminar in Turkish Oral Narrative
828 International Business Transactions
918 International Law: Ethnicity, Human Rights & Democracy
919 Holocaust: Facts, Trials, Verdicts, Post-Verdicts
942 European Union Law
450 History of Serbian and Croatian Literature
455 Modern Serbian and Croatian Literature
471 Polish Literature in Translation: to 1863
473 Polish Literature in Translation: since 1863
475 Polish Romantic Tradition in Translation
336 Russian Foreign Policy
338 European Union: Politics and Political Economy
401 Selected Topics in Political Science*
505 Challenge of Democratization
513 Radical Political Theory
612 Transitions to the Market
615 Corruption and Politics
617 Comparative Legal Institutions
618 Political Islam
622 European Politics
633 Russian Politics
634 State and Nation in Post-Soviet Politics
654 Politics of Revolution
658 Nationalism and Social Change: Eastern Europe and Adjacent Areas
659 Politics and Society: Contemporary Eastern Europe
804 Citizenship and Identity in Central Europe
854 Nation, State, and Cultural Pluralism
860 Totalitarian Political Systems and Post-Totalitarian Transitions
866 Global Environmental Governance
948 Topics in Comparative Politics*
949 Post-Soviet Politics: Nation-Building and State-Building in Post-Soviet Politics
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia
325 Eastern Christianity/Russian Orthodoxy in a Global Context
342 Uvod u srpsku i hrvatsku lit
370 Romani Culture in Russia and East Europe
405 Women in Russian Literature
420 Chekhov
421 Gogol
422 Dostoevsky
424 Tolstoy
439 Russia Today in Literature and Film
440 Soviet Literature
444 Slavic and East European Folklore
449 Istorija srpske i hrvatske literature
454 Modern Serbian and Croatian Literature
460 Masterpieces of Serbian and Croatian Literature
470 Historia literatury polskiej do roku 1863
472 History of Polish Literature after 1863
474 Polish Romantic Tradition
532 History of Russian Theater
535 Russian Language Through Film
700 Slavic Critical Theory and Practice
701 Survey of Old Russian Literature
702 Eighteenth Century Russian Literature
704 The Structure of Russian
705 Special Topics in Russian Language and Linguistics
706 Old Church Slavic
710 Pushkin
730 Russian Symbolism
740 Acmeism and Futurism
755 Topics in Slavic Literature
770 Russian Poetry 1837-1890
818 Methods of Teaching Slavic Languages
820 College Teaching of Russian
901 Graduate Seminar in Polish Literature
910 Graduate Seminar in Russian Literature of Nineteenth Century
920 Graduate Seminar in Pre-Soviet 20th Century Russian Literature
925 Graduate Seminar in Soviet Literature
444 Kalevala and Finnish Folklore
614 Social Structures of Muslim Societies
621 Class, State, Ideology: An Introduction to Marxist Social Science
633 Social Stratification
804 Citizenship and Identity in Central Europe
929 Seminar: Class Analysis and Historical Change
*When topic is Russia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia