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M.A. Program: Slavic Linguistics

The M.A. program in Slavic linguistics seeks to develop a knowledge of the facts of the synchrony and diachrony of the major language, and the essential conceptual tools of linguistic analysis. The program in Russian linguistics consists of the following components:

Coursework

Coursework leading to the M.A. falls into four categories:

A. Courses that develop essential professional skills, normally taken in the first two or three semesters: Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Linguistics Scholarship, Russian Composition and Style, Descriptive Grammar of Russian, Old Church Slavic. The M.A. program in linguistics includes three semesters of a second Slavic language. Students who need further work on their language skills are offered a Russian Proficiency Maintenance Course.

B. The following additional coursework in linguistics: Historical Grammar of Slavic languages, Medieval Orthodox Slavic Texts.

C. Research seminars. M.A. students participate in one or more seminars, open to graduate students at all levels, which are aimed specifically at original research. Topics for seminars vary, depending on current interests of faculty and students. Recent seminars were devoted to such topics as: "Linguistic Geography," "The Origins of Slavic," Modes of Analysis in Slavic Linguistics," "Balkan Linguistics."

D. A literature course. (A literature course is a normal component of the M.A. linguistics program, on the grounds that it is professionally important for linguistics students to be aware of the literary implementation of language.)

In addition, M.A. (as well as Ph.D.) students often chose to take courses offered by the Department of Linguistics and other departments.

Language Skills

The M.A. student demonstrates proficiency in Russian by passing reading and oral examinations during the first year of study (often in the first semester). The M.A. student also normally takes at least two semesters of Polish, Czech, Serbian/Croatian, Bulgarian or another Slavic language. Students are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of either French or German before taking the M.A. exams. (They must demonstrate a reading knowledge of both before taking the Ph.D. exams.)

The M.A. Comprehensive Examinations

The M.A. comprehensive examinations are intended to test the basic knowledge of synchronic and diachronic Russian linguistics. The examinations, which students normally take at the end of the fourth semester, consist of two 4-hour written examinations on synchronic Russian grammar and historical Russian grammar including Old Church Slavic, and a 1 1/2-hour comprehensive oral examination conducted by three faculty members. A portion of the oral examination is in Russian.