Program Statistics
Visit PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Slavic Languages and Literatures
Degree Types: PhD
Northwestern's Doctoral Program in Slavic Languages and Literatures, one of the best in the country, specializes in Russian literature and culture. It focuses on the readings of major works, their relation to cultural and intellectual history, and the questions they raise for problems of literary criticism and theory.
The program allows reasonable flexibility in designing a course of study, giving students the ability to follow their research interests. As a result, students acquire the skills necessary for creative thinking, original research, and professional exposition. The program also provides training in language teaching methodology.
Students in this program are also encouraged to participate in TGS's Interdisciplinary Initiative program. For more information on how you can have a second intellectual "home" outside of your department or program, please visit the Interdisciplinary Clusters page.
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Lisa Byrnes
Program Assistant
847-491-4148
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
Master's
The Slavic Languages and Literatures Department does not offer a terminal MA degree. The MA degree is awarded to students in the PhD program who meet the MA requirements.
Total Units Required: 8-9
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | |
| SLAVIC 360-0 | Survey of 19th Century Russian Poetry |
| or SLAVIC 361-0 | Survey of 20th Century Russian Poetry |
| SLAVIC 411-0 | Proseminar |
| SLAVIC 434-0 | Studies in 18th Century Russian Lit |
| or SLAVIC 430-0 | Studies in Old Russian Literature |
| Other department courses or approved related courses: 5-6 | |
Other MA Degree Requirements
- Examinations: article-length written work and oral presentation
- Research/Projects: none specified
- Master's Thesis: students will write an article-length article with a strong argument and deliver it as a paper with effective presentation.
PhD
Total Units Required: 19
Coursework Requirements
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | |
| SLAVIC 360-0 | Survey of 19th Century Russian Poetry |
| SLAVIC 361-0 | Survey of 20th Century Russian Poetry |
| SLAVIC 411-0 | Proseminar |
| SLAVIC 430-0 | Studies in Old Russian Literature |
| SLAVIC 434-0 | Studies in 18th Century Russian Lit |
| SLAVIC 436-0 | Studies in 19th Century Russian Lit. |
| SLAVIC 438-0 | Studies in 20th-Century Russian Literature (1900-1930s) |
| Other department courses: 6 | |
| Seminars (300- and 400-level): 6 | |
Other PhD Degree Requirements
- Examinations: comprehensive written examinations generally given in winter quarter of third year; exams cover all periods and genres of Russian literature and Russian intellectual history; students with master's degree from another institution or with exceptionally strong background may take exams in second year; after successful completion of written exams, students take two-hour oral exam
- Research/Projects: in second year, students choose professor with whom to rework paper written for a previous seminar; paper is reworked into publishable article and presented orally to students and faculty in spring of second year
- PhD Dissertation: fourth-year students must present preview of dissertation orally to students and faculty of department; dissertation proposal due beginning of fourth year
- Final Evaluations: approval of dissertation
-
Languages: Each first-year student must take a diagnostic Russian language placement test, prepared and administered by the language coordinator. Studying a foreign language in addition to Russian is desired and encouraged, but not required.