Mar 19, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2019-2020 
    
USC Catalogue 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Slavic Languages and Literatures (PhD)


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The doctorate in Slavic languages and literatures is designed to prepare students for a career of teaching and scholarship at the university level. It provides a thorough grounding in Russian literary and cultural history as well as in the theoretical perspectives current in the field. Elective course work, particularly at the upper level, allows students to take advantage of the department’s expertise in such additional areas as Russian art, Russian theater, and eastern European cinema. The linguistic component of the curriculum together with the experience as a teaching assistant in Russian language courses that many students gain also serves as preparation for positions involving language teaching. Depending on departmental offerings, further study in a second Slavic language and culture may also be possible.

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate major in Russian or its equivalent is a prerequisite for graduate work.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation  page and the Graduate School  section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Master of Arts in Slavic Languages and Literatures

The department does not accept applicants for a Master of Arts degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures. The MA degree is intended only as a transitional degree in the process of completing requirements for the PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures. The MA portion of the program comprises 30 units.

First-year Review

The program conducts a thorough review of all first-year students at the end of the second semester. To be permitted to continue doctoral work, students must receive a satisfactory evaluation in this review.

Language Requirements

Non-native speakers of Russian must successfully complete 8 units (4 semesters) of SLL 500 Topics in Advanced Russian  and pass a proficiency exam in the language.

Field Examination

A written exam based on a reading list, followed by an oral exam, must be successfully passed before the MA can be awarded. It is normally taken at the end of the semester in which MA course work is completed.

Doctor of Philosophy in Slavic Languages and Literatures


Students pursuing the Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures are required to complete a minimum of 60 units of course work beyond the baccalaureate. In addition to the 30 units completed toward the M.A., students are required to complete the courses listed below; to demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written Russian; to demonstrate reading knowledge of French and German (in exceptional cases a second Slavic language may substitute for either French or German; instruction in Slavic languages other than Russian is not scheduled on a regular basis); to pass the qualifying examination, which must be taken after all course work has been completed; to complete and successfully defend a dissertation.

Additional Requirements


Plus electives, from SLL or relevant offerings in CSLC, COLT, ENGL, FREN, SPAN etc. as approved by the department. At least 9 of these units must be completed in SLL.

Dissertation Defense

An oral defense of the dissertation must be satisfactorily completed before the dissertation can be filed with the Graduate School.

Awarding of Degree

The degree of Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures is conferred when all of the degree requirements have been completed satisfactorily.

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