PDF version of this chapterGraduate Degrees
Admission Requirements
An undergraduate major in Slavic languages and literatures or equivalent is a prerequisite for graduate work. Undergraduate major requirements must include four language and four literature courses at the upper division level.Degree Requirements
These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the USC Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.Transfer credit to be applied toward the master's degree must have been earned no earlier than seven years prior to the date of application (or 10 years for a Ph.D.).
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 M.A. degree is intended only as a transitional degree in the process of completing requirements for the Ph.D. in Slavic languages and literatures.A student must complete 30 units in Russian, three units of which may be taken in a related department. Students who lack undergraduate preparation in any given area may be required to take appropriate courses at the 400 level before enrolling in 500-level courses. Command of spoken and written Russian must be demonstrated; a proficiency examination must be taken at the beginning of the first semester of study and again before the completion of the degree to demonstrate sufficient progress. Written and oral examinations or a thesis are required on completion of course work. The thesis is an honors option. The departmental Graduate Committee will consider thesis requests on the basis of a student's performance in graduate courses, units completed, and individual background in Russian literature. The thesis may be taken in lieu of four units of course work.
| Required courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| SLL 500 | Topics in Advanced Russian (2 units each semester to total 8 units) | 8 |
| SLL 501 | Proseminar in Russian Literature | 3 |
| SLL 516 | Structure of Modern Russian: Morphology | 3 |
| SLL 530 | Early Russian Literature and Culture (11th-17th Centuries), or | |
| SLL 532 | 18th Century Russian Literature | 3 |
Two courses in 19th century Russian literature, and two courses in 20th century Russian literature (one course in Russian art or culture may be substituted for one course in either 19th or 20th century literature).
One elective may be selected from relevant courses in any department with approval of the graduate advisor.