The Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center and the Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures are pleased to announce a new initiative in Bulgarian Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This pilot program, made possible by the generous financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria, will sponsor courses in Bulgarian language, culture, and history at Illinois, as well as create new opportunities to study in Bulgaria for Illinois students and faculty.
The lineage of Bulgarian studies at Illinois is long, stretching back over a century to the first Bulgarian Illini who arrived on campus in 1911. In the decades since, the university has served as a hub for the study of Balkan history, culture, and expressive traditions, anchored by renowned faculty like historian Maria Todorova and ethnomusicologist Donna A. Buchanan, who also founded the University of Illinois Balkan Music Ensemble, Balkanalia, which has brought regional sounds to audiences near and far for over 25 years. Building on this rich legacy of scholarship and performance, Illinois continues to deepen its engagement with the region. Learn more about our current initiative to foster Bulgarian studies at Illinois below.
In the News
News articles:
Read more about the background of this pilot program on REEEC's website here.
The School of Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics recently highlighted Bulgarian studies at U of I on their webpage.
The Bulgarian Studies Initiative was also highlighted by BG Voice, featuring video interviews with Professor Iliyana Dimitrova, Consul General Svetoslav Stankov, and Bulgarian language students at Illinois.
Selected past campus events:
REEEC Authors & Artists Lecture: Angela Rodel, "From Cem Sultan to Time Shelter: Strategies for Translating History in Bulgarian Literature" | February 6, 2024
Balkanalia's Annual Spring Concert: 2024, 2025, 2026
REEEC/Eastern European Illini March 1 Crafternoon: 2024, 2025, 2026
Related Academic Programs
Bachelor’s degree programs
- BA in Slavic Studies: https://slavic.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/major
- BA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies: https://reeec.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/major-russian-east-european-and-eurasian-studies
- Minor in Slavic Language, Literature, and Culture (minor in Russian language and literature or Slavic Studies minor): https://slavic.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/minors
- Minor in REEES: https://reeec.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/minor
Master’s degree programs
- MA in REEES; MA in REEES/MSLIS Joint Degree: https://reeec.illinois.edu/academics/graduate-programs
- MA in Slavic Languages and Literatures: https://slavic.illinois.edu/academics/graduate-program/master-arts
- Graduate minor in Balkan Studies: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/minors/balkan-studies/
PhD program
- PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures: https://slavic.illinois.edu/academics/graduate-program/doctor-philosophy
- Graduate minor in Balkan Studies: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/minors/balkan-studies/
Courses
LCTL 101 – First-Year Bulgarian I (FA 26)
LCTL 102 – First-Year Bulgarian II
LCTL 201 – Second-Year Bulgarian I (FA 26)
LCTL 202 – Bulgarian for Heritage Speaker
BULG – Bulgarian Courses of Instruction
BULG 101 – First-Year Bulgarian I (FA 26)
BULG 102 – First-Year Bulgarian II (SP 27)
BULG 201 – Second-Year Bulgarian I (FA 26)
BULG 202 – Second-Year Bulgarian II (SP 27)
REES 296 – Intro to Bulgarian Culture (SP 27) ??
Conversation Table
Coming soon!
Study in Bulgaria
Summer Seminars in Bulgarian Language and Culture
For over sixty years, universities in the Republic of Bulgaria have hosted short (3-week) study abroad programs each summer, from mid-July to early August. These seminars are open to any student interested in the culture, language, history, and contemporary life of this beautiful corner of Europe.
One seminar is held at the University of Sofia "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Bulgaria's Capital (Sofia): Summer Seminar in Bulgarian Language and Culture for Foreign Bulgarian and Slavic Scholars
The other is held at the University of Veliko Tarnovo "St. Cyril and St. Methodius" in the historic town (and former Bulgarian capital) Veliko Tarnovo: International Summer Seminar in Bulgarian Language and Culture
Both of these highly international seminars include courses in Bulgarian language (including for people with no background in the language), as well as presentations on literature, history, music, and dance.
Other ways to study/work in Bulgaria
Stay tuned! Other opportunities to study in Bulgaria are in the works!
People
Working Group
Mark Beirn – Director, LAS International Programs
David Cooper – Professor and Head, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
Iliyana Dimitrova – Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
Jessica Greenberg – Professor and Associate Head, Department of Anthropology
Dana Johnson – Director, Graduate College Office of External Fellowships
Glen Layne-Worthey – Associate Director for Research Support Services, HathiTrust Research Center
Cheryl Marcelo – Associate Director, Education Abroad & International Exchanges (LAS)
Maureen Marshall – Deputy Director, Illinois Global Institute
Dani Nutting – Assistant Director, National and International Scholarships Program
John Randolph – Director, Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center; Associate Professor, History
Valleri Robinson – Associate Professor, Theatre Studies
Danielle Sekel – Interseminars Project Coordinator, Humanities Research Institute
Peter Wright – Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
Raia Uvakova – Student representative and junior in Kinesiology
Language Instructor
Iliyana Dimitrova – Adjust Senior Lecturer, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
Students
Eastern European Illini (EEI) Registered Student Organization; EEI Instagram