Master's Degree Programs

Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

The Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Illinois is a two-year program designed for the needs of students preparing for further academic study in a particular discipline and students aiming to pursue careers in government, NGOs, business, the media, international law, private foundations, or cultural exchange. The program provides broad exposure to the history, cultures, politics, and societies of the area as well as to many disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to its study. For individuals planning non-academic careers, such study provides essential preparation for addressing the growing opportunities and challenges presented by this region. For students planning academic careers, the program furnishes broad, multifaceted knowledge of the region and valuable experience in its interdisciplinary study and interpretation.

Illinois offers instruction in ten languages of Eastern Europe, Russia, and Eurasia: BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian), Bulgarian, Czech, German, Polish, Old Church Slavonic, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Yiddish. More than 60 language courses and over 100 graduate-level disciplinary courses are available to students.

REEES MA students benefit from a varied program of lectures, conferences, and seminars with national and international experts; the internationally renowned Slavic, East European, and Eurasian collections and Slavic Reference Service, both housed under the auspices of the International and Area Studies Library within the University Library, one of the largest in the country; and outstanding faculty in more than twenty fields, from anthropology and art,  to history and political science, to urban and regional planning. These resources allow students to craft a degree program suited to their individual career goals and scholarly interests.

 

Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies/Master of Science in Library and Information Science

This joint degree includes language and area studies coursework leading to an interdisciplinary MA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, as well as coursework pertinent to a MS in Library and Information Science. The degree pairs regional expertise with professional training in informatics as well as information management, preservation, analysis, and strategies, preparing recipients for careers in institutions and organizations, including libraries, where people, knowledge, and technology intersect to address key challenges confronting the contemporary world.

 

Graduate Minors

Graduate minors in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies and in Balkan Studies are offered in cooperation with other departments and Colleges. The minors are intended for graduate students in any discipline who wish to develop systematic interdisciplinary regional knowledge to supplement their principal specialization. 

 

FOR MA APPLICATION DEADLINES AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS PLEASE CONSULT THE INFORMATION AT THE HIGHLIGHTED LINKS

 

Financial Aid

Students in the MA program who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to compete for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships offered under the Higher Education Act, Title VI, US Department of Education. Awards are for interdisciplinary language and area studies, including the study of Russian or other languages of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. FLAS fellowships provide a tuition and fee waiver, and a stipend of $15,000 for academic-year fellowships; $2,500 for summer fellowships. Applications for financial aid, including Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships, are usually due in February. Please visit the FLAS website or contact reec@illinois.edu for further information.

Qualified students may also be eligible for other fellowships at the campus or departmental level. A limited number of teaching and graduate assistantships, which include a tuition and fee waiver and/or stipend, may be available to outstanding students through REEEC and other units. The Graduate College maintains a list of assistantships currently available throughout the campus. Additional information on need-based financial aid may be obtained from the Graduate College Fellowship Office.

 

Additional Resources