The MA program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies is inherently interdisciplinary. Students take courses across departments, including but not limited to anthropology, art history, business, comparative literature, geography, journalism, law, linguistics, music, history, political science, religious studies, and sociology. These courses count towards a REEES MA, provided that one-third of the coursework deals with the region.
Students are expected to pursue a concentration in one of three broad fields:
- Russian Literature
- Russia and Eastern European History
- Contemporary Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia
Graduate students working in the social sciences or fields such as journalism or business typically pursue the third option.
On this page:
Degree Requirements
The MA in REEES typically takes two years (or six academic quarters) to complete. The MA in REEES requires a total of 49 graduate credits, including:
- 40 graded graduate-level credits with a grade of B- or better
- 9 thesis credits taken Pass/No Pass
There is also a language requirement, and courses used to fulfill do not apply to the 49-credit requirement.
Language: Four years of university study of a Slavic language, or equivalent competency, plus reading competency as defined by a translation exam in the student’s field of concentration. In exceptional cases, a student may petition to substitute one year of a second Slavic language or equivalent competency for one of the years of the primary language, but all students must pass the translation exam. Native speakers of a Slavic language may petition to substitute an appropriate alternative measure of English competency for the translation exam.
Field of Concentration: Four graded graduate-level courses (4 credits each) in a field of concentration, plus a comprehensive written exam on the field of concentration (typically taken in the quarter before submission of the thesis.)
Research and Thesis: MA students research and write a thesis, earning nine credits of Thesis (REES 503). The thesis is defended before the student’s committee, which must consist of at least two faculty members.
Electives: Six graded graduate-level courses (4 credits each), of which two may be in the field of concentration. The electives must include courses from at least two fields outside the student’s field of concentration. Language courses beyond the minimum requirement may count as electives.
Apply to Our Graduate Program
Ready to apply? Start your application on Slate, the centralized application portal for graduate admissions at the University of Oregon.