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Studies & Degrees in Slavonic & Finno-Ugrian Studies

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Are you interested in studying the languages, literature and culture of the Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian nations and people?  Have you considered pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies?  The countries of the Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian world have played a prominent role in international life, and have produced a number of noteworthy scientists, artists, musicians, philosophers and authors.  As a result, many colleges and universities throughout the world have now begun offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in which students can explore the various contributions of these people, with the goal of passing this information along to future generations of students.  To help you become more familiar with these degree programs, below we will briefly describe some of the course content you’re likely to encounter while pursuing a degree in Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian studies and outline some of the typical requirements for admission into each of these programs.

Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies:  Degree Programs, Course Content and Admission Requirements

As mentioned briefly above, most major colleges and universities in the world now offer both undergraduate and graduate (Masters and Doctorate-level) degree programs in Slavic and Finno-Ugrian Studies.  At the undergraduate or Bachelor level, the degree program typically spans four years and includes both topic-specific courses as well as the general education curriculum required by the institution.  The general education component of the program is much like any other Bachelor of Arts program, and includes classes in subjects such as mathematics, science, social and behavioral studies, communication and speech, and composition.  To qualify for admission into the undergraduate program, students must, at minimum, possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and have strong research and writing skills.

The Master of Arts degree in Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies is typically a two-year program and features a much more advanced curriculum.  To qualify for admission into this program, students must possess at least a Bachelor degree in the same or similar field and have a 3.0 grade point average in all topic-related courses.  Admission requirements for the PhD program in Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies depend on the university, but generally a Master’s degree in the field with above average grades is the minimum requirement for program entry.

Slavic Studies

The Slavic Studies portion of the degree deals with the languages, literature and culture of people who hail from nations such as Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.  Most classes at the undergraduate level are instructed in English and do not require any specific linguistic preparation.  However, for those of you planning to pursue the degree at the Master’s or Doctorate level, keep in mind that most universities will require at least two-years of study in one of the Slavic or Finno-Ugrian languages.

Finno-Ugrian Studies

The Finno-Ugrian component of the degree program takes an in-depth look at the languages and culture of the Finno-Ugrian people of Europe, those who speak one of the languages of the Finno-Ugric language family.  This includes the Finns, Estonians, Mordvins and Hungarians.  The languages of these people are very unique, in that they are part of the Uralic language family that is not related to any of the Indo-European languages such as Germanic, Slavic and the Romance languages of Western Europe.

In addition to studying the Slavic and Finno-Ugrian people in relation to their home country in Eastern Europe, the degree program in Slavic and Finno-Ugrian Studies also looks at immigration trends and examines the many contributions these people have made outside of Europe, particularly in large countries such as the United States and Canada, where their populations are over 2 million respectively.