The Ph.D. in Slavic Languages (track in Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian)

Prerequisites for this degree are the M.A. in the relevant track of Slavic Languages (or two Residence Units in transfer credit) and formal approval by the Slavic Department.

The GSAS rules and requirements for the M.Phil. degree are set forth here: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/requirements-mphil-degree

The Slavic program enables students to complete the M.Phil. degree before the end of their sixth semester of graduate study.  Those who enter the program with two RUs in transfer credit and proceed directly to the M.Phil. can complete all M.Phil. requirements before the end of their fourth semester in the program. If necessary, changes to this timetable can be worked out with the approval of the DGS and chair, but all students must meet the GSAS deadline for completion of the M.Phil., which is the end of the fourth year [third year for those with Advanced Standing).

Note that four Residence Units beyond the M.A. (for a total of six) are required for the M.Phil. degree.

For the duration of the program, each student works closely with a faculty mentor who, as a rule, is distinct from the student's M.A. adviser.

Students work in their major field as well as in a minor field.

Requirements:

1. Coursework: Students should take those of the required courses below that were not taken at the MA level:

• four courses for a letter grade in the primary field (Czech, Polish, South Slavic, or Ukrainian), including one advanced language course;
   
• three courses in a minor field (see below for options)

• four elective courses, which may be in the primary field, other Slavic literatures and cultures, the minor field, or other subjects related to their area of study.  In addition, students take a Directed Research course for two semesters in the third year (second year for those with Advanced Standing) -- one to develop bibliography in the major field[s] of the prospective dissertation for the M.Phil. Major Colloquium (2 pts), and another to prepare the dissertation prospectus/brief (2 pts). 

All courses should be chosen in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), should be at the graduate level (4000 and above), and required courses should be taken for a letter grade. Elective courses may be taken for R credit. Courses taken P/F (pass/fail) normally do not count toward the degree.

Minor fields (students choose one of the options below):

• Second Slavic literature/culture  (Czech, Polish, Russian Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, or Ukrainian): candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the language of the chosen literature, a general knowledge of the literary tradition, and a firm grasp of one selected period, genre, or theme. One of the required courses toward this minor may be satisfied by six points of language above the elementary level. 
• Non-Slavic literature/culture: candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the language of the chosen literature, a general knowledge of the literary tradition and a firm grasp of one selected period, genre, or theme that links that literature/culture to their primary field.
• Jewish Studies: candidates may take courses related to Jewish culture and experience offered by the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and in a variety of departments; one of the required courses toward this minor may be satisfied by six points of language (Yiddish; Hebrew) above the elementary level.
• History and culture: candidates take graduate-level courses in the history, art history, film, music, philosophy, religion, or other aspect of the region, and should demonstrate a general knowledge of the intellectual history of their region with a focus on either a specific period or a particular discipline.
• Interdisciplinary minor: developed in consultation with the DGS, and with the approval of the Department.  Candidates may also choose a certificate in a Center or Institute, such as the Harriman Certificate or the Graduate Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality.

2. Language (in addition to the primary language of study):
   A reading knowledge of one of the following:  French, German, a second Slavic language, or another language of demonstrable importance to the student's research. Proficiency is established by departmental examination or completion of the relevant department's course in Rapid Reading and Translation with a grade of B or better.  The research language should be chosen in consultation with the DGS.
    
3. Teaching requirement:
   Participation in the Slavic Department's instructional activities.  In the second, third, and fourth years of study, students gain exposure to teaching through participation in the Department's language and literature programs.
    
4. Major Field Colloquium:
   The student prepares for the Colloquium under the guidance of the instructor of the Directed Research course; the student develops bibliography in field[s] of the prospective dissertation and writes a 10-15-page literature review; this culminates in a 2-hour colloquium on the material with the instructor who chairs the committee, and two other relevant faculty members.
   
   The Major Field Colloquium should take place by the end of the fall semester of a student's third year in the program; for those with Advanced Standing, it should take place by the end of the fall of the second year.
    
5. Minor Colloquium:
   This is the student's opportunity to exhibit the work (the "portfolio") completed in the minor field and to reflect on its relationship to the major field and its role in the student's intellectual development.  Three faculty members take part in the discussion with the student. Students normally work with their mentor when preparing for the Minor Colloquium; their mentor also chairs the colloquium. (For a full description, please see the Guide to the Minor Colloquium on the Slavic Department website.) Minor colloquium should be held before the completion of the M.Phil. requirements.

Prerequisites for this degree are an M.Phil. degree in the corresponding track and formal approval by the Slavic Department.

GSAS expects all students to complete the Ph.D. program before the end of their seventh year of graduate study (eligibility for housing in Columbia Residential and for additional funding from GSAS or Arts and Sciences runs out then); the maximum time allowed for the satisfaction of all requirements is nine years of continuous registration.  On this GSAS policy, please see: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/nine-year-policy-time-doctoral-degree

Students granted two RUs of advanced standing are expected to finish by the end of year six (eligibility for housing and additional GSAS or Arts and Sciences funding runs out then); for these students the maximum allowable time to completion is eight years of continuous registration. 

Students should take note of GSAS rules on eligibility for funding beyond their funding packages.  See: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/five-year-funding-guarantee-and-seven-year-funding-eligibility

The Slavic program is designed so that students are able to finish in five or six years, and the Department encourages students to do so. 

Each student writing a dissertation works closely with a faculty sponsor and two other faculty members who serve as second and third readers on the student's dissertation committee.

Requirements

Dissertation brief

The dissertation brief should:

• articulate the core idea of the dissertation (the questions and insights that drive it, the argument that is emerging)
• identify the material to be drawn upon in the analysis
• characterize any methodological or theoretical perspectives that will be brought to bear on the material
• establish the scholarly significance of the study, situating it in the field(s) to which it aspires to belong.
• outline the dissertation’s projected structure

Approximate length: 12-15 pages, exclusive of bibliography. For further specifications see Dissertation Brief guidelines.  The student prepares the dissertation brief under the guidance of the instructor of the Directed Research course.  The candidate defends the brief before a committee consisting of the sponsor and two other faculty members whose expertise is relevant to the dissertation topic.  Students should defend the brief before the end of the third year of graduate studies; those who enter with advanced standing should do so before the end of the second year in the program.

For GSAS policy and deadlines on the Defense of the Prospectus, please see: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/dissertation-prospectus

Dissertation

Beginning in the semester after defending their brief, students will meet once each semester with their sponsor and at least one other member of their internal committee to review and discuss progress on the dissertation. For this process and the timetable, see:

https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/dissertation-progress-meetings

Every year, students also present their work at a Dissertation Workshop in the department. 

Students should complete, defend, and deposit their dissertation according to the deadlines and regulations of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Please see: https://gsas.columbia.edu/student-guide/dissertation/defending-your-dissertation

and here: https://gsas.columbia.edu/student-guide/dissertation/defending-your-dissertation

For guidance on all aspects of the Dissertation, students should use the GSAS Dissertation Tool Kit:  https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/dissertation