Opportunities for Graduate Studies in Slavic Literature and Culture

Although the University of Pennsylvania does not currently offer the PhD, we encourage interested candidates to apply to the Penn graduate program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory, to pursue specializations involving Russian cultural history or literature. Students with more strictly historically focused interests may also consider application to the Penn graduate program in History . For students in those programs and in other relevant graduate programs (i.e. Art History, English, Anthropology, Music, etc.), the Slavic Department offers a Graduate Certificate in Russian Literature, Culture and History.

Successful applicants to the Comparative Literature program must possess aptitude for theoretically sophisticated work, as well as comparative preparation and language skills. Along with courses in literary theory, graduate students in the program take classes at the departments of their national areas of specialization. Students specializing in Russian Literature have the advantage of:

• Seminars in Russian topics taught in both Russian and English offered through the Slavic Department;

• Access to seminars offered by Penn’s excellent specialists in Modern Russian History;

• Improving competence in Russian through advanced level courses with content-based instruction;

• Generous five-year packages of tuition and stipend support, requiring a moderate amount of teaching and/or TA appointments;

• Opportunities to teach Russian language at the elementary and intermediate levels under the supervision and with the guidance of a trained professional in Language Pedagogy, as well as access to teaching assistantships in comparative and translation courses;

• Personalized study plans effected through independent reading courses;

• A vibrant community of engaged students and faculty with broad comparative interests, working in an array of interdisciplinary and theoretical approaches.

The Slavic Department faculty is composed of specialists in a range of theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches to Russian literature and cultural history. We are committed to providing comprehensive training in Russian Literature, including familiarity with all literary periods and history of Russian literary language. Graduates will be well qualified to conduct research in Russia and to teach both in Slavic departments and in Comparative programs.

For information about current and past graduate seminars, please refer to our course listings.

For more information, please contact Dr. Kevin M. F. Platt, Chair, Slavic Department.

Please also visit the website of the Program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory.