Master's Degree Program Profile (PDF) (statistical overview of the SLL M.A. program)
The KU Slavic Department offers the Master of Arts in Slavic Languages and Literatures. The Department's graduate programs prepare students for a variety of professional positions. While most KU SLL students choose to remain in the academic sector, others have gone on to careers in government service, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), other public-sector positions, administration, high-school and community-college teaching, and professional-education support, among other career paths. Our graduate faculty and their colleagues are ready to mentor students to succeed on whatever path they choose to pursue.
Focus of the degree
Work toward the M.A. degree at the University of Kansas consists of a traditional curriculum that provides students with important foundational knowledge. Our curriculum includes historical surveys of the major literary periods and genres, understanding of the structure and function of Slavic languages, knowledge of disciplinary methodologies employed in our field, development of appropriate language capacity, and control of writing and research strategies.
Students pursuing the M.A. in Slavic Languages & Literatures may choose as their primary language and culture Russian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, or Polish.
In Memoriam
Reed Rankin ✝ 12/29/2019
The faculty and students in the Department Slavic Languages and Literatures are deeply saddened that one our undergraduate majors, Reed Rankin, passed away last week (12/29) in Fredonia, Kansas. Reed was a beloved student in the department and is fondly remembered by his peers and professors. He began studying Russian as a Freshman and stayed with a challenging but rewarding language for three and a half years, tackling introductory, intermediate, advanced levels, and even continuing his studies into his senior year with Russian for the Professions. We know that he was planning further study in Moscow in the next academic year, prior to matriculation at KU School of Law.
A thoughtful student, Reed often contributed insight and posed challenging questions in class. Reed’s dedication to the study of Russian language, culture, and history was tremendous and fueled by infectious curiosity. He showed great acumen in translating from Russian into English, always finding English-language equivalents for Russian cultural concepts through skillful use of one-liners from American films. We also treasured his ability to speak in fluid Russian about rural, farm life in Kansas, and the effects that natural phenomena, like floods, on a farming community. He was a pleasure to know and teach, and will be remembered for his kind and polite demeanor. Our thoughts are with Reed’s family at this time
