Central and Eastern European Studies (Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration)

Mailing Address:
Department of Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies (MC 315)
601 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7117

Contact Information:
Campus Location: UH 1722
(312) 996-5218
stahlabi@uic.edu
prls.uic.edu

Administration:
Head of the Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies Department: Michal Markowski
Director of Graduate Studies: Julia Vaingurt
Graduate Program Administrator: Brenna Rice

The Department of Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies offers the Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Central and Eastern European Studies, which is available to students in the following graduate programs of study:

G Neuroscience Grad Programs
Graduate Program	Level
Art History	MA, PhD
English	MA, PhD
Germanic Studies	MA, PhD
History	MA, PhD
Polish, Russian, and Central and Eastern European Studies	MA, PhD

Concentration Requirements

Students earning a graduate degree in the departments listed above may complement their coursework by enrolling in a concentration in Central and Eastern European Studies (CEES) after consulting with their graduate advisor. Students pursuing this concentration must obtain approval from a CEES graduate faculty member, preferably within the department of the degree. This faculty member will then serve as the student’s advisor and must approve the student’s CEES course of study. Students fulfill the concentration by completing a total of 16 hours of graduate CEES cross-listed or other related coursework approved by their advisor. Among these courses must be CEES 400 and at least one other course (4 hours) from outside of their home department. Up to 4 of these hours may be taken in directed study or thesis research on an appropriate topic approved by the CEES advisor. The concentration will be awarded only upon completion of the degree.

The CEES Concentration requires four courses (16 hours):

CEES 400 is required. This course is an interdisciplinary historical and cultural overview of Central and Eastern Europe.
Three courses (12 hours), one of which must be taken outside the student’s home department, chosen with the approval of the student’s respective advisor of graduate studies, from the following areas:
- 400- or 500-level courses offered by the Department of Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies
- The list of CEES cross-listed courses offered by the Department of History and the Department of of Germanic Studies
- Topics courses in History and Germanic Studies that could be counted toward the concentration when the topic is Central Europe
- Directed study or thesis research on an appropriate topic approved by the CEES advisor (up to 4 hours)

CEES 400. A Survey of Central and Eastern Europe. 3 or 4 hours.

An interdisciplinary historical and cultural overview of Central and Eastern Europe. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

CEES 406. History of European Standard Languages. 3 or 4 hours.

The phenomenon of the "standard language" in Western and Eastern Europe. Course Information: Same as LCSL 406 and LING 406. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Taught in English. Previously listed as CEES 405. In cases where students speak languages other than English, they might receive tasks to research literature in that language (and on that language) and to present their research results. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; and consent of the instructor.

CEES 411. The City as Cultural Focus. 3 or 4 hours.

Interdisciplinary study of urban culture with focus on German-speaking countries. Course Information: Same as GER 411. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s). Taught in English. No knowledge of German required. Students who intend to use GER 411 toward a degree offered by the Department of Germanic Studies will do assignments in German. Area: literature/culture. Prerequisite(s): For majors and minors in the Department of Germanic Studies only: GER 212 or the equivalent or consent of the instructor.

CEES 418. Topics in German History. 3 or 4 hours.

Specific topics are announced each term. Course Information: Same as HIST 418. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of European history, or consent of the instructor.

CEES 433. Topics in Eastern European History. 3 or 4 hours.

Specific topics are announced each term. Course Information: Same as HIST 433. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of European history or consent of the instructor.

CEES 435. Topics in Russian History. 3 or 4 hours.

Specific topics are announced each term. Course Information: Same as HIST 435. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of European history or consent of the instructor.

CEES 438. The Faust Legend. 3 or 4 hours.

Discusses Goethe's Faust within the context of European and non-European literatures. Traces the origins, significance, and interpretation of the Faust figure. Course Information: Same as GER 438. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Taught in English. Area: literature/culture.

CEES 439. Gender and Cultural Production. 3 or 4 hours.

Issues of gender representation and gender politics examined through the use of theoretical texts or through the study of women authors. Course Information: Same as GER 439 and GWS 439. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s) if topics vary. Taught in English. Students who intend to use GER 439 toward a degree offered by the Department of Germanic Studies will do assignments in German. Area: literature/culture. Prerequisite(s): GER 212 or consent of the instructor.

CEES 460. Topics in Central and Eastern European Literature and Culture. 3 or 4 hours.

Study of a time period, movement, genre, or special topic. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Same as SLAV 460. May be repeated up to 2 time(s), with consent of the instructor, and if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.

CEES 515. Film and Media Culture. 4 hours.

Explores the theory and history of film and other visual media. Emphasis will be given to the status of media texts in their cultural contexts, as well as to their function as components of modern social institutions. Course Information: Same as GER 515. May be repeated. Taught in English. Students will be asked to watch films outside of class.

CEES 532. Seminar in Russian History. 4 hours.

Research in topics. Course Information: Same as HIST 532. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

CEES 550. Critical and Theoretical Approaches to Cultural Production in Central and Eastern Europe. 4 hours.

In-depth examination and comparison of the critical and theoretical questions and approaches that currently frame the study of Central and Eastern European cultural production including film, visual arts, and other non-literary texts. Course Information: Taught in English. May be repeated if topics vary and with approval from Director of Graduate Studies.

CEES 551. Critical and Theoretical Approaches to Literature in Central and Eastern Europe. 4 hours.

Focuses on the types of critical questions and evolving analytical paradigms that currently guide the study of literatures and literary theories specific to the Central and Eastern European context. Course Information: Taught in English. May be repeated if topics vary and with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.

CEES 599. Ph.D. Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.

The writing of a Ph.D. thesis based on original research in the area of the candidate's major specialization (literature or culture). Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Students may apply a maximum of 26 credit hours toward the degree. Previously listed as SLAV 599. Prerequisite(s): Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree and consent of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Academic Catalog

2024-2025 Graduate & Professional Catalog

Central and Eastern European Studies (Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration)

Concentration Requirements

Print Options