Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. The program will accept and review applications for the fall semester only. Transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work must be uploaded along with all other requirements.

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements (details available on the department website).

• Prior Degrees BA, MA, or equivalent degree in Polish, Russian, or a related field.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.50/4.00 in courses in the concentration for which the candidate is applying.
• Tests Required None. Applicants are urged to take the GRE. Results (if taken) are to be submitted directly from GRE Testing Institution to Office of Admissions (UIC code is: 1851).
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
  • TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,
  • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
  • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required.
• Personal Statement Required; 500 words minimum, in English. The statement should summarize the applicant’s long-term research and professional goals.
• Samples of Writing Applicants are required to submit two samples of their written work, one in Polish or Russian (whichever is more appropriate for the student's concentration), and one in English and both in the form of an essay for an academic course, ten page minimum each.

Degree Requirements

• Minimum Semester Hours Required: 96 from the baccalaureate; 64 from the master’s degree.
• Course Work In addition to the 37 hours required for the master's degree or equivalent, students in the PhD must complete the following:

a

Of the 32 didactic hours, at least 12 must be at the 500 level. No more than 4 hours, excluding the required history course, can come from outside the department. Outside courses must be related to the student's concentration and approved by the student's academic advisor and the director of graduate studies.

• Examinations 
  • Preliminary Examination: Required; written and oral.
• Dissertation Required. The completed dissertation will be defended in an oral examination. No more than 26 hours of CEES 599 can be applied to the degree. The dissertation should be based on original research in the candidate’s concentration, Polish Studies, Russian Studies, or Central and Eastern European Studies.

Interdepartmental Concentrations

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include:

• Gender and Women's Studies
• Central and Eastern European Studies
• Violence Studies