Central and Eastern European Languages and Literature
Overview
Programs in Central and Eastern European languages and literature teach people the spoken and written traditions of the region.Central and Eastern European languages and literature programs include topics such as:
- Culture and subcultures of Central and Eastern European society
- Reading, writing, and speaking a language, such as Russian, Polish, or Czech
- Translation techniques
- History
- Art
- Literature and poetry
- Dialects
- Linguistics
- Folklore
Concentrations
In Central and Eastern European languages and literature programs, students may be able to specialize in:
- Conversation
- Interpreting
- Literature
- Teaching
- Translation
They may also be able to choose a specific language group, such as:
- Ukrainian language and literature
- Slavic languages and literature
- Albanian language and literature
- Polish language and literature
- Bulgarian language and literature
- Slovak language and literature
- Serbian and Croatian language and literature
- Czech language and literature
- Baltic language and literature
Schools
A few colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in Central and Eastern European languages and literature. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
A few universities offer graduate degrees in Central and Eastern European languages and literature. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Central and Eastern European Studies
- Linguistics
- Russian Language and Literature
- Russian Studies
- Second Language, General
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Comparative Government
- Contemporary World Issues
- Economics
- Humanities Survey
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
- Political Science
- Second Language
- World Area Studies
- World Geography
- World History
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. In addition, you must be able to speak, read, write, and understand at least one Central and Eastern European language at an advanced level. Most commonly this is Russian.
Additional requirements at some schools include:
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
- Undergraduate degree or significant course work in literature from this region
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Academic writing sample
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:
- Applied Phonetics
- Civilization and Cultural History
- Conversation and Composition
- Linguistics
- Literary Studies
- Literature, Folklore, and Film
- Reading and Speaking Skills
- Translation
- Study in a second language or dialect (beginning, intermediate, advanced)
Graduate Program Courses
Graduate programs in Central and Eastern European language and literature typically require:
- Required courses
- Thesis (master's degree)
- Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)
Things to Know
Colleges that do not offer programs in Central and Eastern European languages and literature may offer elective courses or certificates as part of a major in interdisciplinary studies or liberal arts. Many programs offer certificates at the graduate level.
Students who major in Central and Eastern European languages and literature may be required or encouraged to spend some time living, working, and studying abroad. Most programs coordinate semester abroad or work internships. In most cases, you can participate in these after you have completed at least two years of language study.
Schools
King-Snohomish Area
University of Washington - Seattle
- Slavic Languages & Literatures--Eastern European Languages, Literature, & Culture Option
- Slavic Languages and Literatures
West Side Area
Grays Harbor College
- Foreign Languages Pre-Major