The Combined Ph.D. Program in Film Studies and Slavic Languages and Literatures

To be accepted into the joint degree program, students must be accepted by both departments. Each student’s program of study will be planned in consultation with the DGS in each area. Students divide their coursework between Film Studies and the Slavic Department and take a total of 16 courses. They are normally expected to take at least 6 courses from each department. The courses in the Slavic Department should normally cover nineteenth and twentieth century literature, in most cases Russian. The language requirements for admission to candidacy are the same as for Slavic graduate students. In order to advance to candidacy, students must take three comprehensive exams in the Slavic Department during their third year of study as well as an oral exam at the end of the same year on the topic of their dissertation prospectus. These exams comprise two written exams, one on nineteenth century literature and one on twentieth century literature, and one oral exam on Russian film. For the literature topics, students may choose either the poetry or the prose components of the Slavic department comprehensive exams. The texts and films for these exams are listed on the department website (Film List and Reading List). For details of the Film Studies comprehensive exams, please see Film Studies Graduate Program. Students also have an open oral prospectus defense in September of their fourth year. Students normally serve as teaching assistants in both the Film Studies and Slavic programs.