MA Program

M.A. in Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies

What is Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies?

The Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (REES) program offers students advanced knowledge of the languages, arts, literatures, histories, societies, politics, and cultures of Russia, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and countries of the West Slavic (Poland, Czech Republic) and South Slavic (Balkan) regions. This broad geographical region is home to rich and diverse cultures that have had an enormous impact on world civilization. It is central to strategic, political, economic, cultural, and environmental issues of the present and future.  KU's program is interdisciplinary and draws on over 35 faculty members and courses from 12 different KU departments and schools.

Click here to see how to apply.

Master of Arts in Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies

The Center awards an interdisciplinary M.A. degree. Requirements for the degree include 30 credit hours distributed as follows:

1. Completion of a 6th semester language class, i.e., the second semester of an advance language class
2. Three courses, for a total of 9 credit hours, in the department or subject group of the student's special interest; at least two of these courses must be area specific. The five thematic areas are: 1) Literature and the Arts, 2) History, 3) Political Science, 4) Philosophy and Religion, 5) Economics, Business, Geography
3. One course in each of the other four subject groupings for a total of 12 credit hours.
4. Successful completion of REES 898 and REES 899, an interdisciplinary M.A. seminar (6 credit hours), develops advanced research skills.  REES 898, which is normally taken at the beginning of the degree program, emphasizes learning the tools and methods necessary to study this region of the world.  In REES 899, students write an interdisciplinary research paper using materials in the student’s chosen target language. Before enrolling in REES 899, the student must have completed an advanced language course in the target language.
5. Beginning in Fall 2011, the examination procedure for REES MA students consists of an MA Porfolio, which parts are described here.

Admission Criteria and How to Apply

Most applicants to the REES program have completed an undergraduate major in the social sciences or humanities, but successful REES graduate students have come from other fields. While a student’s GPA and GRE scores are helpful in determining his/her overall academic potential, the department uses a holistic approach toward admissions, looking at all elements of the application packet before making a decision (language preparation, transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, statement of intent). In the past, the average GPA has been above 3.28 and the GRE scores of successful M.A. applicants have been above-average (verbal, quantitative and analytical).

For priority admission (and to be considered for funding) for FALL semester, please submit all materials by January 1st. It may be possible for students to begin the program off-cycle in the Spring or Summer semesters; please contact the Associate Director, Professor Renee Perelmutter at crees@ku.edu to discuss this option.

Please submit the following materials to the Graduate Application Processing Center (GAPC):

1. An application form for admission to the Graduate School. This application may be completed via the Online Application.
2. Payment of the application fee. (For the amount, check here. In summary, domestic is $55 and international is $65.) Payment may be made on-line by credit card or by electronic check. To pay by mail, please send a check or money order to GAPC.

Please submit the following materials to the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (CREES):

1. The application cover sheet, available here.
2. A two-page statement of educational and professional objectives.
3. One original transcript for all post-secondary education.
4. Three letters of recommendation, each accompanied by the Graduate Letter of Recommendation Form
5. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. (General test—verbal, quantitative, analytical writing—only). Specialized subject tests are not required.

Important: When you sign up to take the GRE, please list the following codes and the GRE Center will send your scores to CREES:

• University of Kansas institutional code – 6871
• CREES department code – 2201.

Click here for information about sources of funding for eligible students.