Institute of Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies (CERAS) Paterson Hall 457 Telephone: 788-2888 Fax: 786-7501 The Institute Director: Joan DeBardeleben An interdepartmental committee was formed in 1963 to foster teaching, research, conferences, and publications in Soviet and East European studies at Carleton. In 1970, a separate department ‘ the Institute of Soviet and East European Studies ‘ was established to administer the interdisciplinary programs developed by the committee. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of l99l, ISEES was renamed the Institute of Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies, to reflect the changing political reality in the region. Faculty members from ten disciplines (art history, business, economics, geography, history, international affairs, law, political science, Russian, and sociology), participate regularly in the institute's activities. They are joined on an occasional basis by visiting scholars from outside the University, including invited specialists from Eastern and Central Europe and the successor states to the USSR. In recent years the Central and East European countries and the former Soviet republics have been in the midst of a transition from one type of socio-economic and political system to another, although they are still linked with each other by earlier historical experience, the common legacy of Soviet-style communism, and by a set of similar problems resulting from that legacy. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the field of study remains unified by a concern with understanding the nature of the transitional processes affecting the region, in their multiple social, cultural, economic and political dimensions. Among special themes addressed in Institute courses are the following: the study of the attempted transitions to market economic systems, legal reconstructions, prospects for and problems of democratization, nationalism and ethnic conflict, national and regional integration, institution-building, problems of ethnic minorities, transformations of the social structure, changes in the international security system, environmental problems and policies, and the evolution of East-West relationships. At the undergraduate level, the Institute offers an interdisciplinary B.A. honours program in the field. The Institute also administers a program of studies leading to a Master of Arts degree in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies, the first of its kind in Canada. The curricula for both programs are offered largely through participating departments. The M.A. program is designed for students wishing to acquire specialized knowledge of the region, including proficiency in the use of Russian as a research tool; the approach is interdisciplinary with emphasis on the social sciences and history. Students may take advantage of the university's regular academic exchanges with post-secondary institutions in Hungary, Poland, and Russia. Qualifying-Year Program Applicants who have a general (pass) bachelor's degree in one of the disciplines represented in the program, or who lack sufficient area studies or language training may be admitted to a qualifying- year program designed to raise their status to that of honours graduates in East European Studies. Students are expected to achieve high honours standing in qualifying-year courses in order to qualify for admission to the master's year. To be eligible for admission to the qualifying-year program, an applicant must already have taken some courses in the area of East European Studies, so that by the end of the program he or she will have satisfied the basic requirements for admission to the master's program. All students are normally required to have completed the equivalent of an introductory course in Russian upon entry into the Qualifying-Year program. Master of Arts Admission Requirements The normal requirement for admission to the master's program is an honours degree (or the equivalent) with at least high honours standing dealing with East European Studies. Honours graduates in other disciplines are eligible for admission provided they meet the following requirements: * A total of seven full courses (or the equivalent) in the field should have been taken in no fewer than three different departments (excluding Russian language courses) * At least high honours standing * A reading knowledge of Russian (normally at a minimum, equivalent to two academic years of Russian instruction, or one year with an intensive summer program). Program Requirements The specific requirements in the master's programs are the following: * East European Studies 55.500 and 55.501, two half-course seminars in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies, offered specially by the Institute, and incorporating the approaches of several relevant disciplines * Two full courses, or the equivalent, chosen with the approval of the graduate supervisor from the list below with at least one full course (or the equivalent) at the 500 level. No more than one full credit maybe taken at the 400 level. No more than one half credit may be taken in the Department of Russian. * One of the following: East European Studies 55.598, a research essay incorporating the approaches of at least two of the disciplines represented in the program; the research essay must be combined with an additional full course, or the equivalent, chosen from those listed below (not including Russian) and must be defended orally or East European Studies 55.599, an M.A. thesis which must combine the interdisciplinary approach with a greater degree of originality than that required of the research essay, and which must be defended orally In both cases (55.598, 55.599) the paper should demonstrate that its author is capable of undertaking research in Russian, or in another language used in the region. The 55.599 option cannot be taken without the specific permission of the graduate supervisor. Each student must demonstrate proficiency in Russian or in another of the region's languages (with approval of the graduate supervisor), by passing a written translation examination. A list of languages which may be selected to meet this requirement is available from the Institute. If a language other than Russian is selected, this language must be utilized in undertaking research for the research essay or M.A. thesis. Language courses needed to enable a student to pass the language examination cannot be used to fulfil the minimum M.A. course requirements described above. Students are advised to consult with the relevant departments for final course listings for 1994-95, as changes in curricula may be made too late for inclusion; in the calendar some of the courses are not offered every year. Undergraduate courses below the 400 level may be taken by qualifying-year students, and by students in the M.A. program as supplementary to the minimum M.A. requirements. (See the program description for the Institute in the Undergraduate Calendar.) Art History 11.422 Topics in Eastern Medieval Art Economics 43.486 Comparative Economic Systems I 43.487 Comparative Economic Systems II 43.586 Comparative Economic Systems I 43.587 Comparative Economic Systems II History 24.460 Selected Problems in Russian History 24.461 Selected Problems in Soviet History 24.560 Revolutionary Russia, 1898-1921 24.580 Problems in International History International Affairs 46.522 International Security After the Cold War 46.538 International Economics 46.582 The Political Economy of East-West Relations 46.584 International Relations in Europe Law 51.488 Socialist Legal Systems Political Science 47.431 Marxist Thought 47.432 Contemporary Marxism 47.461 Foreign Policies of Soviet Successor States 47.514 The Transition from Communism 47.515 Post-Communist Politics in East Central Europe 47.516 Selected Problems in the Politics of Soviet Successor States 47.586 Strategic Thought and Issues in International Security Russian 36.420 Russian for International Relations I 36.421 Russian for International Relations II Sociology 53.584 Modern Marxist Theory East European Studies 55.400 Modern Polish Society 55.401 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in Eastern and Central Europe 55.402 Development of the Russian North 55.403 Soviet and Russian Military History and Affairs 55.404 National Tensions in the Soviet Successor States 55.405 Environmental Problems and Politics in East Central Europe and Eurasia 55.406 The Business Environment in East Central Europe and the Soviet Successor States 55.407 Social and Political Discourse in Russia 55.500 Interdisciplinary Seminar I 55.501 Interdisciplinary Seminar II 55.502 State-Society Relations in Transition 55.507 Social and Political Discourse in Russia 55.590 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies 55.591 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies 55.592 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies 55.593 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies 55.594 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies 55.595 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies 55.596 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies Other 400 and 500 level courses may be approved by graduate advisers as Institute of Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies credits if they are deemed appropriate to a particular student's objectives. Academic Standing Master's candidates must obtain a grade of minimum B- on all work credited towards the degree. Graduate Courses* * East European Studies 55.500F1 Interdisciplinary Seminar I The theme of the seminar varies from year to year, but the continuing objective is to apply the approaches and methods of several relevant disciplines to selected themes and countries. * East European Studies 55.501W1 Interdisciplinary Seminar II Students should normally complete 55.500Fl before enrolling in this course. In addition to continued discussion of approaches and methods of several relevant disciplines, students will begin preparatory work on their Master's research essays or theses. * East European Studies 55.502Fl or Wl State-Society Relations in Transition This seminar addresses the relationship between social forces and state structures at both the national and local levels in the USSR, in its successor states, and/or in other Central/East European states. Prerequisite: Approval of the Institute, with appropriate facility in the Russian language. * East European Studies 55.507W1 Social and Political Discourse in Russia This seminar will involve analysis of materials from the Russian-language media dealing with contemporary social and political issues. Most course readings will be in the Russian language. Lectures and at least a portion of seminar discussion will be in Russian. Prerequisite: Approval of the Institute, with appropriate facility in the Russian language. * East European Studies 55.590F1 Tutorial in Russian-Area Studies A course of directed readings on selected aspects of the Soviet successor states, involving preparation of papers as the basis for discussion with the tutor. Offered when no regular course offering meets a candidate's specific needs. * East European Studies 55.591W1 Tutorial in Russian-Area Studies * East European Studies 55.592S1 Tutorial in Russian-Area Studies * East European Studies 55.593F1 Tutorial in Central and East European Studies A course of directed readings on selected aspects of Eastern and Central Europe, involving preparation of papers as the basis for discussion with the tutor. Offered when no regular course offering meets a candidate's specific needs. * East European Studies 55.594W1 Tutorial in Central and East European and Russian-Area Studies * East European Studies 55.595S1 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies * East European Studies 55.596T2 Tutorial in Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies * East European Studies 55.598F2, W2, S2 Research Essay A research essay on some topic relating to the Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies * East European Studies 55.599F4, W4, S4 M.A. Thesis Other courses may be available at the University of Ottawa.