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I.1 Who should apply for graduate study?
The Department prefers to admit students who have had at least three and preferably more years of
Russian language, as well as related coursework. (Applicants who have had fewer than three years
of Russian but who have intensive knowledge of other Slavic languages may also be considered;
please contact the Graduate Studies Chair for further information.)
Candidates for admission should give evidence of academic excellence and intellectual promise,
as measured by criteria such as undergraduate grades, scores on the verbal and writing portion of
the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), evaluations in letters of recommendation, and the
quality of the writing sample. We are particularly concerned with the candidate's undergraduate
performance in Russian and/or other Slavic languages and in related subjects.
As much of the teaching in the Department is conducted in English, candidates who are not native
speakers should have strong abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English, as
indicated by scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan
English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB).
Students who are applying to the Department may wish to contact some of the current graduate
students through the Dobro Slovo Mentoring Program (see X.2).
I.2 Criteria for admission
The following criteria are guidelines for prospective applicants rather than absolute criteria; the
Graduate Studies Committee takes into account many factors in deciding whether to admit
candidates to the program. Note that fulfilling the criteria is not a guarantee of admission to the
Department:
* A cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.3 (preferably higher) on a 4.0 scale,
with at least 3.5 (preferably higher) in Russian and related subjects. Applicants should have a
cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale on any previous graduate coursework.
Students graded otherwise than on the 4.0 scale should have grades that show comparable
excellence in the given system.
* For native speakers of English, at least 550 Verbal and 4.5 writing on the GRE (preferably
higher).
* For non-native speakers of English, a combined score of at least 550 (paper version), 220
(computer version) (preferably higher) on the TOEFL or a result of at least 80 on the MELAB.
I.3 Procedures for applying to the Graduate School
The Department strongly prefers graduate students to matriculate in the Fall Quarter, although it
will consider applications for the other quarters. Financial aid for the first year of graduate study is
ordinarily awarded only to students who enter in the fall.
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Applications received by January 15 will receive first priority. Only applications received by that
date (November 30 for foreign applicants) will be considered for Graduate School fellowships.
The application procedures are as follows:
* The applicant must provide the Ohio State University Graduate Admissions office (1800
Cannon Drive, Columbus, OH 43210) with the following materials:
* A completed and signed Ohio State University Graduate School Admission application
(available on-line from the Department or from the Graduate Admissions office);
* Transcripts for all previous post-secondary academic work;
* Official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test;
* (Non-native speakers of English) official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). The
Department requires applicants to submit the TOEFL or MELAB results regardless of whether
they have an American university degree.
* The applicant must provide the Graduate Studies Chair of the Department with the above four
sets of materials, as well as the following:
* A statement of purpose in English (at least two typed pages, double-spaced) explaining
why the applicant wishes to pursue a graduate degree in the Department of Slavic and East
European Languages and Literatures at The Ohio State University, including career goals, special
interests, probable major field of study (literature or linguistics or undecided), and any other
information that the applicant considers relevant;
* A sample of academic writing in English (typically, an essay or term paper written as an
undergraduate, preferably on a subject related to Russian or Slavic studies). Papers written in a
Slavic language will be considered if nothing is available in English.
* At least three detailed letters of recommendation from persons acquainted with the
applicant's scholastic ability (preferably professors or other college instructors). At least one of
these letters must provide a detailed evaluation of the applicant's knowledge of Russian based on
recent knowledge.
In accordance with Graduate School policy, the Department must receive original letters of
recommendation directly from their authors. Letters of recommendation need not be translated if
written in English, Russian or any other Slavic language, German, or French. Translations (if any)
must be sent to the department by the recommenders themselves; translations provided by
applicants cannot be considered.
I.4 Interviews
The Department encourages all applicants to visit the Department. Please call the Graduate Studies
Coordinator to arrange meetings with professors and current graduate students.
The Graduate Studies Chair may contact prospective students who are short-listed for admission to
arrange an interview with the Graduate Studies Committee. During the interview (which can be by
telephone or in person), the Committee will examine the applicants' general intellectual abilities
and their level of proficiency in both Russian and English.
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II. General Information on Graduate Study
II.1 ADVISING
II.1.1 Advising of new students
Until they are ready to choose an advisor, new graduate students are assigned to the Graduate
Studies Committee, with the committee members sharing the duties of advising. The students in
this category will be given the label "Advisor: Undecided" to remind them that they have yet to
choose an academic director.
II.1.2 Choosing an advisor
Graduate students should choose their advisors from among the graduate faculty members (see
below) based on field, disciplinary orientation, research directions, and general compatibility.
The Department requires students to choose an advisor by the end of their third quarter of
enrollment in the program. This is done by filling out the "Declaration of Advisor" Form (see the
appendix) and submitting it, with the consent of the intended advisor, to the Graduate Studies
Committee Chair for approval.
The following faculty members can serve as advisors in the graduate programs in Slavic and East
European Languages and Literatures:
* Literature: Brintlinger, Burry, Hashamova, Masing-Delic, Stephan.
* Linguistics: Collins, Gribble, Joseph, Rugaleva.
All of these faculty members can direct theses and professional papers, serve on M.A. and Ph.D.
committees, and advise students on doctoral dissertations. In some cases, a faculty member may
not yet be qualified by Graduate School rules to be the sole director of a doctoral dissertation; in
these instances, a co-advisor should be appointed in consultation with the advisor and the Graduate
Studies Chair.
II.1.3 Role of the Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee Chair is responsible for guiding students in their choice of
advisors; for overseeing advising at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels; and for dealing with any
difficulties, complaints, etc., related to any student's progress in the programs. It is the duty of the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair to ensure efficient communication between the graduate
students and the graduate faculty and to act as liaison with the Graduate School.
II.1.4 The advisor's obligations to the student
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The advisor-student relation is one of the most important elements in successful graduate study, as
it is the duty of the advisor to serve as the student's academic director and mentor. The particular
responsibilities of advisors are as follows (see also Chapter IX, "Ethics"):
* They meet with their advisees at least once every quarter to discuss the next quarter's classes.
Students must meet with their advisors before they can enroll in any classes.
* They serve on all of their advisees' examination and defense committees, and may give the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair suggestions as to who the other members of the committees
should be.
* They give their advisees suggestions on how to prepare for examinations.
* They give their advisees suggestions and guidance on topics for theses, professional papers,
and dissertations. In addition, they serve as the first and most important reader of the theses,
professional papers, and dissertations. It is up to the individual advisors to set ground rules for their
readership.
* They monitor their advisees' progress and performance in the program and their fulfillment of
departmental requirements. In addition, they report on their advisees' progress in the annual faculty
meeting in which the graduate students are evaluated. They then write their advisees informing
them of the faculty's evaluation. Copies of these annual letters of evaluation are sent to the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair and placed in the students' files.
* They give their advisees suggestions and guidance on study abroad, special academic
programs, fellowships, associateships, jobs, and career plans.
* They write letters of recommendation on behalf of their advisees for special academic
programs, fellowships, associateships, jobs, etc.
* As advisors have responsibility for monitoring their students' progress in the program, their
signatures are necessary on various documents relating to course changes and on all petitions that
the students write to the Graduate Studies Committee.
II.1.5 The student's obligations to the advisor
* It is essential for students to communicate frequently with their advisors.
* Students should seek their advisors' guidance whenever they are deciding on their academic
orientation, areas of specialization, and thesis/professional paper/dissertation topics.
* It is the student's responsibility to arrange the quarterly meeting to discuss the next quarter's
classes.
* Students should give their advisors sufficient time to read and comment on drafts of papers
and to write letters of recommendation on their behalf. What counts as sufficient time will vary
from advisor to advisor, since each of the professors has different time constraints in a given
quarter.
* Students should also consult their advisors when they are contemplating such steps as adding
or dropping classes, applying for fellowships, going on study abroad programs, taking leaves of
absence, etc.
* Students should keep their advisors informed of their whereabouts during the summer, when
studying abroad, or in other prolonged absences from the university.
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II.1.6 Advising during the absence of the official advisor
If a student's advisor is absent for a prolonged period, it is the responsibility of the Graduate
Studies Committee to ensure that the student receives necessary advising. The student may request
to be assigned to some particular faculty member on a temporary basis. If the student does not have
a particular preference, the Graduate Studies Chair may ask a faculty member to assume advising
responsibilities.
II.1.7 Change of advisor
Graduate students may apply to change advisors at any time. As the advisor-student relationship is
crucial in graduate study, this is a decision that should only be made after careful consideration.
There can be various situations in which such a change is appropriate, including change of
disciplinary orientation, pursuing a specific research interest, prolonged absence of an advisor,
difficulties in communication, etc. Whatever the reason for changing advisors, it is essential that
the situation be discussed and the change arranged through the Graduate Studies Committee Chair,
whose responsibility it is to oversee the advising of all graduate students in the Department. The
"Change of Advisor" form (see the appendix ) requires the signatures of both the intended new
advisor and the Graduate Studies Chair. Please note that it is common courtesy to inform the
previous advisor of the intended change.
II.2 COURSE LOADS
II.2.1 Minimum course loads
* Graduate Associates
The minimum number of credit hours per quarter for G.A.'s (50% or more) prior to candidacy
is 9 hours of graduate course work during the academic year and 7 hours during the summer term.
Students will normally take more than the minimum.
Note that the Graduate School requires doctoral students to be in residence for at least three out
of four consecutive quarters and to be enrolled during that time in at least ten graduate credit hours
per quarter (see Graduate School Handbook, ¤ II.6.6.4.2).
* Doctoral candidates
Doctoral students who have passed the candidacy examination must be enrolled for at least 12
hours in order to hold a G.A. appointment (50% or higher).
* Fellows
Students that hold fellowships must be enrolled for at least 15 hours.
* International students
International students are required to take a course load of at least 10 hours, regardless of
whether they hold G.A. appointments (at least 15 hours if they hold fellowships). (See also
Graduate School Handbook, ¤ II.2.1.)
II.2.2 Which courses can count towards the minimum?
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The enrollment minimum is ordinarily satisfied by graduate-level classes (600-level or above in
our Department, 500-level or above in other departments); petitions for exceptions must be
submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee (see X.1 ). Individual studies courses (693's and
993's) ordinarily cannot be used in fulfillment of the minimum credit hours during the academic
year; petitions for exceptions may be considered by the Graduate Studies Committee.
II.2.3 When should one take the minimum load?
We encourage students to take more than the minimum load in most quarters, since we will expect
students to maintain a good rate of progress through the program. A minimum load would be most
appropriate for, say, students who are writing theses or professional papers or those who have
unusual work responsibilities (e.g., 75% appointments). All other things being equal, a student
who regularly takes more than the minimum load is a better candidate for support than a student
who regularly takes no more than the minimum load.
II.2.4 Enrolling for less than the minimum
Under special circumstances, one can petition the Dean of the Graduate School for permission to
enroll in fewer than the mandated number of credit hours. Such petitions are ordinarily sent upon
the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee Chair (see Graduate School Handbook, ¤
II.2.1.4).
II.3 Good Standing in the Program
II.3.1 Requirements to be in good standing in the program
To be in good standing in the program, students must fulfill the following criteria:
* Maintain a 3.4 cumulative point-hour ratio (CPHR) in the courses used in fulfillment of degree
requirements;
* Maintain a 3.3 CPHR overall;
* Progress through the program at a satisfactory rate, as determined by passing specific
"milestones" (see II.3.3);
* Satisfy the requirement of continuous enrollment (see II.3.4-5).
Students who are not in good standing will be subject to sanctions, which affect not only financial
aid prospects but also the right to continue in the program. In general, the good standing
requirements are minima and not entitlements. In making financial aid decisions, we give
preference to students 1) who have passed the Russian proficiency examination; 2) who have the
strongest records of performance; and 3) who have seniority in the program.
II.3.2 Good standing in the Graduate School
In order to be in good standing in the Graduate School, students must maintain a cumulative
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point-hour ratio (CPHR) of 3.0 or better in all graduate courses and must maintain reasonable
progress, as defined by the departmental criteria (see II.3.3-5). Students who do not fulfill these
criteria will be placed on Graduate School probation (see II.4.4).
II.3.3 Satisfactory rate of progress ("Milestones")
To be progressing through the program at a satisfactory rate, full-time students must meet the
following requirements known as "milestones":
Milestone 1: They must select an advisor by the end of their third quarter of enrollment, not
counting summers or periods of study abroad.
Milestone 2: They must pass the Reading, Grammar, and Oral portions of the Russian Proficiency
Exam by their sixth quarter of enrollment, not counting summers or periods of study abroad.
Milestone 3: They must receive their M.A. degree by the end of their sixth quarter of enrollment in
the M.A. program, not counting summers or periods of study abroad, or by the end of their ninth
quarter of enrollment, not counting summers, if they are taking joint degrees with other academic
units.
Milestone 4: They must defend and file their theses or first professional papers in a timely manner.
* Students taking Plan-A (thesis) M.A. degrees will preferably file their thesis with the Graduate
School by the official deadline (one week before Commencement in the quarter in which they pass
the M.A. examinations). However, they will still be in good standing if they file their theses with
the Graduate School by the "End-of-Quarter" deadline (the last business day prior to the first day
of classes for the quarter following the M.A. examination).
* Students taking Plan-B (non-thesis) M.A. degrees who are admitted provisionally into the
Ph.D. program must successfully defend their first professional paper by the last day of classes in
their first quarter of enrollment after their Master's examination. They must submit it to the
Graduate Studies Chair or designee in an approved written form with their committee's signatures
by the Commencement date for the same quarter.
Milestone 5: They must submit their second professional paper in an approved written form with
their committee's signatures by the last day of classes of their eighth quarter of enrollment in the
doctoral program (post-M.A.), not counting periods of study abroad.
Milestone 6: They must advance to candidacy (successfully pass the candidacy examinations) by
the end of their ninth quarter of enrollment in the doctoral program (post-M.A.), not counting
periods of study abroad.
Milestone 7: They must submit a dissertation prospectus by the end of the second quarter after
their candidacy exams; summer quarter will be included.
Students who do not meet these requirements will be subject to sanctions (see II.4). Students may
petition the Graduate Studies Committee for exceptions.
II.3.4 Continuous Enrollment Requirement (pre-Candidacy)
Students who have not yet successfully completed candidacy exams must be continuously enrolled
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in the program or must be granted a formal leave of absence by the Graduate Studies Committee.
To request leaves of absence, students must submit brief petitions to the Graduate Studies
Committee in which they outline their reasons for not being enrolled in the given quarter(s) (see
X.1 ). Students who wish to extend their leaves of absence must submit new petitions prior to the
end of the period covered by their first petitions.
Students who have not registered in the Graduate School for one calendar year are automatically
deactivated. To receive permission to re-enroll, students must petition the Graduate Studies
Committee (see Graduate School Handbook, ¤¤II.2.2.5, II.5.7, and II.6.7).
Recipients of multiple-year fellowships should note that the Graduate School requires them to be
enrolled continuously; their requests for leave must be submitted by the Graduate Studies
Committee Chair to the Dean of the Graduate School.
II.3.5 Continuous Enrollment Requirement (Candidacy)
After successful completion of candidacy exams, graduate students need not be continuously
enrolled in the program in order to be in good standing in the Department. Those who are not
enrolled but who wish to remain active in the Department must report annually to their advisors,
with copies to the Graduate Studies Committee. The reports should include (1) information on the
status of the student's dissertation work; and (2) a statement of intention to continue. The deadline
for submission of this letter is the last day of classes in the spring quarter.
In the absence of such a letter, the Graduate Studies Committee, after consultation with the
student's advisor, may recommend that the student no longer be allowed to register in the Graduate
School (see Graduate School Handbook , ¤II.4), i.e., be effectively dismissed from the program. In
that case, the student must petition the Departmental Chair for permission to reenter the program.
Doctoral students are automatically deactivated five full calendar years after their candidacy
examination if they have not completed all the requirements for the Ph.D. (see Graduate School
Handbook, ¤II.6.7). This entails loss of candidacy. Candidacy may be reestablished by taking a
supplemental candidacy examination, with the approval of the student's advisor and the Graduate
Studies Committee (see Graduate School Handbook , ¤II.6.10.1-2). In order to receive a Ph.D.,
students must complete all degree requirements within two years of the supplemental examination.
The Graduate School does not ordinarily grant exceptions to this rule.
II.4 SANCTIONS
II.4.1 Sanctions for not passing the milestones on schedule
Milestone 1: Choosing an advisor
Students who have not selected an advisor by the last day of their third quarter of enrollment, not
counting summers or periods of study abroad, will be put on departmental probation (see II.4.3).
Milestone 2: Russian Proficiency Examination
Students who have not passed the Reading, Grammar, and Oral portions of the Russian
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Proficiency Exam by their sixth quarter of enrollment, not counting summers or periods of study
abroad, will be prevented from registering.
Milestone 3: Receipt of M.A. degree
Students who have not received their M.A. degree by the end of their sixth quarter of enrollment,
not counting summers or periods of study abroad, will be put on departmental probation (see II.4.3
). In addition, in accordance with College of Humanities rules, they will lose their eligibility for
graduate associateships until the quarter after they receive their M.A. degree. Students who are
taking joint degrees with other academic units have until the end of their ninth quarter of
enrollment, not counting summers or periods of study abroad.
Milestone 4: Thesis/First professional paper
1. Plan-A (thesis) students who have not filed their thesis with the Graduate School by the
"End-of-Quarter" deadline (the last business day prior to the first day of classes for the quarter
following the M.A. examination) will be put on departmental probation (see II.4.3). 2. Plan-B
(non-thesis) students who have not successfully defended their first professional papers by the last
day of classes in their first quarter of enrollment after the Master's examination will be prevented
from registering. 3. Plan-B (non-thesis) students who have not submitted their first professional
paper to the Graduate Studies Chair or designee in an approved written form with their
committee's signatures prior to the Commencement date for the same quarter will be prevented
from registering.
Milestone 5: Second professional paper
Students who have not submitted their second professional paper in an approved written form with
their committee's signatures by the last day of classes in their eighth quarter of enrollment in the
doctoral program (not counting summers or periods of study abroad) will be put on departmental
probation (see II.4.3).
Milestone 6: Advancement to candidacy
Students who have not advanced to candidacy by the end of their ninth quarter of enrollment in the
doctoral program will be put on departmental probation (see II.4.3).
Milestone 7: Dissertation prospectus
Students who have not submitted a dissertation prospectus by the end of their second quarter of
enrollment after their candidacy exams (including summer quarter or periods of study abroad) will
be put on departmental probation (see II.4.3).
II.4.2 Other sanctions
Students who are permitted retakes of examinations but who do not do so within two quarters of
enrollment after the original exam, including summers, will be prevented from registering.
II.4.3 Departmental Probation
Students who fall below the minimum standards of the Good Standing Requirements will be
warned by a letter from the Department Chair, acting on the recommendation of the Graduate
Studies Committee Chair. This letter will initiate a three-quarter probationary period
("departmental probation," not to be confused with Graduate School probation). In order to be
removed from departmental probation, the students must show adequate signs of progress over
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their next three quarters of enrollment, counting the quarter in which the letter is written, but
excluding summers. If there are no signs of progress by the end of the second quarter of
enrollment, the students will lose departmental support; if they are not on departmental support,
they will be placed at the bottom of the support list for the upcoming year. At the same time, the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair will recommend to the Graduate School that the student be
issued a warning that registration will be denied unless there is marked improvement by the end of
the following quarter. If there is no sign of progress by the end of the third quarter, the students will
be dismissed from the program and denied further registration in the Graduate School (see
Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.4).
It is the responsibility of the student's adviser to monitor his/her fulfillment of the requirements.
The Graduate Studies Committee oversees this process.
II.4.4 Graduate School Probation
Students whose graduate CPHR falls below 3.0 after 15 graduate credit hours are placed on
probation by the Dean of the Graduate School and cease to be eligible for G.A. appointments.
Students who fail to raise their graduate CPHR to 3.0 or better at the end of the next quarter of
enrollment may be dismissed from the university at the the recommendation of the Department's
Graduate Studies Committee Chair (see Graduate School Handbook, ¤ II.4).
II.5 THE RUSSIAN PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
II.5.1 Purpose of the Russian Proficiency Examination (RPE)
The Department requires all graduate students to demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency in
Russian by passing the Russian Proficiency Examination (RPE) within six quarters of enrollment
after entering the program (not counting summers or periods of study abroad) (Milestone 2). All
students, except those with a university degree from a university whose primary language of
instruction is Russian, must pass the Russian proficiency examination in order to receive a degree
in the Department.
The RPE has two functions:
* It is an eligibility requirement for the Master's degree and for the Ph.D., for transfer graduate
students;
* It is a necessary criterion for continuing students to have a Graduate Associate appointment in
the Department.
To qualify for a degree, students must pass the Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Listening
Comprehension/Oral Interview portions of the RPE. To be appointed as a Graduate Associate,
continuing students must pass all four portions of the RPE.
II.5.2 Description of the RPE
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* Reading Comprehension (1 hour). In this portion, students are asked to read a passage
(approximately one printed page, single-spaced) of Russian expository prose and to demonstrate
their understanding of its grammar and contents by translating it into English. Students are allowed
to use dictionaries. Style is not important here; points are subtracted for omissions and for mistakes
in vocabulary or grammar. There is a per-line penalty for not completing the examination.
* Grammar (1 hour). In this portion, students are asked 1) to fill in blanks in a text with
grammatically correct forms; 2) to correct the grammatical and stylistic mistakes in sample student
compositions.
* Listening Comprehension/Oral Interview (15-30 minutes). In this portion, students are
interviewed in Russian by two members of the faculty. The departmental Graduate Studies
Coordinator arranges for the administration of this examination for students who have passed the
Reading and Grammar tests.
* Written Composition (1 hour). In this portion, students are to write a Russian essay on a set
topic connected with their biography, interests, etc. They are graded on grammatical and stylistic
accuracy. Copies of earlier topics are available in the Department office.
II.5.3 Administration of the RPE
The RPE is generally administered once a quarter. Students wanting to take RPE in a given quarter
must preregister with the Graduate Studies Coordinator in writing by the end of the first week of
classes. The students must list all of the portions of the RPE that they wish to take (reading
comprehension, grammar examination, written composition).
Students who have passed the Reading Comprehension and Grammar portions of the RPE are
allowed to take the Listening Comprehension/Oral Interview portion. This is scheduled by the
Graduate Studies Coordinator on a case-by-case basis.
The RPE is proctored; students should bring their own pens and dictionaries to the testing site.
Black pens must be used. Paper will be provided by the Department. Each exam component will be
administered on the hour; please be punctual. Students who have passed the reading portion but
who need to take other components must wait outside the testing site until the proctor has called
them in to the room.
II.5.4 Retakes of the RPE
Students are allowed to take each component of the RPE three times.
Students who have passed some portions of the examination but not others need only retake the
portions that they have yet to pass. They may wait more than one quarter between each take,
although the faculty strongly encourages students to complete the RPE requirement as soon as
possible.
Students who fail to pass any of the components after three attempts will not be permitted to
register.
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II.6 GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
(Contributed by Marika Whaley, formerly Representative)
II.6.1 Role of graduate student representatives
Graduate student representatives (GSRs) participate in departmental faculty and committee
meetings to ensure that the needs and opinions of the department's graduate students are addressed.
They act as liaisons between the graduate students and faculty members. If you have a concern that
you would like to bring to the attention of the faculty but feel daunted by the prospect of discussing
it with a faculty member yourself, you can always ask a GSR to speak on your behalf. Talking to a
GSR is a good way of keeping your concerns anonymous.
Graduate student representatives have a unique opportunity to see how the department runs. In
many cases, they also have the ability to shape department policy. If you are a GSR, it is important
that you participate actively in the meetings you attend. The faculty do listen to the GSRs. If you
are not a GSR, and you have a question or concern, it is in your best interest to talk to a GSR or
faculty member. The GSRs are there for you, and nothing is more frustrating for them than to find
out that graduate students have been voicing concerns about an issue to everyone but them. Give
them the means of accurately representing your needs to the faculty.
II.6.2 Election of representatives
Elections are coordinated by the representatives to the Faculty and are usually done through
anonymous ballots in the graduate students' mailboxes. They are usually a multi-part process: first,
the GSRs announce a period in which nominations for the open positions are accepted, then they
give nominees the chance to accept or decline their nominations, and finally the actual elections
are carried out. If there is only one nominee for a position, and s/he accepts the nomination, no
further steps are needed.
There are several different kinds of GSR. The following sections describe the roles of these GSRs.
II.6.3 Representatives to the faculty
Of all representatives, these are usually the most active in departmental policy-making. In the past,
there have been two GSRs to the faculty, but in recent times this has been increased to three to
lighten the load on individual GSRs.
Representatives to the faculty have two-year terms, and are elected at the end of the school year for
terms beginning in the fall. Efforts are made to ensure that both literature and linguistics students
are represented, and both pre- and post-M.A. levels.
The responsibilities of these representatives are as follows:
* They participate in all faculty meetings (except meetings in which the faculty evaluate
individual students' progress). Two of the representatives should be present at the meetings.
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Although the GSRs have non-voting status at these meetings, they are free to provide input on
graduate-student concerns and other matters.
* If decisions are made by the faculty that directly affect the graduate students, such as changes
in program requirements, the GSRs compose a memo to the graduate students informing them of
the changes. This memo is usually given to the department chair for informal approval before
distribution to the graduate students.
* In consultation with the Department Chair, they ensure that graduate students are represented
on departmental committees. This includes arranging the elections of graduate students to the
various committees at the beginning of each year.
* They run the Graduate Student Association (GSA). GSRs arrange meeting times, agendas, and
coordinate other activities of the GSA.
II.6.4 Representatives to department committees
Representatives to committees are elected for one-year terms. The committees that require
graduate student representation are the Graduate Studies Committee the Library Committee, and
any ad-hoc committees that are appointed by the Chair. The GSRs to these committees are elected
at the beginning of the year at the first meeting of the GSA, after the department chair determines
whether any ad-hoc committees are to be formed. Representatives to departmental search
committees are elected as the need arises.
The responsibilities of GSRs to departmental committees are as follows:
* They participate in all committee meetings (other than those in which the progress of
individual students or the applications for admission to the program or the awarding of GTA
positions or other financial aid is discussed).
* They report on committee meetings to the graduate students. This is usually done only at
meetings of the GSA. GSRs to search committees should send updates to the graduate students
throughout the search process.
* Representatives to search committees are voting members.
II.6.5 Representatives to the Council of Graduate Students
The Council of Graduate Students is an elected representative organization whose function is to
voice the concerns of the graduate student body to the University's faculty and administration (see
X.5 ). Each department with a graduate program sends one delegate, who is elected by the graduate
students in that department. An alternate is elected at the same time. It is the responsibility of the
delegate to represent the graduate students of his/her department in meetings of the Council and to
report on those meetings to the other graduate students. In some cases, representatives may also be
chosen to serve on special committees of the Council.
Contact the Council of Graduate Students for further information.
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II.6.6 Ethical responsibilities of representatives
During faculty and committee meetings, GSRs often witness discussions and conversations that
should not be heard outside of the meeting room. It is the responsibility of GSRs to respect the
privacy of faculty members and to resist the urge to discuss sensitive matters with anyone. If you
are unsure of what to tell your fellow graduate students about a particular issue, you should ask a
faculty member for advice.
II.7 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
II.7.1 Russian Club (contributed by Jeffrey Holdeman)
The OSU Russian Club is an organization designed to bring together students who speak Russian
and who are interested in Russia and Russian culture. Along with Dobro Slovo (see II.7.2 ), the
Club co-sponsors a conversation table every Friday and activities such as Russian Cuisine Night,
lectures, sing-a-longs, movies, and other gatherings. Russian Club has undergraduate officers and
a graduate student as representative to the Department. For more information, contact the graduate
representative.
II.7.2 Dobro Slovo National Slavic Honor Society
The Ohio State University is home to the Psi Chapter of Dobro Slovo, the National Slavic Honor
Society, which has local chapters at universities throughout the U.S. Dobro Slovo recognizes
academic achievement in the field of Slavic Studies. Student membership is attained by meeting
three criteria: completing at least two years (or equivalent) of study of Slavic languages, literature,
culture, or related subjects; achieving a grade-point average of 3.5 in all Slavic course work, with a
grade-point average of 3.0 overall; and indicating an active and continuing interest in Slavic
languages, literature, culture, and related fields of Slavic Studies. While one does not have to be
majoring in Slavic to become a member, many of the members are graduate students in Slavic and
undergraduate majors in Russian. There are faculty and honorary memberships as well. The Psi
Chapter of Dobro Slovo sponsors several activities throughout the year, including quarterly
department colloquia, Library Day, Russian Table (in conjunction with the Russian Club; see
II.7.1), and workshops and seminars.
Dobro Slovo also sponsors a mentoring program for new and prospective graduate students (see
X.2). For more information, contact the Dobro Slovo president, or the Department.
II.7.3 Slavic Graduate Student Organization (contributed by Marika Whaley)
The Graduate Student Association was created to provide a forum for Slavic Department grads to
discuss issues concerning them. At quarterly meetings, graduate representatives to department
committees, the faculty, and the CGS are chosen (see II.6 ), and reports from the current
representatives are made. All Slavic Department graduate students are automatically members in
the association. See any graduate student representative for further information.
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II.8 FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
II.8.1 General remarks
Students in good standing in the Department are ordinarily supported for at least five years of
graduate study by various kinds of funding: 1) graduate associateships from the Department or
other academic units of the University; 2) graduate fellowships awarded by the Graduate School of
the University; 3) fellowships awarded by other academic units of the University or by outside
agencies. All awards are made on a competitive basis, with academic achievement as the principal
criterion. Financial need is generally not taken into account in awards of this kind.
Graduate fellowships and associateships generally provide tuition/fee waivers and stipends.
Three-quarter associateships and fellowships awarded by the University include a fourth-quarter
tuition/fee waiver without any service responsibilities.
In this context, it is impossible to list every source of available support. The purpose of this section
is to help students to begin their own independent search for funding. Students should consult their
advisors, the Graduate School, and periodicals such as the Ohio State Slavic and East European
Newsletter (OSEEN) and Nouvelles Nouvelles (the newsletter of the Ohio State Center for
Medieval and Renaissance Studies) for further information.
II.8.2 Academic-year support
Many forms of academic-year support are available. The Graduate School awards one-year and
multiple-year fellowships to entering graduate students; these include University and
Distinguished University Fellowships, as well as Graduate Enrichment Fellowships for members
of traditionally underrepresented populations. See the Graduate School Handbook or contact the
Graduate School for further information.
The Department offers entering and continuing students Graduate Associateships for teaching,
research, and administrative service and for work as resident directors in study-abroad programs.
Contact your advisor or the Graduate Studies Committee Chair for further information.
Graduate Associateships are also available from various other academic units in the University,
including the University Library and the Hilandar Research Library . The Graduate Studies
Committee Chair and the Graduate Studies Coordinator bring announcements for these positions
to the attention of the students through e-mail and/or messages in departmental mailboxes.
The Center for Slavic and East European Studies awards a limited number of Title VI Foreign
Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships for language study. Contact the Center for further
information.
The Melton Center for Jewish Studies offers the Samuel M. Melton Fellowship to entering
students whose planned academic programs have a Jewish Studies component. Contact the Melton
Center for further information.
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II.8.3 Summer support
As mentioned above, all three-quarter associateships and fellowships from the University include
a fourth-quarter tuition waiver, which is applicable to summer study.
The Department offers a limited number of graduate associateships for the summer quarter. See
the Graduate Studies Committee Chair for further information.
The Center for Slavic and East European Studies awards a limited number of Title VI Foreign
Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships for summer language study. Contact the Center
for further information.
Foreign Language Enrichment Program (FLEP) fellowships are also available for summer
language study in less commonly taught languages. See the Graduate Studies Committee Chair for
further information.
The Hilandar Research Library offers a number of stipends for short periods of intensive summer
research on its holdings. Contact the Hilandar Research Library for further information.
II.8.4 Dissertation support
The Graduate School provides a variety of dissertation fellowships, including special awards for
women and members of minority groups. See the Graduate School Handbook or contact the
Graduate School for further information.
In some instances, the Department receives funds to provide doctoral candidates with service-free
summer associateships (SGAES). See the Graduate Studies Committee Chair for further
information.
The Center for Slavic and East European Studies awards a limited number of FLAS fellowships
for dissertation research. Contact the Center for further information.
Funding for research is available from a variety of outside agencies, including the Fulbright
Commission, IREX, ACTR, the Social Science Research Council, the American Council of
Learned Societies, the American Association of University Women, and the Spencer Foundation.
Contact the relevant agencies for further information.
II.8.5 Travel support and special projects
The Department offers its graduate students support for conference travel, as well as the Paissy
Hilandarski Scholarship for study or research in Bulgaria. See the Graduate Studies Committee
Chair for further information.
The Ohio State Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies offers small grants of up to $2000 for
special research projects. Contact the Center for further information.
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The Bibliographical Society of America offers short-term fellowships supporting bibliographical
inquiry as well as research in the history of the book trades and in publishing history. Contact the
Society for further information.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign holds an annual Summer Research Laboratory on
Russia and East Europe. Associateships to defray housing expenses are offered to advanced
graduate students who wish to conduct research using the University's library (third largest in the
U.S., with extensive Slavic holdings). Contact Illinois' Russian and East European Center for
further information.
II.8.6 Addresses of outside funding agencies (see also X.7)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Fellowships and Grants
2201 North Dodge Street
P.O. Box 4030
Iowa City, IA 52243-4030
American Council of Learned Societies
228 East 45th Street
New York, NY 10017-3398
grants@acls.org
Bibliographical Society of America
P.O. Box 397
New York, NY 10163
bibsocamer.@aol.com
Social Science Research Council
Title VIII Fellowship Program
810 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowships
Catherine A. Lace, Program Officer
900 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2800
Chicago, IL 60611-1542
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Russian and East European Center
104 International Studies Building
910 South Fifth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
THE GRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE
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Composition of the Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee is one of the three standing committees of the Department, along
with the Undergraduate Studies Committee and the Library Committee. Every program in the
Ohio State University that offers a graduate degree is required to have such a committee, which
must consist of at least three members. The Department's Graduate Studies Committee consists of
at least three graduate-faculty members (see II.1.2) chosen by the Department Chair and a graduate
student representative chosen by his/her peers (see ); the Department Chair is a member ex officio.
II.9.2 Duties of the Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for overseeing and administering the Department's
M.A. and Ph.D. programs. In addition, it serves as liaison between the Graduate School and the
Department's graduate faculty (see II.1.2).
The Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for specifying admissions criteria (in addition to
those required by the Graduate School). It makes recommendations for applicants to be admitted to
graduate study (see Chapter I) and approves intra-University transfers (see V.3) and requests to
re-enter the graduate program (see V.2.2). It recommends approve of graduate courses to be
transferred from another university.
The Graduate Studies Committee monitors students' academic performance, determines the
standards for good standing (see II.3), and recommends action in the case of poor standing (see
II.4).
The Graduate Studies Committee is charged with making recommendations about rules and
procedures affecting the Department's graduate programs to the Department's faculty. In addition,
the Committee considers and recommends action on new graduate courses and curricula to the
faculty and, with the faculty's concurrence, to the Curriculum Committee of the Council on
Research and Graduate Studies.
The Graduate Studies Committee is also charged with considering and acting on student petitions
that pertain to the Department's rules and curricula (see X.1 ). When a student's petition pertains to
the policies and rules of the Council of Research and Graduate Studies or the University faculty,
the Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for recommending action to the Policy and
Standards Committee of the Council.
The Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for nominating faculty members to graduate
faculty status and for reviewing graduate faculty membership.
For further information on the duties of the Graduate Studies Committee, see the Graduate School
Handbook, IV.2.
II.9.3 Duties of the Graduate Studies Committee Chair
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The Graduate Studies Committee Chair serves as the Committee's liaison to the faculty and
graduate students. The Graduate Studies Committee Chair is responsible for calling Committee
meetings and for reporting on the Committee's recommendations and activities in faculty
meetings. In addition, the Graduate Studies Committee Chair is responsible for overseeing
advising at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels (see also II.1 ); for guiding students in their choice of
advisors; and for dealing with any difficulties and complaints related to any student's progress in
the programs. The Graduate Studies Committee Chair is authorized to deal with routine petitions
pertaining to the Department's rules and curricula (see II.9.2 and X.1 ). Finally, it is the duty of the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair to ensure efficient communication between the graduate
students and the faculty and to act as the Department's liaison with the Graduate School.
III. Graduate Associates
III.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
Each year, the Department awards a number of Graduate Associateships to students in the M.A.
and Ph.D. programs. The position of Graduate Associate (G.A.), essential in the operation of the
Department, carries with it important responsibilities; chief among these is to maintain a proper
balance between studies and work-related duties. There are three kinds of graduate
associates-Teaching Associates (G.T.A.s), Research Associates (G.R.A.s), and Administrative
Associates (G.A.A.s). Teaching associates may be assigned to classroom duty-e.g., teaching
language classes, lecturing, or leading discussion sections-or to duty in Individualized Instruction.
Research Associates are assigned to work for individual professors to assist them in various
scholarly projects. Administrative Associates are appointed for special projects and are under the
supervision of individual members of the faculty.
III.2 APPOINTMENTS
III.2.1 Applying for graduate associateships
All G.A.s must be enrolled as regular degree students in the Graduate School.
Applicants for associateships who have not already begun graduate work at Ohio State must
simultaneously apply for admission. The awarding of an associateship is contingent upon
admission. (See Chapters I and V.)
Continuing students must use the official application form when applying for associateships (see
the appendix).
Applications for associateships are due by January 15 for new students and February 1 for
continuing students. Offers are generally made in early April for the following academic year
(possibly earlier, especially in the case of new students). At times, the Department may have to
make additional appointments after this date; every effort will be made to complete all
arrangements by the end of the Summer Quarter.
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III.2.2 Special requirements for non-native speakers of English
All students for whom English is not the first language must pass the Test of English as a Second
Language (TESL) examination before teaching responsibilities may be assigned. In addition, they
must certify their proficiency in spoken English before becoming qualified to assume Graduate
Teaching Associate duties. They may become certified by scoring 230 or higher on the Test of
Spoken English (TSE). If the results of the TSE are not high enough for certification, the student
may be certified by passing the SPEAK test, which is administered locally after arrival on campus;
and by passing the mock-teaching test, which is also administered locally after arrival on campus.
International students from non-English-speaking countries must qualify in one of these ways to
be employed by the Department as a Graduate Teaching Associate. This rule cannot be appealed,
as it is mandated by Ohio law. In addition, international students from non-English-speaking
countries may be required to take English-language coursework (English 104, 105, 106G, 107G,
108G), depending on the outcome of written and oral tests administered after the students' arrival
at the Ohio State University.
III.2.3 Letters of offer
Letters of offer awarding associateships are normally sent no later than April 1 of each year.
Acceptance or rejection by the candidate must be received in written form by the Chair of the
Department no later than the deadline specified in the letter. The letter of acceptance is considered
binding upon the individual and cannot be rescinded without the approval of the Chair of the
Graduate Studies Committee.
Students who accept associateships are still free to resign until April 21, after which they are
obligated not to accept other appointments within the University without obtaining formal release
from this Department.
III.2.4 Reappointment guidelines
Associateships are awarded by a committee consisting of the Graduate Studies Committee of the
Department and the Department Chair. Awards are competitive and not made on the basis of
financial need but solely on the basis of the applicant's qualifications and potential as a student, a
teacher, and a future member of the academic community.
The awards are made after taking into account all relevant information available to the committee,
including (in descending order of importance)
* Standing in the Department (including academic achievement and rate of progress; see II.3).
* Seniority.
* The faculty's estimate of the student's potential, based on information from faculty members
both inside and outside the Slavic Department. All of the graduate faculty have a meeting at least
once a year to discuss all graduate students in the Department (see II.1.4 ); information from this
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meeting is an important part of the materials used by the Associateships Committee in reaching its
decisions.
* The applicant's success in Russian 801.
* The student's teaching record (with primary emphasis on teaching at Ohio State).
* The student's sense of responsibility, ability to work cooperatively with other people
(especially fellow G.A.'s and the G.T.A. Supervisor), and ability and willingness to carry out
assignments appropriately.
* The student's knowledge of Russian and English (or, if the appointment is to be made to teach
another Slavic language, the knowledge of that Slavic language and English).
* The Department's need to have a specific language taught, if the appointment is to be for a
language other than Russian.
* The student's experience, if any, in the country of the language to be taught.
III.2.5 How many years of support does the Department offer?
Ordinarily, G.A.s are reappointed up to the College of Humanities limit-six quarters prior to the
M.A. and nine quarters thereafter-provided that 1) they are in good standing; 2) their academic and
work performance has been satisfactory; and 3) the Department budget allows it. The level of
funding allocated to the Department each fiscal year to support its Graduate Associates is of
primary consideration in awarding Associateship renewals. Support received in the form of
Fellowships, Graduate Associateships in other departments, or in any other form that provides a
waiver of fees is counted in calculating time of support.
Budget permitting, Ph.D. candidates may be reappointed for up to three additional quarters. Such
an appointment is contingent upon good standing and a satisfactory recommendation from the
student's adviser; only candidates who have passed the General Examinations and proceeded to
work on the dissertation prior to or during the ninth quarter of enrollment after admission to the
Ph.D. program are eligible.
III.2.6 Summer Appointments
Depending upon funds and student enrollments, summer associateships may be available for
graduate students in the Department. Appointments are based on the same criteria given above
from those who have filed application for a Summer Quarter appointment. Students who hold
summer associateships are required to register for at least seven graduate hours.
III.2.7 Appointment of extra-departmental students
In exceptional cases, students not enrolled in the Department of Slavic and East European
Languages and Literatures may be appointed as Graduate Associates upon the request of a member
of the Department faculty to fill a special need. Such students will be appointed under the same
conditions as regular Departmental students for the term and duties specified in the letter of offer.
Under no circumstances will a student be appointed unless he or she is eligible to hold an
appointment under the rules of the Graduate School, and no combination of appointments, in terms
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of all appointments held, may exceed 75%.
III.3 G.A. GUIDELINES
III.3.1 Training and supervision of Graduate Teaching Associates
All new G.T.A.s must enroll in Russian 801 (College Teaching of Russian), which is held prior to
the beginning of Autumn Quarter. In addition, they must visit demonstration classes regularly.
Language-class G.T.A.s work under the direction and with the guidance of the G.T.A. Supervisor.
They are expected to consult regularly with the G.T.A. Supervisor about their teaching progress.
G.T.A.s teaching other classes are supervised by specific professors and/or the G.T.A. supervisor
and are expected to consult regularly with them about their teaching progress.
G.T.A.s in Individualized Instruction work under the direction and with the guidance of the I.I.
Supervisor and the G.T.A. Supervisor. They are expected to consult regularly with both
supervisors about their teaching progress.
III.3.2 Stipends
Stipend levels are set by the College of Humanities. Levels of compensation are determined
according to College policy, based, in part, on whether the student holds an M.A. and whether
he/she has advanced to candidacy. In addition to the cash stipend, the University authorizes
payment of the entire tuition of the G.A. Associate. As at other universities and depending on
federal law, tuition may be taxable.
III.3.3 Fourth Quarter Fee Authorization
Students who have held regular G.A. appointments for three consecutive quarters are eligible for a
fee authorization and fee waiver (possibly taxable) during the following fourth quarter without
being on appointment. During that fourth quarter, G.A.s may be appointed for less than 50 percent
time. Their fees will be paid with the "fourth quarter fee authorization." Students using the "fourth
quarter fee authorization" must be registered for at least seven hours of graduate credit.
III.3.4 Assignments
Ordinarily the Chair of the department, in consultation with the G.T.A. Coordinator and the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair, will give the G.A.s final notice of their work assignments for a
given quarter prior to the end of the preceding quarter. For Fall Quarter, such decisions are
ordinarily made after the end of Russian 801, shortly before the beginning of classes.
Continuing graduate students who are assigned classroom teaching responsibilities in Russian
must have already passed the Department's Russian Proficiency Examination (see II.5).
In no instance is the assignment given to a particular Graduate Associate for a given quarter to be
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changed without the prior written approval of the G.T.A. Supervisor, the Chair of the Graduate
Studies Committee, and the Chair of the Department. G.A.s should not attempt to make private
arrangements to change the nature of their assignment for a quarter or the time and class assigned
to them.
III.3.5 Length of Term
Unless otherwise indicated in the letter of offer, Graduate Associate appointments are for the full
academic year, i.e., Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters. If G.A.s are appointed on a
"quarter-to-quarter" basis, every effort will be made to inform them of their status in a timely
manner.
Financial support for Graduate Associates and other students for whom fees are waived is
provided for no more than six (6) quarters (excluding summers) in the case of M.A. candidates and
nine (9) quarters (excluding summers) in the case of Ph.D. candidates. Certain special assignments
(e.g., serving as resident directors on departmental study abroad programs) may be excluded. See
the Graduate Studies Committee Chair for information.
III.3.6 Space and Facilities
G.A.s will be provided with individual working space and facilities necessary to carry out their
assigned teaching, research, and administrative duties, including access to typewriter and
computer facilities, office duplicating equipment, and telephones. Mailboxes for Graduate
Associates are located in the Department office to ensure good communication between all
members of the Department.
Graduate Associates with teaching responsibilities will be equipped with a desk and chair and
adequate file space. G.R.A.s and G.A.A.s may be provided these items if space allows and as
necessitated by their assignments.
III.3.7 Work load
The normal work load for G.A.s is 50% (20 hours a week) for 12 weeks (including the week before
the quarter and exam week). The out-of-class duties of classroom G.T.A.s (preparing classes,
holding office hours, attending staff meetings, grading, and, in general, performing those tasks
which are expected of a university teacher) are estimated to require about 15 hours per week.
G.T.A.s in Individualized Instruction fulfill their duties in the Individualized Instruction room for
20 hours a week.
In some quarters, the Chairperson may request a G.A. to accept a second assignment as a
temporary supplement; this would be a 75% appointment.
Under special circumstances, the Graduate Studies Committee may recommend to the Chair that a
student be given a 25% appointment. For example, a 25% appointment might be considered if a
student who has held a regular 50% appointment indicates that he/she wishes to have a reduced
load to study for examinations; or a student might be given a 25% appointment to serve as a grader
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in a large lecture course where there are no discussion-section responsibilities.
III.3.8 Performance reviews
A G.A.'s appointment is reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department on an
ongoing basis. Recommendations for reappointment are based on evaluations of the Associate's
performance as both a teacher and a student.
Language Classroom and Individualized Instruction G.T.A.s (as well other G.T.A.s, at the
discretion of the Department Chair) will be periodically visited during the performance of their
duties by the G.T.A. Supervisor. The purpose of such visits is to evaluate the G.T.A.'s performance
as a teacher and to offer helpful advice when this is deemed necessary. After each visit, the
Supervisor will meet with the G.T.A. to discuss his/her performance and will fill out a G.T.A.
Teaching Evaluation. The report is discussed with the G.T.A. and retained in Departmental files.
All G.A.s, including G.R.A.s and G.A.A.s, are reviewed by the graduate faculty. The purpose of
these reviews is to ascertain how the graduate students are performing in their work assignments.
This information, along with information about their degree progress, is used in reviewing the
students for renewal of G.A. appointments. Like the Teaching Evaluation Reports, reviews of
G.R.A. and G.A.A. work performance are given in summary form to the students for discussion
with their advisors and/or work supervisors and are placed in written form in the student's file.
III.3.9 Absences
G.A.s may not be absent from work without the prior permission of their supervisors. In
accordance with university rules, any missed time must be covered by other personnel or otherwise
made up prior to the end of the given quarter.
G.T.A.s are required (and paid) to be available before the quarter begins in case there are last
minute problems or questions to be answered. Exceptions can be made only in the cases where
unforeseen events arise, e.g., illness or family emergencies. In these instances, when a late return is
unavoidable, it is the responsibility of the G.T.A. to notify the G.T.A. Supervisor, the Chair of the
Graduate Studies Committee, and the Department Chair immediately.
III.3.10 Termination
It is the responsibility of the Department Chair to ensure that the quality of teaching in the
Department is maintained at a high level.
Upon receiving evidence that a G.T.A. is seriously remiss in the performance of duties, the Chair
will carefully investigate the situation, and consult with the student, the academic adviser, the
relevant supervisor, the Dean of the College of Humanities, and the Dean of the Graduate School.
If the evidence is sound and substantial, will terminate the Associateship. A G.T.A. whose
appointment is thus terminated has a right to appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee and
beyond that to the Graduate School Grievance Panel.
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The chair may terminate a G.R.A. or G.A.A. upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies
Committee if investigation reveals a serious problem with the student's performance of assigned
duties or a glaring disregard for the expected standard of conduct on the G.A.'s part.
In no instance shall termination be effective earlier than the end of the quarter in which such a
decision is made.
III.3.11 Grievance procedures
G.T.A.s should report grievances directly to the Graduate Studies Committee Chair. If the
Graduate Studies Committee cannot resolve them, they will be turned over to the Department
Chair. If a resolution cannot be obtained through departmental procedures, the established
procedures of the Graduate School will apply (see the Graduate School Handbook for further
information).
IV. The M.A. Program
IV.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
In order to receive the M.A. in Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures (with
specialization in either Literature or Linguistics), students must complete a minimum of 45
graduate credit hours, plus appropriate written and oral examinations; at least two quarters of
residency are required (see Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.5.5). Students will ordinarily write a
thesis if they wish to continue into the Ph.D. program. However, students, with the permission of
their advisors, may elect to take the Plan-B (non-thesis option); in that case, if they wish to enter
the Ph.D. program, they must complete, defend, and file a first professional paper by the end of
their first quarter of enrollment after their receipt of the M.A. degree (see IV.7).
For general information on the Graduate School requirements for Master's degree programs, see
also the Graduate School Handbook, Chapter II, section 5.
IV.2 LANGUAGE COMPETENCE REQUIRED FOR THE M.A.
Students must complete Russian 610 or equivalent (determined by a diagnostic examination; see
the Graduate Studies Chair for further information). In addition, they must pass the Reading,
Grammar, and Speaking/Oral Comprehension portions of the departmental Russian Proficiency
Examination (see II.5).
While the Department does not require a second foreign language (second Slavic, German, or
French) at the M.A. level, we strongly recommend that students acquire knowledge of a second
Slavic language early in their graduate career, especially if they are specializing in Slavic
Linguistics. Students who take courses in foreign languages other than Russian prior to entering
the Ph.D. program can use them in fulfillment of their Ph.D. requirements (see VII.2 and VIII.2).
IV.3 COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE M.A.
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IV.3.1 Courses required for the M.A. in both specializations
Slavic 700 (Introduction to Research) or equivalent.
3 required courses in the field of specialization (Literature or Linguistics).
1 required course in the other field of specialization (linguistics for literature students, literature for
linguistics students). The Department strongly encourages students to take more than this
minimum requirement in the other field of specialization.
3 electives in fields related to the specialization (chosen with the approval of the students advisor)
5 hours of thesis research (Slavic 999). For students who are taking the Plan-B (non-thesis) option
(see IV.7), another course in field of specialization is required.
If these courses do not total 45 graduate credit hours, the student should, in consultation with
his/her advisor, choose additional electives to make up the difference.
No single course may fulfill more than one requirement in the Department's programs. Courses
used to satisfy the M.A. requirements may not be used to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements.
IV.3.2 Courses required for the M.A. with Specialization in Literature:
3 courses in Russian literature, to be selected from the following: Russian 650 (Dostoevsky),
Russian 651 (Tolstoy), Russian 656 (Russian Women Writers), Russian 750 (Pushkin and His
Time), Russian 751 (Gogol' and 19th-Century Russian Satire), Russian 752 (Turgenev, Chekhov,
and Aspects of Russian Realism), Russian 754, or another relevant course with the approval of the
student's advisor.
1 course in Russian Linguistics: either Russian 640 (Structure of Russian) or Russian 820 720
(History of Russian).
IV.3.3 Courses required for the M.A. with Specialization in Linguistics:
Russian 640 (Structure of Russian)
Russian 720 (History of Russian)
Linguistics 601 (Introduction to Linguistics)
1 course in Russian Literature, to be selected from the following: Russian 650 (Dostoevsky),
Russian 651 (Tolstoy), Russian 656 (Russian Women Writers), Russian 750 (Pushkin and His
Time), Russian 751 (Gogol' and 19th-Century Russian Satire), Russian 752 (Turgenev, Chekhov,
and Aspects of Russian Realism), Russian 754, or another relevant course with the approval of the
student's advisor.
In order to enhance their professional profile, M.A. students in Linguistics are advised to acquire a
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knowledge both of their specialization and of Russian literature/culture that goes beyond the
minimum requirements.
IV.4 M.A. COMMITTEES
The Department's policy is to have a special M.A. committee for each student.
At the beginning of the quarter in which a student intends to take M.A. examinations, the Graduate
Studies Committee Chair will select an examination committee in consultation with the student
and his/her advisor. The committee may be selected earlier in cases when students have completed
theses and are prepared to defend them prior to the quarter in which they intend to take the M.A.
examinations.
The M.A. committee will consist of at least three faculty members, including the student's advisor,
who serves as chair. At least two of the members must be from inside the Department; outside
members may be selected when the thesis is interdisciplinary or when three inside members cannot
be assembled due to scheduling conflicts.
The M.A. committee members will work together to assess the student's written and oral
examinations, thesis, and defense of the thesis; they have the right to gather information pertinent
to the student's potential and performance prior to this assessment. The members of the M.A.
committees are empowered to determine whether the student shall receive a grade of pass, high
pass, or fail on the examination and thesis, and, in cases of failure on the examination, whether the
student may be permitted a retake.
IV.5 THE M.A. EXAMINATION
IV.5.1 Description
The M.A. examination consists of a four-hour written portion followed, ordinarily at least one day
later, by a one-hour oral examination. The written portion is assembled by members of the
graduate faculty in the students' field of specialization. It involves questions on the field, which the
students are expected to answer based on the knowledge and patterns of reasoning that they have
acquired through departmental coursework and study of the reading list in that field. (For reading
lists, see the appendix.) It is evaluated by the members of the student's M.A. committee (see IV.4).
Students must write in black ink; they should bring their own pens. The department will provide
paper. In special cases, students may write their examinations on word-processors; see the
Graduate Studies Coordinator for details.
The oral, which is also evaluated by the M.A. committee, provides students with an opportunity to
clarify their answers on the written portion. In addition, it can cover general knowledge of the
field, based on required coursework and the reading list.
The language of both portions of the M.A. examination is ordinarily English, although the
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Graduate Studies Committee may, under special circumstances, permit Russian to be used in one
or both portions.
In order to be in good standing in the Department, students must take the M.A. examination no
later than the end of their sixth quarter of enrollment in the program; three additional quarters are
permitted to students working on joint M.A. degrees with the Slavic Center or elsewhere
(Milestone 3).
By Graduate School Rules, students must be registered for at least three graduate credit hours in
the quarter in which they wish to take the M.A. examination (expected graduation).
IV.5.2 Scheduling the M.A. examination
M.A. examinations are ordinarily administered once a quarter during the academic year; under
special circumstances the Graduate Studies Chair will also arrange for examinations during the
summer quarter. M.A. examinations generally take place in the seventh or eighth week of the
quarter; all results must be reported to the Graduate School by Wednesday of the ninth week. The
Graduate Studies Coordinator, in consultation with the Graduate Studies Chair, is responsible for
scheduling examination times. If a student or his/her advisor has a preference for a specific date,
s/he should inform the Graduate Studies Coordinator early in the quarter.
In accordance with departmental rules, students who wish to take their M.A. examinations in a
given quarter must inform the Graduate Studies Coordinator and sign their Application to
Graduate form no later than the end of the first week of classes in that quarter. Failure to meet this
deadline will jeopardize the student's ability to take the examination in that quarter.
IV.5.3 Evaluation of the M.A. examination
The two portions of the M.A. examination are evaluated together on a scale of High Pass, Pass,
Fail. At the conclusion of the oral portion, the M.A. examination committee will vote to determine
if the student has passed and, if so, on what level, and will inform the student of the result.
Graduate School rules require a unanimous vote for passing examinations.
In determining whether the candidate should receive a grade of Pass or High Pass, the M.A.
committee may consider not only the written and oral examinations but also the student's overall
performance in the program. In general, in order to receive the grade of Pass, the candidate should
demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the reading list and most important reference works; and an
understanding of fundamental facts, principles, methods, and descriptive and theoretical concepts
of the field. The grade of High Pass is given when the M.A. committee judges that the student's
intellectual work is independent, original, and/or creative, rather than simply the reproduction of
learned material; it recognizes the student's potential to make contributions to Slavistic
scholarship, as gauged by criteria such as the ability to evaluate and criticize the fundamental facts,
principles, methods, and concepts, and to identify and discuss problems posed by them; and the
ability to make insightful (ideally, original and creative) interpretations of the material.
In order for students to be awarded the M.A. degree, all members of the M.A. committee must give
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their M.A. examination a grade of pass or high pass (see Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.5.10.7.2).
A grade of High Pass will be awarded by a majority vote, as long as no member of M.A.
examination committee votes for a grade of Fail.
On appeals of the results of the M.A. examination, see Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.5.10.7.6.
IV.5.4 Retakes of the M.A. examination
Students who receive a grade of Fail on the M.A. examination may be permitted a single retake of
the entire examination, including oral, if a majority of the M.A. committee feels that this is
justified by the student's performance in other aspects of the M.A. program (see Graduate School
Handbook , ¤II.5.10.7.3-5). The M.A. committee must be the same for both examinations, unless a
substitution is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School upon petition of the Graduate Studies
Committee Chair. Retakes must occur within two quarters of enrollment after the original exam,
including summers. Students who do not fulfill this requirement will be denied further registration
in the program.
On appeals of the results of the M.A. examination, see Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.5.10.7.6.
IV.6 THE M.A. THESIS (PLAN A)
Students must choose their thesis topic in consultation with their advisors and should meet with
them frequently during the research and writing process. Students are also expected to discuss their
thesis with each member of the M.A. committee prior to the defense and to respond to their
suggestions.
The thesis should be completed no later than the students' sixth quarter of enrollment in graduate
study, prior to the M.A. examination; we recommend that it be completed prior to the sixth quarter,
if possible. In any case, students must submit complete drafts of their theses approved by their
advisors to their M.A. committees prior to their M.A. examinations (see Graduate School
Handbook, ¤II.5.11.1) and at least one week prior to the defense. One week is the departmental
minimum; individual faculty members have the right to require more time. Thus students must
consult with the members of their committees well in advance to determine what their deadlines
will be. The draft of the thesis must be approved by all the committee members prior to the M.A.
examination with the departmental Thesis Draft Approval form (see the Graduate Studies
Coordinator for details). This is only a conditional approval; the committee members indicate their
final approval by signing the Graduate School's Thesis Approval form.
Students who are writing theses must enroll for at least 5 hours of Slavic 999. It is best to do this in
the quarter in which most of the research and writing is to take place.
Students who wish to enter the Ph.D. program will ordinarily write and defend a thesis, although
they may, with the permission of their advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee, choose the
riskier option of writing a first professional paper in the first quarter after receipt of the M.A.
degree (see IV.7). (On the thesis, see also Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.5.11.)
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IV.6.1 What should a thesis be like?
An M.A. thesis should be a self-contained work of scholarship that shows the student's ability to
analyze primary and secondary sources, evaluate existing interpretations, and offer new
interpretations. There is no set size for theses. A rule of thumb is that they should be somewhat
longer than a substantial research paper (typically more than 35 pages and fewer than 100). The
language of both the thesis and the defense is ordinarily English, although the Graduate Studies
Committee may, under special circumstances, permit Russian to be used in one or both portions.
The format of the thesis is governed by requirements of the Graduate School Handbook, Chapter 3.
Issues of formatting not covered by the Graduate School Handbook (e.g., transliteration systems,
chapter/paragraph arrangements, reference styles, and general organization) are to be settled by
agreement between the student and his/her advisor. In general, it is recommended that either the
MLA Handbook or The Chicago Manual of Style be consulted. Linguists, in particular, are
encouraged to give their references according to the Author-Date system given in The Chicago
Manual of Style.
IV.6.2 The thesis defense
Once the thesis is complete, the student must defend it at a one-hour oral examination. The
language of this defense is ordinarily English, although the Graduate Studies Committee may,
under special circumstances, permit Russian to be used.
As mentioned above, students must submit a complete draft of their thesis as approved by their
advisor to their M.A. committee prior to their M.A. examinations and in any event at least one
week prior to the defense, and preferably earlier (at the discretion of the committee members).
In order to take the Plan-A (thesis) option, students must defend their theses prior to the deadline
for submitting examination results to the Graduate School--ordinarily, Wednesday of the ninth day
of classes. Students who do not meet this deadline will received their M.A. degrees under Plan B
(non-thesis) and can be admitted provisionally to the Ph.D. program subject to the requirements
for that option (see IV.7).
The Graduate Studies Coordinator, in consultation with the Graduate Studies Chair, is responsible
for scheduling the defense. If students or their advisors have a preference for a specific date, they
should inform the Graduate Studies Coordinator early in the quarter.
IV.6.3 Evaluating the thesis and defense
A grade of High Pass on the thesis and defense is required for admission to the Ph.D. program; this
grade is given when the M.A. committee judges that the student's thesis gives evidence of strong
intellectual faculties, scholarly potential, and independent, original, and/or creative thinking,
rather than simply the ability to reproduce learned material.
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IV.6.4 Filing the thesis
Preferably, students taking Plan-A (thesis) M.A. degrees will file their thesis with the Graduate
School, along with the Thesis Approval Form, by the official deadline, one week before
commencement. However, they will still be in good standing if they file their theses with the
Graduate School by the "End-of-Quarter" deadline (the last business day prior to the first day of
classes for the quarter following the M.A. examination). Plan-A students who do not file their
thesis by one of these two deadlines will be put on departmental probation (see II.4.1, II.4.3); this
probation will be removed once the thesis is filed with the Graduate School.
Students who have written theses must provide the Department with a copy of the official version,
complete with their advisor's signature, as soon as they have filed it with the Graduate School.
Students who are preparing to file their theses are strongly recommended to make a preliminary
visit to Graduation Services (247 University Hall) in order to determine whether the formatting of
sample pages (including title pages, tables of content, vita pages, and chapter beginnings) fulfills
Graduate School requirements. Experience shows that the thesis advisors in Graduate Services
often find technical flaws that have been overlooked by students and their advisors. As
reformatting and reprinting theses can be a time-consuming process, students are urged to make
this preliminary visit to Graduate Services well before the actual filing deadline (a time when the
thesis advisors become extremely busy).
On filing the thesis, see also Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.5.11.
IV.7 THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL PAPER (PLAN B, "NON-THESIS")
Students who do not take the thesis option or who are unable to complete its requirements by the
Graduate School deadlines (see IV.6.4 ) may, with the written permission of their advisor and the
Graduate Studies Chair, be admitted to the Ph.D. program on a probationary basis if they receive a
grade of High Pass on the M.A. examination and are in general good standing in the program (see
II.3 and V.2 ). To obtain this permission, the students must submit a petition with their advisor's
endorsement to Graduate Studies Committee chair prior to registering for the next quarter in which
they intend to enroll after receipt of the M.A. degree. (Students who do not submit this petition will
not be given their PAC number and may not register for classes.)
In general, the faculty recommend that students take the Plan-A (thesis) option rather than the
Plan-B (first professional paper) option, for two reasons. First, provisional admission to the Ph.D.
program depends on the permission of the student's advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee
Chair and cannot be taken for granted. Second, students provisionally admitted to the Ph.D.
program have a grace period of one quarter of enrollment after their receipt of the M.A. degree to
submit and defend a "first professional paper." The deadlines for defending and filing the first
professional paper are firm and cannot be extended. Hence students who are provisionally
admitted to the Ph.D. program under Plan B face dismissal if they are unable to complete their
requirements within their first quarter of enrollment after the M.A. degree.
IV.7.1 What is a first professional paper like?
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The first professional paper is equivalent to the M.A. thesis and must follow the same guidelines;
however, it is a purely departmental requirement that does not count as a Master's thesis by
Graduate School guidelines.
In order to remain in the Ph.D. program, students who are taking this option must defend the first
professional paper successfully with a grade of High Pass no later than the last day of classes in
their first quarter of enrollment after the Master's examination; in addition, they must submit it to
the Graduate Studies Chair or designee in an approved written form with their committee's
signatures by the Commencement date for the same quarter. Students who do not fulfill these
requirements will be dismissed from the program (prevented from registering).
IV.7.2 The defense of the first professional paper
Students must submit a complete draft of their first professional paper to their M.A. committee at
least one week prior to the defense, and preferably earlier. One week is the departmental
minimum; individual faculty members have the right to require more time. Thus students must
consult with the members of their committees well in advance to determine what their deadlines
will be.
The Graduate Studies Coordinator, in consultation with the Graduate Studies Chair, is responsible
for scheduling the defense of the first professional paper. If students or their advisors have a
preference for a specific date, they should inform the Graduate Studies Coordinator early in the
quarter.
IV.7.3 Evaluating the first professional paper
It is the responsibility of the M.A. committee to evaluate both the written version and the student's
performance during the defense and to assign a grade of Pass, High Pass, or Fail. A grade of Pass is
required in order to continue in the Ph.D. program. The criteria for the grades are the same as those
on the M.A. thesis (see IV.6.3).
Students may appeal the committee's decision by petitioning the Chair of the Department.
IV.7.4 Filing the first professional paper
The copy of the professional paper that is submitted to the Graduate Studies Chair will be kept for
the Department's records. The professional paper is a departmental requirement only and cannot be
submitted to the Graduate School for approval.
V. Admission to the Ph.D. Program
V.1 STUDENTS WITH GRADUATE DEGREES IN RUSSIAN OR SLAVIC FROM
OTHER UNIVERSITIES
On the general procedures for applying to the Department, see I.3.
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
Students with M.A. or other graduate degrees in Russian or Slavic from other universities whose
applications are approved may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program at the discretion of the
Graduate Studies Committee. In particular cases, the Committee may require such students to
satisfy some or all of our program's M.A. requirements in order to bring them to a level of
preparation comparable to that of our own M.A. recipients.
Students entering the Ph.D. program with M.A.'s from other universities must establish their
Russian proficiency by passing the reading, grammar, and speaking/oral comprehension portions
of the departmental Russian proficiency examination (see II.5 ) within six quarters of enrollment
from their matriculation in the department (Milestone 2). Students who do not fulfill this
requirement will not be permitted to register in the Department (see II.4.1).
V.2 STUDENTS WITH M.A. DEGREES FROM THE DEPARTMENT
V.2.1 Criteria
Admission to the Ph.D. program is always subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies
Committee. Students with M.A. degrees from the Department will ordinarily be admitted to the
Ph.D. program if they meet the following criteria:
* They must be in good standing and be making good progress in the Department (see II.3);
* They must receive the grade of High Pass on the Master's examination in their field of
specialization (see IV.5.3);
* Plan-A students must write a Master's thesis and successfully defend it with a grade of High
Pass (see IV.6 ). The student must file an approved copy of the thesis with the Graduate School and
give a second copy to the Graduate Studies Coordinator for the Department's records.
* Plan B (non-thesis) students who meet criteria 1 and 2 (above) but who have not defended a
thesis prior to the Graduate School deadline for Report of Master's Examination--ordinarily
Wednesday of the ninth week of classes--can be admitted to the Ph.D. program provisionally with
the permission of their advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee. To obtain this permission, the
student must submit a petition to the advisor and Graduate Studies Committee chair prior to the
first day of the next quarter in which s/he intends to enroll. See also IV.7.
Provisional admission to the Ph.D. program is probationary in nature. Students who are taking this
option must write and successfully defend a professional paper with a grade of High Pass (see
IV.7.3 ) prior to the last day of classes in the first quarter in which they enroll after receiving the
M.A. degree. The student must submit an approved copy of the professional paper to the chair of
the Graduate Studies Committee or designee prior to Commencement.
The copy of the professional paper that is submitted to the Graduate Studies Chair will be kept for
the Department's records. The professional paper is a departmental requirement only and cannot be
submitted to the Graduate School for approval.
V.2.2 Time limits for entry into the Ph.D. program
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
Recipients of the M.A. degree from the Department must complete a brief application to the Ph.D.
program if more than six quarters (not counting summers) have elapsed since graduation from the
M.A. program. The application must include a statement of purpose; it must be submitted to the
Graduate Studies Committee for consideration. The Committee will review the applicant's records
and, if it deems it necessary, will consult the applicant's M.A. advisor and other members of the
graduate faculty prior to making the decision.
To be eligible, applicants must have been in good standing, must have received the grade of High
Pass on the Master's examination in their field of specialization, and must have filed a thesis with
the Graduate School (see IV.5-6 ). Applicants who received the M.A. degree with Plan B
(non-thesis) may be admitted to the Ph.D. program provisionally at the discretion of the Graduate
Studies Committee (see IV.7).
V.3 STUDENTS WITH M.A. DEGREES FROM OTHER OHIO STATE ACADEMIC
UNITS
Students who hold the M.A. degree from other academic units within the university must submit a
Request for Transfer of Graduate Program form, which is available from the Graduate School (see
Graduate School Handbook , II.1.10). In addition, the Department requires applicants to submit a
detailed statement of purpose, transcripts from their undergraduate and previous graduate
programs, a sample of scholarly writing, and three letters of recommendation. The Graduate
Studies Chair will may contact the applicants to arrange an interview; during the interview (which
can be by telephone or in person), the Committee will examine the applicants' general intellectual
abilities and their level of proficiency in both Russian and English.
Students transferring into the Ph.D. program from other Ohio State academic units must establish
their Russian proficiency by passing the reading, grammar, and speaking/oral comprehension
portions of the departmental Russian proficiency examination (see II.5 ) within six quarters of
enrollment from their matriculation in the department (Milestone 2). Students who do not fulfill
this requirement will not be permitted to register in the Department (see II.4.1).
VI. The Ph.D. Program
VI.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
In order to receive a Ph.D. from the Department, students must fulfill the following requirements:
* They must be in good standing at the time of graduation;
* They must complete required coursework;
* They must complete language requirements;
* They must file an approved professional candidacy paper;
* They must pass written and oral candidacy examinations;
* They must file an approved dissertation prospectus;
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
* They must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation.
In accordance with Graduate School rules, students holding an M.A. must complete a minimum of
90 graduate credit hours in order to qualify for the Ph.D. degree. Of these, 45 must be completed
while in residence at the university prior to candidacy, while 20 must be completed after admission
to candidacy. In addition, doctoral students must be in residence for at least three out of four
consecutive quarters and enrolled during that time in at least ten graduate credit hours per quarter
(see Graduate School Handbook, ¤ II.6.6.4.2).
For general information on the Graduate School requirements for Ph.D. programs, see the
Graduate School Handbook, II.6.
VI.2 REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDACY
Students will be advanced to candidacy (which gives them the official right to work on their
dissertation) if they have fulfilled the following requirements:
* They have completed the required course work (see VII.3 and VIII.3);
* They have completed the professional candidacy paper and filed an approved version in the
Department (see VI.4);
* They have successfully passed the written candidacy examination (see VI.5);
* They have successfully passed the oral candidacy examination (see VI.6).
VI.3 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Each student who is preparing to fulfill the requirements for candidacy must have an advisory
committee consisting of four graduate faculty members (see Graduate School Handbook,
¤II.6.9.5-6). The chair of the advisory committee is the student's advisor; the other members must
be graduate faculty members in the student's field of specialization or related areas. Ordinarily at
least three of the members of the advisory committee, including the chair, are faculty members in
the Department.
The advisory committee is responsible for evaluating and approving the professional candidacy
paper (see VI.4 ). In addition, its members, along with a Graduate School Representative,
constitute the student's examination committee for both the written and the oral candidacy
examinations. The advisor, as chair of the advisory committee, also serves as chair of the
examination committee. The advisory committee is also responsible for preparing the written
candidacy examination and advising students on how to study for it, counseling them on the
preparation of their reading lists for the oral exam, and evaluating their performance on the written
and oral examinations in consultation with the Graduate School Representative.
The Graduate School Representative is a full voting member of the examination committee and
also has the duty of reporting a judgment of the quality of the examinations to the Graduate School.
VI.3.1 Selecting the advisory committee
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
It is the responsibility of the advisor, after consulting with the student, to propose the other
members of the committee to the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School (see
Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.9.7.2). The committee must be set up by the beginning of the
quarter before the term in which the student intends to take the candidacy examinations, i.e., the
quarter in which the student intends to submit the professional candidacy paper.
VI.4 THE PROFESSIONAL CANDIDACY PAPER
VI.4.1 Description
All doctoral students are required to submit a serious, mature (ideally, "publishable") research
paper as part of their Candidacy requirements. The professional candidacy paper, which may
originate in a course paper, is intended to give students further experience in producing scholarly
research prior to the dissertation. In addition, it is hoped that it will allow them to test the viability
of potential dissertation research projects. Ideally, the professional candidacy paper will serve as
the basis of the student's prospectus or a chapter in the dissertation, thereby expediting progress
through the doctoral program.
The professional candidacy paper must be a self-contained, article-length work of scholarship,
which optimally should be based on new research and in any case must demonstrate the student's
original/creative thinking on an intellectual problem. The professional candidacy paper must fulfill
the following criteria:
* It must deal with a well-defined topic of scholarly interest;
* The essential questions to be asked in dealing with this problem must be delimited in the
introduction;
* The paper must reveal a sophisticated knowledge of the primary and secondary bibliography
on a given problem and must involve a critical assessment of the research to date;
* The paper must reveal the student's mature understanding of both fundamental and advanced
concepts, theories, and methodologies pertinent to the problem;
* The paper must make an original contribution to the understanding or solution of the problem;
* The paper must end with relevant conclusions drawn from the discussion in the body of the
paper.
* The paper must be in a consistent editorial style, to be determined by the students in agreement
with their advisor.
Students are to choose the topic of their professional candidacy paper in consultation with their
advisors on the basis of serious research interests.
VI.4.2 Evaluation of the professional candidacy paper
The paper is evaluated and approved by the members of the student's advisory committee (see VI.3
), who may ask that it be rewritten before it can be approved. The committee indicates its approval
by signing the Professional Candidacy Paper Approval Form (see the appendix).
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
VI.4.3 Deadline for submission of the professional candidacy paper
In order to be in good standing in the Department, students must complete the professional paper
requirement no later than the last day of classes in their eighth quarter of enrollment in the doctoral
program (post-M.A.), and ideally even earlier. In any event, the paper must be submitted in its
final form, with signatures of the entire advisory committee, to the Graduate Studies Chair or
designee by the last day of classes in the quarter before the one in which the student intends to take
the candidacy examinations (Milestone 5).
VI.4.4 Filing the professional candidacy paper
The copy of the professional candidacy paper that is submitted to the Graduate Studies Chair will
be kept for the Department's records. The professional candidacy paper is a departmental
requirement only and cannot be submitted to the Graduate School for approval.
VI.5 THE WRITTEN CANDIDACY EXAMINATION
Written candidacy examinations are intended to assess the student's general knowledge of Russian
literature or Slavic linguistics. The examinations consist of four essay questions, which are created
by members of the graduate faculty in the student's field of specialization. The examinations are to
be completed over a ten-day period; the student may pick up the exam at 9:00 A.M. on the first day
and must return it by 9:00 A.M. on the eleventh day. Examinations must be typed; use of reference
books is permitted.
On Candidacy examinations in general, see the Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.9.
VI.5.1 Evaluating the written candidacy examination
Written candidacy examinations are appraised on a scale of Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory. The grade
of Satisfactory can only be awarded by a unanimous vote of the candidacy examination committee.
In order to be adequate, the answers must do more than reproduce easily accessible information
and the published opinions of scholars; they must include a careful weighing of evidence and
interpretations, insightful assessments of the significance and ramifications of the issues, and the
students' own appraisals of the problems.
VI.5.2 Scheduling the written candidacy examination
To be in good standing in the Department, students must successfully complete their written and
oral candidacy examinations no later than their ninth quarter of enrollment in the Ph.D. program
(Milestone 6). Ideally, they will do this by their sixth quarter of enrollment. Extensions beyond the
ninth quarter may be requested by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee.
Students must inform the Graduate Studies Coordinator in the departmental office of their
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
intention to take the candidacy examinations in a given quarter no later than the end of the first
week of classes in that quarter. Failure to meet this deadline will jeopardize the student's ability to
take the examinations in that quarter.
It is the responsibility of the student's advisor, as chair of the advisory committee, to inform the
Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School of the dates when the written portion will
begin and end (see the Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.9.7.2. The Graduate Studies Coordinator
will assist the chair of the advisory committee in this task.
VI.5.3 Deferring the written candidacy examination
Students who, after scheduling the candidacy examination, have a compelling reason to defer them
must ask their advisors promptly for permission to do so. It is the responsibility of the advisors, if
they agree to the deferral, to notify the Graduate Studies Coordinator and the other members of the
advisory committee.
VI.6 THE ORAL CANDIDACY EXAMINATION
The oral candidacy examination, which is evaluated by the candidacy examination committee, is
intended to assess students' knowledge of several specialized fields or topics within their general
field of specialization (literature or linguistics). It covers four reading lists that students design in
consultation with their advisory committee (see VI.6.1 ). The examination, which is chaired by the
students' advisor, lasts for two hours. The members of the candidacy examination committee ask
students questions based on the topics of the reading lists that they have compiled for each field.
The candidacy examination committee may also ask for clarifications or amplifications of answers
from the written examination and may probe the students' knowledge of their field of
specialization based on the general Ph.D. reading list. It is the responsibility of the committee to
ensure that the oral examination reflects an adequately broad knowledge of either Russian
literature or Slavic linguistics.
Students will be told the results of both of their candidacy examinations at the conclusion of the
oral. The chair of the advisory committee is responsible for informing the Graduate Studies
Committee of the results.
VI.6.1 Compiling reading lists for the oral candidacy examination
The four reading lists for the oral candidacy examination should be focused on relatively specific
topics chosen by the student in consultation with the advisory committee. One of the fields may
focus on a topic related to the candidate's dissertation interests or to the subject of the professional
paper. In crafting their own reading lists, students might take the following as models of the focus
and depth expected for the topics: for literature, "The myth of Pushkin in 20th-century literature,"
"The poetics of prison-camp literature," "Escape motifs in Fet's lyrics," "Representations of folk
belief in 19th-century prose," "Commonplaces and innovations in medieval Russian hagiography,"
"Gender issues in Russian symbolism," "Salvation myths in Russian literature," "The image of the
Ukrainian in Russian literature," "Transformations of the short story from Chekhov to Babel',"
etc.; for linguistics, "Speech acts in modern Russian usage," "Problems of Czech historical
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
phonology," "Adaptation of loanwords in the Slavic languages," "Issues in Balkan Linguistics,"
"Development of analyticism in Slavic morphology," "The Balto-Slavic Problem," "Problems in
the history of the medieval Russian literary language," "Language politics in the South Slavic
region," etc.
The reading lists for oral candidacy examination may draw on the general Ph.D. reading list but
must contain additional works, e.g., recently published research or studies too specialized to be
included in the general reading list. The lists must include secondary sources and may also contain
primary sources, where relevant.
Reading lists must be compiled in consultation with and approved by the student's advisory
committee (see VI.3 ) by the first day of the quarter in which the student intends to take the
candidacy examinations. The task of advising students on the preparation of their reading lists for
the oral exam should be equitably distributed among the members of the committee according to
their specialities, where possible. This advising is coordinated by the chair of the advisory
committee.
VI.6.2 Scheduling the oral candidacy examination
Ordinarily, students take the oral candidacy exams no more than two weeks after successful
completion of the written candidacy exam.
It is the responsibility of the student's advisor, as chair of the advisory committee, to notify the
Graduate School of the proposed time and place of the oral examination (see the Graduate School
Handbook, ¤II.6.9.8.1). This must be done at least two weeks in advance. The Graduate Studies
Coordinator in the departmental office can assist the advisor in this task.
It is a further responsibility of the chair of the advisory committee, with the help of the Graduate
Studies Coordinator, to provide the Graduate School Representative with a copy of the written
examination and the reading lists for the oral examination at least one week prior to the oral
examination.
VI.6.3 Waivers of the oral candidacy examination
If the advisory committee judges the written candidacy examination to be unsatisfactory, the
advisor may so inform the student prior to the oral. The student then has the right to waive the oral
examination (see the Graduate School Handbook , ¤II.6.9.7.3). The student must petition the
advisory committee with a request for a waiver; the committee will record a grade of
"Unsatisfactory" on the Examination Report form and return it with a copy of the petition to the
Graduate School.
VI.7 RETAKES OF THE CANDIDACY EXAMINATION
Students who receive a grade of Unsatisfactory on the candidacy examination may be permitted a
single retake of the entire examination, including oral, if a majority of the Candidacy Examination
Committee (the Advisory Committee plus the Graduate School Representative) feels that this is
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
justified by the student's performance in other aspects of the Ph.D. program (see Graduate School
Handbook ). The Advisory Committee must be the same for both examinations, unless a
substitution is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School upon petition of the Graduate Studies
Committee Chair. Retakes must occur within two quarters of enrollment after the original exam,
including summers. Students who do not fulfill this requirement or who do not pass the candidacy
examinations on the second attempt will be denied further registration in the program.
On appeals of the results of the Candidacy examination, see the Graduate School Handbook,
¤II.6.9.9.6.
VI.8 THE DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
The dissertation committee consists of at least three graduate faculty members-a chair and two or
more readers. It may but need not be identical to the advisory committee (see VI.3 ). The student's
advisor ordinarily serves as chair. If the advisor is not a category III graduate faculty member, the
student and advisor should request a category III graduate faculty member to serve as co-chair.
The readers are invited to serve by the advisor in consultation with the student and subject to the
approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. At least two of the readers must be from inside the
Department; outside readers may be selected when the dissertation is interdisciplinary or when the
requisite number of readers cannot be assembled from the department faculty due to scheduling
conflicts.
The duties of the dissertation committee are as follows:
* To evaluate and approve the student's prospectus;
* To evaluate a completed draft of the dissertation prior to the oral examination and to indicate
their approval by signing a Draft Approval/Notification of Final Oral Examination form at least
two weeks prior to the date of the defense (final oral examination);
* To evaluate the student's performance on the defense (final oral examination) in consultation
with the Graduate School Representative;
* To evaluate the final version of the dissertation and indicate their approval by signing the Final
Approval form.
It is up to the student and the dissertation committee to determine the extent to which the readers
other than the advisor will be consulted during the writing process.
The dissertation committee must be approved by the Graduate School in its final form no later than
the second Friday of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate (i.e., undergo the defense
and submit the final version of the dissertation to the Graduate School). Because the dissertation
committee has the responsibility of evaluating the prospectus, the Department requires students to
assemble a committee no later than their second quarter of enrollment after passing the candidacy
examinations. However, the constituency of the committee can change prior to the quarter in
which the student expects to graduate, with the permission of the advisor and the Graduate Studies
Committee.
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On the dissertation committee, see also the Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.11.2-3.
VI.9 THE PROSPECTUS
Students choose the topic for their dissertation and hence their prospectus in consultation with
their advisor and (if desired) other faculty members.
The function of the prospectus is to aid candidates in planning their research for the Ph.D.
dissertation by allowing the members of the dissertation committee to assess the feasibility of the
topic, methodology, time plan, etc. It is a provisional document that does not determine research
results or bind candidates to the approaches outlined in it. The prospectus is thus not a summary of
findings but a project outline and work plan.
In order to be in good standing, students admitted to candidacy must submit a dissertation
prospectus to the dissertation committee prior to the last day of classes in the second quarter of
enrollment, including summers, after passing the candidacy examinations (Milestone 7). The
dissertation committee may ask the student to clarify, rewrite, or otherwise change the prospectus
prior to approval. They indicate their approval by signing the Prospectus Approval form (see the
appendix ), which is then submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for final approval. The
copy of the prospectus that is approved by the Graduate Studies Committee will be retained for the
Department's files.
VI.9.1 Structure of the prospectus
The prospectus should contain the following information:
* The preliminary title of the dissertation and the names of the dissertation committee members;
* A succinct, abstract-like statement of the topic (approximately 250 words);
* A discussion of the purpose of the research and its significance, including how it will
contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field (approximately 2-3 pages);
* A discussion of how the project relates to and differs from prior scholarship--in particular,
recent works on the topic and related areas (approximately 2-3 pages);
* A discussion of the projected methodology, theoretical framework, and types of analyses to be
used in the project;
* A discussion of the resources to be used in the project (approximately 2-3 pages);
* A provisional outline or plan of the dissertation (approximately one paragraph per chapter);
* A time plan for completion of the research and writing;
* An initial bibliography of primary and secondary sources, which should consist of
approximately 36 titles or more.
VI.10 THE DISSERTATION
On requirements connected with the dissertation, see the Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.11-13.
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On the format of the dissertation, see the Graduate School Handbook, chapter 3. Issues of
formatting not covered by the Graduate School Handbook (e.g., transliteration systems,
chapter/paragraph arrangements, reference styles, and general organization) are to be settled by
agreement between the student and the dissertation committee. In general, it is recommended that
either the MLA Handbook or The Chicago Manual of Style be consulted. Linguists, in particular,
are encouraged to give their references according to the Author-Date system given in The Chicago
Manual of Style.
VI.10.1 Time limits on the dissertation
Students who do not complete all the requirements for the Ph.D. within five full calendar years
relinquish candidacy. In that case, they may be re-admitted to candidacy with the permission of the
advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee. This permission should not be taken for granted; in
order to receive it, students must provide what their advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee
consider to be evidence of significant progress on the dissertation.
Students are re-admitted to candidacy by successfully passing a supplemental candidacy
examination consisting of both a written and an oral examination (see also the Graduate School
Handbook, ¤II.6.10.1-2). The examination committee will consist of the members of the
dissertation committee plus a Graduate School representation (see the Graduate School Handbook,
¤II.6.9.8.2).
In some cases, it is possible to petition for an extension of candidacy, thus obviating the
supplemental candidacy examination. Please consult the Graduate Studies Committee Chair for
further information.
Students who take supplemental candidacy examinations must complete all the requirements for
the Ph.D. within two calendar years. The Graduate School does not permit retakes of the
supplemental examination.
VI.10.2 The defense (final oral examination)
The final oral examination is scheduled after the Graduate School receives the Draft Approval
form (see VI.8 ), which must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the examination. It is the
advisor's responsibility to submit the names of the final oral examination committee members (i.e.,
the dissertation committee) to the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School and to
inform them of the date, time, and place of the final oral examination. The Graduate Studies
Coordinator can assist the advisor in these tasks.
Final oral examinations can be conducted by teleconferencing. See the Graduate Studies
Committee Chair for further information.
On final oral examinations, see also the Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.12.
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VI.10.3 Filing the dissertation
The final version of the dissertation, complete with the signatures of all the dissertation committee,
must be filed with the Graduate School at least one week prior to Commencement in order for the
student to receive the Ph.D. degree in the given quarter. Students filing after that deadline will
receive their degrees in the following quarter. However, they do not have to pay fees for the
following quarter if they file their dissertations by the End of Quarter deadline (the last business
day prior to the first day of classes for the following quarter).
See also the Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.6.13-14.
VII. The Ph.D. in Russian Literature
VII.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
Courses used to satisfy the M.A. requirements may not be used to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements in
the Department. In addition, a single course may not be used to fulfill more than one requirement
of the Ph.D. program.
VII.2 LANGUAGE COMPETENCE REQUIRED FOR A PH.D. IN RUSSIAN
LITERATURE
Students must pass the reading, grammar, and speaking/oral comprehension portions of the
departmental Russian proficiency examination (see II.5).
Students are required to show proficiency in a second Slavic language by passing Slavic 671-672
in Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, or Serbo-Croatian; or, where permitted by the advisor and the
Graduate Studies Committee, the 101-407 sequence in Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, or
Serbo-Croatian; or equivalent (determined by a departmental proficiency examination or
certification of completion from a recognized language program).
Students are required to show proficiency in a research language by passing the sequences
571-572, 671-672, 101-407, or equivalent in those languages (determined by a departmental
proficiency examination or certification of completion from a recognized language program) in a
language of relevance to the studentÕs research, to be selected with the approval of the student's
advisor. Most often, the language will be French, German, a third Slavic language, or Romanian.
This requirement can also be fulfilled by Slavic 810 (Old Church Slavonic) plus one of the
following courses: Slavic 812 (Readings in Church Slavonic Texts), Russian 829 (Old Russian
Literature), Russian 993.33 (Readings in Medieval Russian Texts), or Slavic 834 (Medieval Slavic
Literature). The readings for Russian 829, Russian 993.33, and Slavic 834, must be in the original
in order that the course fulfill this requirement. Note that classes used to fulfill this requirement
cannot be used simultaneously to fulfill other departmental requirements.
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VII.3 COURSES REQUIRED FOR CANDIDACY IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE
Professional Writing Seminar (number to be assigned). This course has not yet been officially
approved. Until it is, the Department will allow students to substitute one other course in a field
related to their specialization, chosen in consultation with their advisors.
2 Literature Surveys, to be selected from the following: Russian 650 (Dostoevsky), Russian 651
(Tolstoy), Russian 656 (Russian Women Writers), Russian 750 (Pushkin and His Time), Russian
751 (Gogol' and 19th-Century Russian Satire), Russian 752 (Turgenev, Chekhov, and Aspects of
Russian Realism), Russian 754, or another relevant course with the approval of the student's
advisor.
2 courses in Poetry/Drama, to be selected from the following: Russian 653 (Russian Drama),
Russian 723 (Topics in Russian Poetry), Russian 750 (Pushkin and his Time). At least one of these
courses must be Russian 723, which can be repeated for credit. In the future, Russian 723 will be
split, subject to official approval, into Topics in 19th-century Poetry and Topics in 20th-century
Poetry.
2 courses in Pre-19th-century literature, to be selected from the following: Russian 829 (Old
Russian Literature), Russian 831 (18th-century Russian Literature), Slavic 834 (Medieval Slavic
literature).
2 courses in another Slavic Literature, to be selected from the following : Polish 630-631-632 or
Slavic 770 South Slavic Literature and Film. The literature chosen must be that in the student's
second Slavic language. These courses must include close reading in the original language in order
to fulfill the requirement.
2 5-credit seminars in the department.
1 required course in Slavic Linguistics, to be selected from the following: Russian 640 (Structure
of Russian) or Russian 820 720 (History of Russian).
1 elective course in Slavic Linguistics, to be selected from the following: Russian 823 (History of
the Russian Literary Language) or Slavic 810 (Old Church Slavonic). Students entering the Ph.D.
program with an M.A. from outside the Department may substitute Russian 640 (Structure of
Russian) or Russian 820 720 (History of Russian).
VII.4 COURSES REQUIRED AFTER CANDIDACY
Research in Slavic (Slavic 999). The Graduate School minimum for 999 after candidacy is 20
hours; with the above departmental minima and no other courses, 25 hours of Slavic 999 are
needed to meet the 90 hours required for graduation.
VIII. The Ph.D. in Slavic Linguistics
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
VIII.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
Courses used to satisfy the M.A. requirements may not be used to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements in
the Department. In addition, a single course may not be used to fulfill more than one requirement
of the Ph.D. program.
VIII.2 LANGUAGE COMPETENCE REQUIRED FOR A PH.D. IN SLAVIC
LINGUISTICS
Students are required to pass the reading, grammar, and speaking/oral comprehension portions of
the departmental Russian proficiency examination (see II.5).
Students are required to show proficiency in a second and third Slavic language by passing Slavic
671-672 in Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, or Serbo-Croatian; or, where permitted by the advisor and
the Graduate Studies Committee, the 101-407 sequence in Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, or
Serbo-Croatian; or equivalent (determined by a departmental proficiency examination or
certification of completion from a recognized language program). If the second Slavic language
requirement is fulfilled with a South Slavic language, the third Slavic language must be a West
Slavic language, and vice versa.
Students are required to pass Slavic 810 (Old Church Slavonic)
Students are required to show proficiency in German by passing German 571-572 or equivalent
(determined by the Department of Germanic Languages proficiency examination or certification
of completion from a recognized language program). Students may petition the Graduate Studies
Committee for permission to substitute other languages.
VIII.3 Courses required for candidacy in Slavic Linguistics
Professional Writing Seminar (number to be assigned). This course has not yet been officially
approved. Until it is, the Department will allow students to substitute one other course in a field
related to their specialization, chosen in consultation with their advisors.
2 courses in advanced history of Russian/East Slavic, to be selected from the following: Russian
823 (History of the Russian Literary Language), Russian 827 (Topics in the History of Russian).
With permission of the advisor, a departmental seminar with an appropriate theme may be
substituted.
Russian 826 (Topics in the Structure of Russian). With permission of the advisor, a departmental
seminar with an appropriate theme may be substituted.
Slavic 821 (Structure of a Selected Slavic Language). With permission of the advisor, a
departmental seminar with an appropriate theme may be substituted.
Slavic 861 (History of the South Slavic Languages)
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Slavic 862 (History of the West Slavic Languages)
Slavic 864 (Comparative Slavic Grammar). With permission of the advisor, a departmental
seminar with an appropriate theme may be substituted.
2 5-credit seminars in the department
1 graduate course in general linguistics. Students are advised to take more than this minimum.
Linguistics 611 (Introduction to Historical Linguistics) is recommended for students specializing
in historical linguistics.
2 courses in Slavic Literature or Culture, to be selected from departmental courses at the 600-level
or above.
VIII.4 COURSES REQUIRED AFTER CANDIDACY
Research in Slavic (Slavic 999). The Graduate School minimum for 999 after candidacy is 20
hours; with the above departmental minima and no other courses, 25 hours of Slavic 999 are
needed to meet the 90 hours required for graduation.
IX. Ethics
Each participant in the scholarly community is expected to follow basic rules of ethical behavior
with regard to colleagues, individuals directly affected by the research activities, and the public at
large. The following statements endorsed by the two professional organizations of most immediate
importance, MLA and LSA, form an obligation of proper interpersonal conduct and honest
manipulation of basic data and intellectual property.
On ethics in graduate study and research, see also Graduate School Handbook, ¤II.4.11-13.
IX.1 MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
ETHICS (EXCERPTS)
Preamble
As the members of the MLA, we constitute a community of teachers and scholars joined together
to serve the larger society by promoting the study and teaching of the modern languages and
literatures. At the heart of this enterprise is freedom of inquiry, which we ask of the society we
serve. This freedom carries with it the responsibilities of professional conduct. We intend this
statement to embody reasonable norms for ethical conduct in teaching, research, and related public
service activities in the modern languages and literatures. The statement's governing premises are
as follows:
1. The responsibility for protecting free inquiry lies first with tenured faculty members, who may
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be called on to speak out against unethical behavior or to defend the academic freedom of
colleagues at any rank.
2. Tenured and nontenured faculty members alike have ethical obligations to students, colleagues,
staff members, their institutions, their local communities, the profession at large, and society.
Therefore, in the continuing evaluation of faculty members by their colleagues, the way in which
those obligations are fulfilled is an appropriate area for review.
3. Our integrity as teachers and scholars implies a commitment to be responsible in using evidence
and developing arguments and to be fair in hearing and reading the arguments of both colleagues
and students.
4. Free inquiry respects the diversity of the modes and objects of investigation, whether they are
traditional or innovative. We should defend scholarly practices against unfounded attacks from
within or outside our community.
5. Our teaching and inquiry must respect simultaneously the diversity of our own culture and that
of the cultures we study.
6. Judgments of whether a line of inquiry is ultimately useful to society, colleagues, or students
should not be used to limit the freedom of the scholar pursuing it.
7. As a community valuing free inquiry, we must be able to rely on the integrity and the good
judgment of our members. For this reason, we should not
... exploit or discriminate against others on any grounds, including race, ethnic origin, religious
creed, age, gender, and sexual preference ... plagiarize the work of others ... sexually harass
students, colleagues, or staff members ... misuse confidential information ... use language that is
prejudicial or gratuitously derogatory ... make capricious or arbitrary decisions affecting working
conditions, professional status, or academic freedom ... practice deceit or fraud on the academic
community or the public
Ethical Conduct in Academic Relationships
A. Obligations to Students
1. Faculty members should represent to their students the values of free inquiry.
2. At the outset of each course, faculty members should provide the students with a statement on
approaches to the course materials, on the goals of the course, and on the standards by which the
students will be evaluated.
3. Faculty members should offer constructive and timely evaluation of students' work and specify
the times and places when they are available to consult with students.
4. Student-teacher collaboration entails the same obligation as other kinds of research: faculty
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members should acknowledge appropriately any intellectual indebtedness.
5. Faculty members whose research in any way includes students as subjects must make clear the
obligations, rewards, and consequences of participation. Such relationships also impose on
researchers a special responsibility to guard the students involved from any form of abuse, such as
betrayal of confidentiality, and to protect them from research-related harm or discomfort.
6. Inasmuch as the teaching of language, writing, and literature not only involves comprehension
of the course material but may also draw, more directly than some other subjects do, on students'
intellectual and emotional experiences, faculty members in devising requirements for written work
and oral discussion, have an ethical responsibility to respect both students' privacy and their
emotional and intellectual dignity.
7. Faculty members should keep confidential what they know about students' academic standing,
personal lives, and political or religious views and should not exploit such personal knowledge.
8. Faculty members should provide unbiased, professional evaluation of students seeking
admission to graduate study or applying for financial support.
9. Faculty members should provide direction to graduate students, should respect their scholarly
interests, and should not exploit them for personal or professional ends. Faculty members should
not expect graduate students to perform unremunerated or uncredited teaching, research, or
personal duties.
10. Faculty members working with teaching assistants have a special responsibility to provide
them with adequate preparation, continuing guidance, and informed evaluation.
11. Faculty members must weigh the academic performance of each graduate student on its merits.
12. In overseeing and responding to the work of graduate students, whether they are in courses or
at the thesis or dissertation stage, advisers should periodically inform them of their standing in the
programs.
13. Before graduate students begin searching for jobs, faculty members should provide them with
adequate and timely counseling and should be prepared to write honest and constructive letters of
recommendation. Under certain circumstances, a faculty member who entertains basic doubts
either about a student's competence or about his or her own ability to evaluate the student fairly
may wish to decline the task of furnishing such a letter.
B. Obligations to the Profession at Large and to Society
1. In contributing to the profession at large, scholars should not accept assignments that they know
they cannot carry out responsibly.
2. As referees for presses, journals, and promotion and tenure committees, scholars should judge
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the work of others fairly and in an informed way and should avoid any conflict of interest. A reader
who is so out of sympathy with the author, topic, or critical stance of a work as to be unable to
judge its merits without prejudice should decline to review it. Likewise, any referee with a
personal relationship that prevents an unbiased evaluation should turn down the invitation to serve.
3. A scholar asked by an editor to evaluate a manuscript or book that the scholar has previously
reviewed should inform the editor of the coincidence.
4. Referees should be fully informed of the evaluation procedures and should be allowed
anonymity, unless there are legal requirements of disclosure.
5. The timetable for publication review should be made clear to both referees and authors. Referees
should discharge their tasks in a timely manner; they should decline invitations whose deadlines
they cannot meet. Editors should not use referees who habitually prolong the evaluation process.
Any changes in a publication schedule should be conveyed promptly to the author involved.
Undue delay in review or publication justifies the author to submit the manuscript to another
outlet, provided the first editor is informed in writing.
6. A scholar who feels it necessary to submit work to more than one outlet simultaneously should
so inform the editors receiving the submission.
7. A scholar who borrows from the works and ideas of others, including those of students, should
acknowledge the debt, whether or not the sources are published. Unpublished scholarly
material--which may be encountered when it is read aloud, circulated in manuscript, or
discussed--is especially vulnerable to unacknowledged appropriation, since the lack of a printed
text makes originality hard to establish.
8. In communicating the principles and findings of their research to the public, scholars are obliged
to be as accurate in their utterances as they are in addressing the academic community.
Conclusion
Our focus in this document is on the affirmative obligations of the modern language profession.
Accountable as we are to the various groups and individuals listed here, we hold the view that a
common understanding of our obligations to them will enable us both to exert appropriate
restraints in exercising our responsibilities as scholars and teachers and to promote ethical
behavior among our colleagues and among those who will follow us in the profession.
IX.2 LINGUISTIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA POLICY ON HUMAN-SUBJECT
RESEARCH (EXCERPTS) (adopted by the LSA Executive Committee, May 1992)
Studies of a human language often depend upon a continuing relation with speakers of the
language. Such a relation comes to be defined as much by the speakers as by the linguist. Their
patterns of life govern when work can be done. Their expectations, and those of their community,
shape what is to become of the results of the work. Understanding of the nature of linguistic
inquiry grows in the course of the relationship. Sometimes lifelong Friendships are established.
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Such work must be conducted with respect for those who participate, with sensitivity as to their
well being, and with concern for consequences of publication or sharing of results.
Certain considerations may make the study of a language different from much research in the
sciences and social sciences. One asks many questions in discovering the features of the language,
of a kind the collaborator learns to expect and even anticipate. They are seldom of a sort that can be
disturbing and injurious. Moreover, fruitful work may depend upon the linguist learning and
observing the norms of politeness and friendship expected by those with whom he or she is talking.
Those who participate in such a work often do so with pride in their command of their language
and may wish to be known for their contribution. Not to disclose their names would do them a
disservice.... Fairness to speakers of a language is very much a matter of understanding their
viewpoint, and what is appropriate in one situation may not be in another.
Such considerations make it difficult to apply general rules in a mechanical way.
IX.3 FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The following two general discussions are reading recommended by the Council on Graduate
Studies:
"Ethics Training in Research and Graduate Study" "Education for Research"
For linguistics, cf. also the discussion in Language 68.1:1-43, and 68.4-.809-11 (1992) on the
conduct of investigations on nonscriptural, indigenous and minority languages.
X. Additional Program Information
X.1 PETITIONING
As noted in various sections of the Handbook, students may petition the Graduate Studies
Committee for leaves of absence, permission to individualize their degree requirements, and
permission to enroll in Reading Hours (Slavic 693 and 993 or East European 693). The usual
procedure in petitioning is to compose a brief letter (see below) addressed the Graduate Studies
Committee. This letter should be signed by both the student and his/her adviser, who should add a
statement indicating whether he/she supports the petition. The letter is then given to the Graduate
Studies Committee Chair, who will either act on the petition (if it is routine) or else refer it to the
entire Graduate Studies Committee for a decision. In either case, the Graduate Studies Committee
Chair will indicate the decision on the letter and sign it. The letter is then placed in the student's
file, with a copy to the student and advisor.
A petition for reading hours might look as follows:
DATE
Graduate Studies Committee
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Grad Student Handbook, v. 9
Slavic Department
232 Cunz Hall
I would like to petition to take Slavic 693 with Dr. ... this spring. My plan is to do readings on the
topic of ...
The works I wish to read in fulfillment of this plan are as follows ...
Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know if you require any further information.
Sincerely yours,
NAME
Department policy stipulates that any petition for reading hours must be accompanied by a detailed
plan equivalent to a syllabus, including a list of readings and any other assignments that the
instructor wishes to require. Such petitions must have the endorsement not only of the student's
advisor but also of the faculty member who will be supervising the independent study. Note that
reading hours cannot duplicate or be used in lieu of a course regularly offered by the Department.
A petition for a leave of absence might look as follows:
DATE
Graduate Studies Committee
Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures
Ohio State University
232 Cunz Hall
Campus
I am planning to work in Moscow for ... during the ... academic year and would like to petition for
an official leave of absence in compliance with the Department's continuous enrollment
requirement. I have discussed this plan with my advisor and have HIS/HER approval.
Thank you very much for your consideration. Please let me know if you require any further
information.
Sincerely yours,
NAME
X.2 DOBRO SLOVO MENTORING PROGRAM (contributed by Jeffrey D. Holdeman)
The Mentoring Program is designed to match up new and prospective students of the Department
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of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures with advanced graduate students in the
Department. The program has been operating successfully for several years and is constantly
improving from past experiences.
Prospective students who call the Department for information are asked if they would like the
name of a contact student (a "Mentor") from the Department, and are given a name from a list of
graduate student volunteers. The prospective student calls this student to ask questions about the
Department, the graduate program, the faculty, the university, and life in Columbus. If the
prospective student makes a campus visit, the Mentor will often serve as the guide of the tour
(which is arranged by the Graduate Studies Coordinator) of the department, the T.A. offices, the
computer facilities, the library, the student union, and the campus. The prospective student may
also be taken by the Mentor to a graduate-level class, and may also be offered overnight
accommodations at the home of the Mentor or at the Russian House in order to decrease some of
the student's travel costs. Usually prospective students stay in contact with the Mentor after such
visits, and the Mentor remains available to help with future questions about applications, funding,
housing, etc.
New students who have not been paired with a Mentor are given the opportunity to receive one
during their first quarters at OSU. Both present and new graduate students fill out forms,
specifying their interests and areas of study. Mentors and "Mentees" are then matched, and are free
to make the acquaintance of their new partner. On the first Friday of the Autumn Quarter, Dobro
Slovo holds a "Welcome (Back) Party" for all Slavic graduate students (new and old), faculty, and
staff. This gives one of the first opportunities for the incoming students to meet the people with
whom they will be working, and also a chance for Mentors and Mentees to meet and arrange a
future meeting.
Both prospective and incoming students benefit from this program by establishing a personal
contact with a student in the Department. Many present students comment that their decision to
come to OSU was partially based on the warmth and hospitality with which they were received by
their Mentor, and add that they have maintained close contact afterwards. Mentors also benefit
from the program by getting the opportunity to meet and share their knowledge and experience
with students who hold common interests.
X.3 CIC TRAVELING SCHOLAR PROGRAM FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
The purpose of the CIC (Consortium for Institutional Cooperation) Traveling Scholar program is
to enable doctoral students at CIC universities (Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,
Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pennsylvania State, Purdue, and
Wisconsin) to take advantage of special educational opportunities on other CIC campuses while
paying the fees of their home institutions. Visits are limited to two semesters or three quarters on
another campus.
For further information, see the CIC Traveling Scholar Program Application and Procedures in the
appendix.
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X.4 ADVISING IN THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH
The Graduate Studies Committee and individual professors are all available to advise graduate
students in their search for academic positions, e.g., by assisting them in preparing materials
(curricula vitae, cover letters, etc.) and interviewing strategies. The Graduate Studies Committee
also arranges mock interviews to prepare doctoral candidates for job searches. See the Graduate
Studies Committee Chair for further information.
X.5 THE COUNCIL OF GRADUATE STUDENTS (contributed by the CGS)
The Council of Graduate Students (CGS) is the representative body for the more than 10,000
graduate students at Ohio State. CGS participates in the governance and administration of the
university and ensures that graduate student perspectives are heard in decision-making affecting
our rights, our lifestyles, and our resources. The CGS constitution charges the delegate body to
promote and provide academic, administrative, and social programs for the university community
and for graduate students in particular. CGS provides a forum in which the graduate student body
may present, discuss, and set upon issues related to its role in the academic and non-academic
aspects of the university community.
Graduate students may participate in CGS as departmental delegates, as members of CGS
committees, as representatives of their College at the University Senate or Council on Research
and Graduate Studies, or as representatives for all graduate students on a university-wide
committee. Please contact the CGS office by phone or e-mail for information about how to become
a departmental delegate or committee representative.
In addition to its role in the university governance structure, CGS also provides valuable programs
and services for graduate students. CGS co-presents the New Graduate Student Orientation in
collaboration with the Graduate School, sponsors a beginning-of-the-year welcome party for all
graduate students, and organizes an annual Graduate Research Forum open to all graduate
students. The Graduate Research Forum is a graduate student research conference, providing
graduate students with the opportunity to present original research in a professional-style format.
Cash prizes and travel awards are given to the winners in each of ten subject areas.
Information about the many issues pertaining to graduate student life can be found in the CGS
quarterly newsletter, the Graduate Voice. Published by the CGS Editorial Committee, the Voice is
distributed campus-wide through the university departments. Look for your copy each quarter in
your department office or in your department mailbox.
For more information, call the Council of Graduate Students at 292-4380, stop by our offices in
Room 55 Jones Graduate Tower, e-mail us, or visit the website.
X.6 RESIDENT STATUS/STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Information on resident status and student rights and responsibilities may be found every quarter in
the Master Schedule of Classes. See the Graduate Studies Coordinator for further information.
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X.7 FELLOWSHIP PROPOSALS
Students should ask their advisors and other faculty members for advice on how to compose
proposals for research fellowships (in particular, dissertation fellowships). The faculty also
recommend "The art of the fellowship proposal," by John Lippincott, and "Writing a fellowship
proposal for funding the dissertation," by Cynthia Verba. These articles are available from the
Graduate Studies Committee Chair.