Slavic Languages & Literature

Major Related
Resources

Department of Slavic
Languages and Literatures
Ballantine Hall 502

Career Related
Resources

Career Resource
Library
625 North Jordan Avenue
Phone: 855-0576
Career Development Center
Arts and Sciences
Career Services
625 North Jordan Avenue
Phone: 855-0576

IUB Libraries Career Resources
Foreign Languages Careers
Liberal Arts Careers
10th Street & Jordan Avenue
Phone: 812-855-0100

Description of Major

The major in Slavic Languages and Literatures offers two separate tracks: the Russian Track and the Slavic Track. Both tracks have options that allow majors to tailor their programs to their own interests and needs.

The Russian Track is designed for students seeking advanced study of the Russian language and/or Russian literature in the original (option 1), or basic Russian-language knowledge and familiarization with Russian literature and culture in English translation (option 2).

The Slavic Track is designed for students seeking a basic knowledge of a Slavic language other than Russian (Czech, Polish, Serbian/Croatian), and familiarization with its literature and culture in English translation. In addition students either do work in another Slavic literature and culture in English translation (including Russian), or study another Slavic language (including Russian). There are three options: the Czech Option, the Polish Option, and the Serbian and Croatian Option. In the past, arrangements have been made for Romanian as well.

Skills & Knowledge Developed in this Field of Study

Speaking, listening, reading and writing in one or more Slavic languages, plus familiarization with the literatures and cultures of Slavic countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria.

Minors and Second Majors that Expand Career Options with this Major

Business, communication and culture, comparative literature, criminal justice, economics, history, international studies, journalism, linguistics, political science, public and environmental affairs, sociology, and many other social and natural sciences.

Career Options

Careers Specific to the Bachelor's Degree

Career opportunities that deal exclusively with Slavic languages and require only a B.A. degree can be found in governmental organizations like the U.S. military, National Security Agency (NSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); and in non-governmental agencies involved with peace-keeping, refugee relief work and other humanitarian activities. To improve their career opportunities, however, most majors will want either to pursue graduate work in the Slavic field (particularly for careers in teaching) or combine their Slavic major with a second major in another field of study (like public and environmental affairs, law, business, journalism, international development, economics, social work, criminal justice, etc.)

Other Career Possibilities with a Bachelor's Degree

Because studying Slavic distinguishes a student as willing to take on a challenge, many graduate schools, law schools, business schools, and employers look very favorably on students who have studied Russian and other Slavic languages. Also, with all the political and economic changes taking place in the former Soviet Union, there are increasing opportunities with companies and organizations that do business in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States.

Careers that Normally Require a Graduate Degree

Academic positions at colleges and universities; Foreign Service positions; advanced positions in the NSA, FBI, CIA, USAID, United Nations; and positions in international development, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations working in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe.

Employment Opportunities

Job Outlook

Because many career opportunities may be related to a second field of study, see the "Majors & Careers" web page for that major for additional information. Also, see resources such as the Department of Labor�s Occupational Outlook Handbook at the Career Resource Library. The majority of job positions where students use their knowledge of Russia and Eastern Europe and their language skills are in the following fields: government, nonprofit, international development, teaching and research, business, journalism and law. Most of the job positions in these fields require a graduate degree. There are a limited number of job opportunities that are specifically related to the bachelor degree in Russian and other Slavic languages.

Salary Information

According to the September 1996 College Placement Council Salary Survey, the average starting salary received by foreign language majors is $25,166.

Potential Career Growth

Varies throughout the possible career fields, but the potential is excellent. There is a continual need for professionals who have language skills and knowledge of the region. The Russian and East European markets are expanding. Many government and nonprofit agencies are actively involved in these regions. In addition, the accession of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other East European countries to the European Union will play a role in expanding job opportunities.

Placement Statistics for IU Graduates with this Major

A large number of IU graduates with this major attend graduate school in law, business, history, and Slavic languages and literatures. A significant portion of graduates work in the government sector such as the U.S. military, U.S.Department of State, or development agencies that work on federal contracts. Some work in nonprofit and private sectors.

High School Preparation

The best preparation would be training in the Russian language. If that�s not available, any experience with foreign languages is very valuable, especially with case languages like Latin and German. Prospective students should get as much prior language training and exposure to foreign cultues as they possibly can. Familiarity with literature, history and culture of the area of interest are distinct advantages.

Special Opportunities

Numerous opportunities exist for students to interact with faculty members who are internationally recognized leaders in their fields. A national report recently ranked IU�s program first in the nation in Russian and third in other Slavic languages. Our department offers honors courses, and students in the major may choose to work on independent honors projects with the faculty. In addition, qualified majors may gain experience as special interns in Russian language classes or on departmental journals. The department directs a summer study program to St. Petersburg, Russia, run by one of our faculty members, in which majors often take part.

Study abroad is an option for all departmental languages and is common component of many students' academic plans. Students have the opportunity to complete a semester abroad in Prague, Budapest and St. Petersburg. The department has extensive offerings of extracurricular activities, including weekly conversation tables for all five of its languagues and frequent concerts, lectures, workshops, and special cultural events. The department provides students with opportunity of participating in the annual National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest. Students are also eligible for membership in the National Slavic Honor Society, Dobro Slovo.

The department also runs the nationally recognized Summer Workshop in Slavic and East European Languages. Students can complete an entire year of language instruction in the eight-week intensive session. The workshop includes both grammer and conversation course work, as well as cultural sctivities in the evenings. In-state tuition is available to all participants. Many courses are taught by native instructors. Courses taught include Russian, Polish, Czech, Serbian and Crotian, and, when funded, other languages of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures cooperates closely with the IU Russian and East European Institute (REEI). REEI is a federally funded national resource center for Russian and East European area studies. It offers an undergraduate minor program designed to give students a broad knowledge of Russian and East European areas through course work available in 15 IU departments and six professional schools. The undergraduate minor is awarded in conjunction with the B.A. degree. The minor attests that the student has specialized, interdisciplinary knowledge of this part of the world. The REEI minor can be pursued with language certification in Russian or an East European language. It's particularly useful to students who are planning graduate studies or a professional career in the field. The REEI also offers a wide range of extracurricular events such as guest lectures, film showings, workshops, and cultural events. The REEI office in Ballantine Hall 565 includes a small reading room in which students can review current Russian language newspapers, and has a library of Russian and East European language videos (instructional and feature films with subtitles) that can be used in conjunction with language courses. A Slavic Resource Room in Ballantine 506 is also available to students.

Noted Alumni

B.A. 1991, Webmaster, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department. Brandt works with past exchange participants from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

M.A.1984, Editor of the Moscow Times.

M.A.1981, Chief Arms Control Delegate of the U.S. to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna.

Ph.D 1977, U.S. Department of State diplomatic interpreter; served as branch chief and interpreter for numerous governmental meetings and summits, including the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission (1966) and the Clinton-Yeltsin Summit (1994).

Ph.D 1997, Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages & Literatures, University of Kansas. Translator, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Sue Brown, Ph.D 1996, Associate Professor of Slavic Lnagugates and Literature, Harvard University. Brown was awarded the BEST BOOK in Linguistics for her monograph, The Syntax of Negation in Russian from the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages(AATSEEL).

Helena Goscilo, Ph.D 1976, UCIS Research Profssor and Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh. Goscilo is a well-known scholar in the field and has done important work in women's writing, feminist criticism, cultural studies, and the artistic translation of contemporary or forgotten literature.