Master of Arts in Russian

The MA in Russian is designed as a broadly based program of study in itself, rather than as the first stage of a doctoral program. You may choose to earn your MA in one of the following ways:

• Four summers in Vermont
• Two summers in Vermont, with an academic year in Astana, Kazakhstan
• Three summers in Vermont, with a semester in Astana, Kazakhstan

See an overview of our requirements and locations for more information and course listings.

Curriculum

Middlebury awards one unit of graduate credit (equivalent to three semester hours) for each graduate course. The normal course load is three course units per summer or semester abroad.

Candidates for the MA in Russian are expected to take a balanced program. Studies should include at least two courses in each of the following areas:

• Language, linguistics, or pedagogy
• Literature
• Civilization (history, politics, art, film, music, popular culture, etc.)

An MA capstone project, such as a thesis, is required.
As one of the required 12 units, during the final summer in Vermont, candidates register for an independent study course (RUSS 6888), representing the capstone project/thesis. The topic, nature, and scope of the capstone project should be approved by a faculty advisor, assigned by the director. Research is usually started during the year abroad in Kazakhstan or during the second or third summer at Middlebury.

Graduate summer sessions and semesters abroad need not be consecutive.
All credits toward a Middlebury MA are valid for a maximum of 10 years.

Options

You have several options for completing your master’s degree.