Slavonic Studies

Aims of the study / general information

The commitment of a study program Slavonic Studies is preparing the university-qualified specialists in the field of Slavic philology (that means Polish, Ukrainian of South Slavonic philology) with a strong multi-disciplinary accent.

Study is in its linguistic part focused on gaining comprehensive language competence in the chosen profile Slavic language (gaining level B2-C1 according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), on knowing current state and history of Slavic languages, in both the perspective of general and comparative linguistics. In the literary part the study is aimed at discovering the newest development phases of Slavic literatures, their specifics and genealogy system and questions of literary theory and comparative literature. Significant part of the study is deepening of knowledge of history and culture of Slavic countries in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and their relations, as well as cultural and political relations and contacts of Czech environment with Polish, Ukrainian and South Slavic environment (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Hercegovina).

The follow-up master's degree program Slavonic studies is realized in form of major and minor study of three specializations (South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Polish Studies and Ukrainian Studies).

Slavonic Studies (major ) is multi-disciplinary area study with equal linguistic, literary and cultural-historic part, suitable for those applicants that want to gain wide-oriented Slavic area knowledge and be able to analyze and regale past and current problems of Slavic world in the European context. In practical languages, this study follows on the level of language gained in major of bachelor’s degree South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Ukrainian Studies and Polish Studies.

Slavonic Studies (minor) has similar characteristics to major study, but in the means of credits and content is more adjusted to collegians of different programs or faculties (students of history, ethnology, political science, journalism, geography and others), that have their major field of study, but plan to focus on Slavic world in some way as well. It does not include compulsory part of practical language training, this is fully optional.

Specialization (South Slavonic and Balkan Studies, Polish Studies, Ukrainian Studies) offer in a form of common basics (more or less identical with major study), similarly multi-disciplinary and widely area-based Slavonic study with accent on philological part, enabling student of an individual specialization of philological bachelor’s programs to enrich their knowledge of individual Slavic languages (Polish, Ukrainian or South Slavic language – Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovenian and Serbian), as well as literature, culture, history and current state of countries, where this language is spoken. In line with tradition on Brno’s Slavonic studies the study is designed as a wide area study set in European context.

Study of Russian language is not part of the program Slavistics, as based on its position among Slavic studies it is being studied separately in program Russian Studies. It is possible for a student of Slavistics to choose optional courses of language or other from the offer of Russian Studies.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Speak and write in the chosen profile language (level B2-C1).
• Work independently with text of different styles, analyze them and translate them from or to language of specialization.
• Explain and apply deeper theoretical knowledge from the field of linguistics, literary science and related fields.
• Master grammar system of the language of specialization on theoretical and practical level, in the synchronic, diachronic and comparative view.
• Apply deeper knowledge from the field of Slavic literatures and literary theory.
• Orientate himself in the field of culture, history and bilateral relations of the countries in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
• Work with a chosen topic, offer methodological background, bring arguments in favor and apply gained data in praxis.
• Possibly extend his own specialization in PhD. study.

Graduates of the study program Slavistics are specialists with complex education in fields of philology and area studies, that can apply for professions that require language competence (according to specialization), good presentation skills, independent and critical thinking and knowledge of wider area context. Graduates will be widely professionally adaptive, that will enable them to dynamically react to changing requirements of the praxis. Gained knowledge and competence predispose them to lifelong learning and continuous personal development.

Graduates of this program will apply their education in pedagogic and scientific work, creative work in cultural and education institutions, in travel industry, journalism, specialized work in editor's offices, at the level of lower and middle-level management, in translations of commercial, specialized and artistic texts, interpretation and expert work.

Graduates can find employment in national and supranational organizations and structures operating in countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and fulfilling different tasks where he or she will be able to offer solid orientation in difficult inter-ethnic and inter-cultural relations and contribute to effective solution of many local problems. Graduate can work as an expert in UN Peacekeeping Missions and other similar missions and organizations. Graduate from Slavistics should be ready to affect Czech public opinion via media, in terms of relevant picture of the situations in individual areas, eventually work in the field of diplomatic service, to which praxis of master's students on the embassies in the studied countries will contribute.

This program offers its collegians to spend at least one semester abroad, either in the country of their specialization or at the universities with traditional Slavic education in different countries. Students can gain credits for practical training too (course Practical Training), mainly in organizations and institutions with those our department has a long-term cooperation. There is also a possibility to work as a lector of Czech language in partner local government offices of South Moravian Region, and on other positions. It is also possible to start working as an intern at embassies of Czech Republic in countries of specialization or in Czech centers that have been established in some of these countries. Providers of internships (and partially employers) are often non-profit organizations dealing with refugee issues, human rights or environment, as well as agencies dealing with tourist industry or business relations in countries that this study program focuses on, and translation agencies. As most of the studied countries are member or associated countries of EU, there is a growing importance of bilateral cooperation of companies dealing with investments and import and export from the countries of South-Eastern Europe, Poland and Ukraine.

Minimal range of master's diploma thesis is 140 000 characters including footnotes, front page, contents, register, list of literature and resumé in foreign language. Thesis can be written in Czech, Polish, Ukrainian or one of the profile South-Slavic languages. Topic of the thesis can be chosen from the widely-perceived linguistic, literary, cultural-historic or cultural-regional area. Available topics will be visible in the respective application of Information System MU, however student can offer his own topic. Student, under the supervision of a thesis supervisor, solve the stated problem or several methodologically and objectively linked problems in his diploma thesis. Student should be able to state and solve research project based on relevant scientific methods and be able to demonstrate ability to critically work with specialized literature, creatively work with concepts and theories found, and independently find solutions to stated problems, all at a level of current scientific knowledge in the area and based on the knowledge gained during his study. Up-to-date information about the state final exams and diploma thesis can be found on the web pages of Department of Slavonic Studies (http://slavistika.phil.muni.cz/studium – Czech only).

Graduate from the master's program Slavistics can be accepted to existing accredited PhD. programs Paleoslavic and Slavic Languages, Theory and History of Slavic Literatures, Literature Comparatistics, Philological Area Studies or newly accredited PhD. programs Slavic Languages, Slavic Literatures, Literature Comparatistics and Philological Area Studies.