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REES-MA - Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (MA)
Overview
Program Overview
CREEES’s one-year interdisciplinary master's degree program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies provides students with a strong grounding in historical and contemporary processes of change in the Russian Federation, East Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The program structure provides intellectual cohesion through core requirements while allowing students the flexibility to pursue their particular academic interests with electives and the capstone project, drawing on Stanford’s excellence in teaching and research and rich library and archival resources. The REEES MA program prepares students for a range of professional and academic careers, typically serving students who:
- Intend to apply to a Ph.D. program involving Russian, East European and Eurasian studies and who need to enhance their academic skills and credentials
- Intend to pursue careers and/or advanced degrees in such fields as journalism, education, business, government, law, or medicine, and who wish to establish competence in Russian, East European and Eurasian studies.
- Mid-career professionals and/or students interested in gaining competence or continuing their interest in Russian, East European and Eurasian studies.
Director of Graduate Studies
Free Form Requisites
Candidates for the M.A. degree must meet University requirements for an M.A. degree as described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.
The M.A. program in REEES ordinarily can be completed in one academic year by a well-prepared student; longer periods of study are permitted. The program can be pursued separately or co-terminally by Stanford undergraduate students
All students in the M.A. REEES program must complete a minimum of 48 academic credit units within the following guidelines.
Core Courses: Students must complete 3 designated core courses, for 5 units each (one per quarter).
Please see below the list of core courses for the 2022-23 AY:
Core Seminar Series: course Current Issues in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies is required of all students in the M.A. program in Autumn and Winter quarters (2 units total).The goal of this seminar series is to survey current methodological and substantive issues in Russian, East European and Eurasian studies, acquaint students with Stanford resources and faculty, and present professional development and career options.
Interdisciplinary Course Work: All courses (other than language courses and approved activity courses) must be taken on the graduate level (200-level or higher); History courses must be taken at the 300-level or higher. Elective courses must be distributed among at least three disciplines. All coursework applied to the 48-unit minimum must deal primarily with Russian, Eurasian, or East European studies. For a list of pre-approved courses, please see the Pre-Approved Courses section below this list of degree requirements.
Language Study: Students in the program are encouraged to study Russian, an East European or Central Asian language, or a language from the Caucasus. Credit towards the 48-unit minimum (maximum 4 units per quarter, 12 units total) is allowed for advanced language work.
Coursework qualifying for the 48-unit minimum must have a letter grade of 'B' or higher. ('B-' does not count for degree credit, nor does 'CR'). Students may apply a maximum of three units of course work with a final grade of 'S' to the 48-unit minimum. 'S' units counting towards the 48-unit minimum must be approved by the CREEES associate director.
All courses counting towards the 48-unit minimum must be approved by the CREEES associate director, who ensures that planned coursework satisfies requirements towards the degree. The CREEES director and steering committee determine the requirements.
Capstone Requirement: Students must complete a capstone thesis paper in consultation with a faculty advisor, the CREEES director and associate director. Students must enroll in the MA Capstone Seminar course for 1 unit in Spring Quarter.
Pre-Approved Courses
For a list of pre-approved courses, see the Courses page on the CREEES website and filter for "MA Pre-approved Courses" for the current academic year.
The list of pre-approved courses may be updated as relevant courses are offered. Courses that do not appear on the list may be counted towards the M.A. through a petition process in consultation with the CREEES associate director.
Program Policies
External Credit Policies
External credits are not accepted by the program.
Advising Expectations
The Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.
Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.
Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.
Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
The purpose of the master's program and the joint M.A./J.D. program is to further develop knowledge and skills in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies and to prepare students for a professional career or doctoral studies. This is achieved through completion of courses, in the primary field as well as related areas, and experience with independent work and specialization.