Graduate Program Requirements

View more information on the BA Program.

General Graduate School requirements as well as program requirements must be met before graduation.

Language
Including the two years required for entry, a student must complete four years of relevant study (or gain equivalent proficiency), meeting one of the following options: 

• Completion through the fourth year of a language relevant to their geographical area of focus (either Russian or an East European or Central Asian language) OR equivalent documented proficiency.
• There is a language proficiency graduation requirement (testing at the 2nd and/or 4th year level) in reading, writing, speaking and comprehension.
• For those not focusing on Russia, completion of two years of a second language relevant to their geographical area of focus OR equivalent documented proficiency.
• We also offer a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty to take a Less Commonly Taught Language while at the University of Washington 

Students must also use sources in the relevant REECA-regional language(s) in their thesis.

Required Courses:

• JSIS A 504 / Introductory Research Methodology and Bibliography, (5 credits)
  Introduces the history of the REECAS region as well as bibliographic and other scholarly resources in field and development of research techniques. Emphasizes critical thinking skills, methods of accessing and evaluating information over the broad range of disciplines encompassed by the interdisciplinary major, hands-on acquaintance with resources; and critical evaluation and discussion of analytical writing.
  Offered Autumn Quarter of the first year. 5 credits (Decimal grade)
   
• JSIS A 514 / Thesis Seminar, (2 credits)
  Seminar focused on preparing to write the MA thesis.
  Offered Spring Quarter in the first year. 2 credits (Decimal Grade)
   
• JSIS A 515 / Thesis Seminar, (2 credits)
  The second half of the Thesis Seminar focused on thesis writing.
  Students will complete an 8000 word (30-35 page) draft thesis by the end of the course.
  Offered Winter Quarter in the second year. 2 credits (Decimal Grade)
   

Other Coursework: 
25-30 credits divided between a discipline of concentration (minimum of 15) and a minor discipline (minimum of 10 credits) must be completed. While this course work may be focused on one geographical region, it also may be divided between two or more regions with the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator.

At least two of these courses must be at or above the 500-level.

These courses must be taken for numerical grades and, in most cases, at the 400- to 500-level. Courses at the 300 level can be counted only with written approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Typically, the choice of major and minor disciplines would include history, economics, geography, political science, or literature and culture. With the approval of your adviser, there is some flexibility in designing your own concentration.

Thesis and Oral Exam
No later than the first quarter of the second year in the program, and earlier if possible, each student must select a committee of at least two faculty members representing the major and minor fields.

• Master’s Thesis
  The thesis is written under the principal guidance of the Chair of your committee, although you are also expected to consult the other member(s). All members of the committee must approve and sign your thesis. The finished thesis will be given to each member of the student’s committee by the seventh week of the final quarter and the oral examination will be scheduled at that time.
  
   
• Oral Examination
  Interdisciplinary exam given by all members of your committee. Generally, sixty percent of the Oral Examination will devoted to presentation of and questions about the thesis, and forty percent to a general examination of the major and minor fields.

Further details concerning procedures for completion of these final requirements are provided in the program handbook (available from Paula Milligan).