Graduate Program

Resources

A. Libraries

The General Libraries of the University of Texas at Austin constitute the fifth largest academic library in North America. The Slavic collection, based primarily on holdings in Russian, Czech, Polish, and Serbo-Croatian, is housed in the Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL), a modern and comfortable open-stack library. The holdings of the General Libraries, including the Slavic collection, have been entered on a computerized online Catalog, accessible from the World Wide Web. As a result, literature searches are extremely convenient and efficient. A wide range of computerized bibliographic search services are available as well. The University's General Libraries belong to the "OCLC" consortium of libraries, which shares materials via the "Inter-Library Service" with a minimum of formalities. Check the General Libraries' webpage for an idea of their resources and services.

B. Archives

The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRHRC) is an invaluable archival resource which contains much original material in the form of publications, documents, manuscripts, diaries, and photographs which would be particularly suitable for primary research in Slavic Languages, including the Alexder Kerensky archive, an archive of the Russian theater from the turn of the century, and an extensive collection of diaries, correspondence, and other materials dealing with the cultural and political life of Russia and the Soviet Union. There are also considerable holdings in Czech and Polish.

C. Multi-media facilities

The Instructional Technology Services unit (formerly called the "Language Lab") of the College of Liberal Arts has a variety of modern audio, video, and multi-media computer equipment for use in instruction and research. Holdings in Slavic languages contain not only instructional materials, but both audio and video resources on Slavic culture as well.

D. Computational facilities

The University provides a wide range of computational facilities to the students in a variety of forms. There is a campus Local Area Network called UTNet, which extends not only to office and classroom space, but to the dormitories as well. For access from home there is modem access via Telesys. There is a well-equippedStudent Microcomputer Facility, with both PCs and Macs, printers, scanners, and access to UTNet. For further information, check the website of the Academic Computing and Instructional Technology Services (ACITS).

E. Other academic units on campus

1. The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

The Center sponsors a wide range of extracurricular activities concerning the former Soviet Union and East Europe from an interdisciplinary perspective, including visiting lecturers, films, exhibitions, and conferences. The Center is accumulating considerable resources relating to the Slavic languages and cultures in print, video, and audio form. The academic arm of the Center, the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Program, coordinates course offerings bearing on the area; it offers Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees.

2. The Program for Foreign Language Education

In the School of Education, the FLE program is concerned with teaching methodology and learning theory as they bear on foreign language acquisition. This program, along with its own degree plans, is an important resource on information about pedagogy, second language acquisition, and teacher certification.

3. The Department of Linguistics

Nationally recognized as one of the leading departments in its field, the Linguistics Department is in the same building as the Department of Slavic Languages. Its faculty include specialists in all major sub-fields of the discipline, and interdisciplinary work is encouraged. Facilities include the Archibald Hill Library and a first-class Phonetics Laboratory.

F. Study and research abroad

The Department encourages its students to take full advantage of opportunities for study and research in the Slavic countries. The department is a member of the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), a sponsoring institution of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), and a university affiliate of the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR). The University's International Office currently sponsors student exchanges with Moscow Linguistic University and with Charles University (Prague), for which graduate students can apply. The department has organized study and/or research programs in Poland (Cracow) and Russia (Novosibirsk), as well as placing students in study programs in various Slavic countries.

Our graduate students have spent time in the Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union conducting dissertation research sponsored by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) and by the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program (administered by the Department of Education). In addition, there are opportunities for research at sites outside the Slavic-speaking countries, administered by the Joint Committees on Post-Soviet Studies and Eastern Europe. The Graduate Adviser collects and distributes information about such opportunities to study and conduct graduate-level research off-campus.

Eligible graduate students have benefited from the opportunity to spend a semester in Moscow as Resident Director of our exchange program with MLU as part of their financial aid award.

G. University housing

Single graduate students may live in any of several university dormitories or the Gateway Apartment complex, which are co-ed and air conditioned. `Family housing' is available in the University Apartments for students who are married or have children. There are several co-operative living arrangements available. Further information is available from the Division of Housing and Food Service; a guide to student housing has been posted at their web site:

Office: Kinsolving
200 W. Dean Keeton Street
Campus mail code: E1800

Mail: Applications
Division of Housing and Food Service
Box 7666
Austin, TX 78713-7666

Phone: (512) 471-3136

The UT Division of Housing and Food Services

H. Off-campus housing

Apartments are available in Austin in every price range. Expect to pay more for nicer facilities and a convenient location. A private car is not necessary for students living off-campus. The University provides an extensive shuttle bus service all over town, paid for by student activity fees, making a wide range of options for living arrangements accessible. There are numerous `free' apartment-locator services listed in the telephone directory, who receive their fee from the apartment owner. A serviceable two-bedroom unit in an apartment complex on a bus route would probably cost in the $700's.