Description
The Master’s in Foreign and Regional Languages, Literatures and Civilisations, with a subject pathway in Slavonic Studies and Intercultural Studies (Joint Programme Russia and Europe: Languages and Cultures) has fixed as its aim the training of specialists on the subjects of languages, literatures and human sciences in Russia, Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space. This is within the context of increasing globalisation and persistent tensions between the different parts of Europe. These specialists, who are proficient in adopting contrastive approaches, are now needed to architect the intercultural dialogue between France and Russia.
Objectives
Programme objectives
As this programme is organised jointly with the People’s Friendship University of Russia (URAP-RUDN www.rudn.ru/) in Moscow, students can gain a joint Master’s in French and Russian. The programme is geared towards research-oriented professions and offers students the chance to follow a specialism that can lead to employment without undertaking doctoral studies. The programme draws on skills gained via different socio-economic contexts.
Training content
Two years of study: Master 1 (M1) and Master 2 (M2)
The Master’s in Slavonic Studies is organised into four semesters, each worth 30 ECTS credits. Course units are increasingly specialised, in accordance with students’ research and/or professional aspirations. This Master’s programme includes course units that are simultaneously theory-based, methodology-based and applied. In addition, students have the opportunity to gain concrete experience of the professional context.
Master 1: First year of two-year Master’s programme
The content of the ‘Common Core Curriculum’ unit block really constitutes the framework of this programme of study (covering modes of thought and cultural life in Russia, history of performance arts and Russian and Slavonic literature).
The unit block entitled ‘Choosing a Master 2 pathway’ offers optional course units (covering linguistics, literature, the arts and contemporary civilisation), to be selected in relation to students’ chosen research subject.
The ‘Cross-disciplinary Skills’ unit block provides students with further tools to assist their learning (including practical Russian language, dissertation methodology and preparation for entering employment).
Master 2: Second year of two-year Master’s programme
In this second year of study, all course units take place in Moscow at the People’s Friendship University of Russia (URAP-RUDN). Course units include:
- a common core curriculum that is compulsory for all students (seminar units);
- optional course units, selected in accordance with the direction students choose to give their studies: Languages and Intercultural Studies on the one hand, or Managing Intercultural Projects on the other;
- a course unit entitled Modern Language 2 (English, or another language according to the languages offered by URAP).
Dissertation
One of the key objectives of this Master’s programme is to prepare students for research as part of doctoral studies, and to develop their capacity for autonomous critical reflection on a given subject in relation to a domain within Slavonic Studies. This research project must also be relevant to the professional context (research, translation, building a resource bank for the teaching of Slavonic languages, cultural action etc.). To this effect, students must produce a research-based dissertation of approximately 100 pages on a subject chosen in conjunction with a university lecturer-researcher from Université Bordeaux Montaigne and from URAP. This dissertation must treat a new and unpublished area of research into Slavonic societies. It must be accompanied by a summary of approximately 15 pages in Russian. Students will defend their dissertation in an oral examination that will be carried out in Russia and in France.
Trainings
Internships
Students are actively encouraged to undertake internships that have relevance to their programme of study. Students will also be involved with the organisation of research events in France and Russia (translation, administration, logistics). URAP offers students the possibility of undertaking an internship, teaching French or working in their international relations department. Students may also find internships in travel agencies or within French bodies and companies that have been established in Russia.
Career pathways
Entering employment
The natural progression from this joint programme would be to pursue research into Slavonic societies. However, students can also aspire to employment in other areas including:
- teaching Russian and French as foreign languages
- management of intercultural projects
- tourism
- intercultural communications within institutions
- international relations departments within universities, inter-university cooperation, French cultural centres in Russia or in other countries of the former Soviet Union.