European, Russian and Eurasian Studies

• M.A. European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
• Diploma in European Integration Studies

M.A. European, Russian and Eurasian Studies

Academic Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Master's candidates must obtain a grade of B- or higher on each credit counted towards the degree.

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission to the master's program is an honours degree (or equivalent), with at least a B+ average.

For admission to the program, applicants should normally meet the following requirements:

A four-year degree (or equivalent) in a humanities or social science discipline, with at least 3.0 credits in the European/Russian/Eurasian area covering three different disciplines (excluding language courses); and

A reading knowledge of an appropriate major European language (normally equivalent to two academic years of instruction, or one year with an intensive summer program) or, at the discretion of the Institute, equivalent knowledge of another of the region's languages. Applicants admitted with no proficiency or inadequate proficiency in an appropriate language will require additional language training beyond normal M.A. requirements.

Practical experience in the area of study will also be taken into consideration.

Applicants who do not have the required interdisciplinary background in the European/Russian/Eurasian area are encouraged to apply to the program, but additional coursework beyond the 5.0 credits may be required.

Qualifying Year

Applicants who have a general (three-year) bachelor's degree in one of the disciplines represented in the program, or who lack sufficient area studies or language training, may be admitted to a qualifying-year program designed to raise their status to that of honours graduates in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies. Students are expected to achieve a B+ average or better in the qualifying-year program in order to qualify for admission to the Master's year.

Program Requirements

Notes:

1. No more than 1.0 credit may be taken at the 4000-level.
2. No more than 0.5 credit in a language discipline may be counted towards program requirements. If a student fulfills the language proficiency requirement by completing course work as outlined in point 2 below, a course taken to fulfill the language requirement cannot be counted towards fulfillment of program requirements. 

Language Requirement

Each student must demonstrate language proficiency. Students entering the M.A. program with no language proficiency or inadequate language proficiency will require extra coursework and/or summer language training to meet the language proficiency requirement.

For the Russian, Eurasian and Transition Studies concentration the student may select German, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian or Serbian/Croatian. For the European and European Union Studies concentration the student may select French, German, Italian, Polish or Spanish. A student may request permission to use another major language to fulfill this requirement. However, the requested language

(a) must be utilized in undertaking research for the research essay or M.A. thesis; and
(b) its selection must be approved by the graduate supervisor.

Proficiency in the approved language may be demonstrated by successful completion of a written translation examination to be administered by the Institute or by completion of the appropriate language from the following list with a minimum grade of B+:

Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree

Students in the 5.0-credit program with sufficient proficiency in Russian, German or another approved language are expected to complete the degree within three to four terms of study. Students participating in international exchanges will normally require longer to complete degree requirements. 

Concentrations

While one of the program's goals is to provide students with an integrative approach to the entire region, the concentration assures that each student's individual program will retain a particular focus. Europe and Eurasia have become increasingly integrated in terms of theoretical and methodological approaches. However, the two sub-regions covered by the program have distinct histories and legacies along with differing intellectual traditions. Selection of a concentration assures that each student's program will have an adequate level of intellectual coherence. Students studying the post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe that are EU member states or candidates for membership may select either concentration, depending on the thematic focus of the student's work.

The Institute offers two concentrations that draw systematically from the program's range of courses and expertise. Students are required to pursue one of these concentrations:

• Russian, Eurasian and Transition Studies
• European and European Union (EU) Studies

Russian, Eurasian and Transition Studies

This concentration involves an interdisciplinary focus on the communist legacy and challenges facing countries in transition, with a geographic scope covering eastern and southeastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Caucasus and post-Soviet Central Asia.

European and European Union Studies

This concentration focuses on countries involved in the European Union and on European integration processes, consequences, and dynamics from an interdisciplinary perspective, including EU enlargement and relations of the EU with other states.

Other 4000- and 5000-level courses may be approved by the graduate supervisor as EURUS credits if they are deemed appropriate to a particular student's objectives.

Co-operative Education Program in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies

The co-op education program provides students in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies the opportunity to combine work terms with academic study. The practical experiences obtained in the workplace will reflect and extend knowledge and skills learned in the classroom, and will help to develop career interests and marketable expertise. All students in the M.A. Program in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies have the opportunity to enroll in the co-op education program.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in admission into the co-op education option must apply by the end of the first semester of academic study.

To be eligible for admission to the co-op option, students must:

1. be registered in the M.A. in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies;
2. have successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term, the required first-year core classes
3. EURR 5001 Interdisciplinary Seminar in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies and EURR 5010 Research Design and Methodology in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
4. be registered full-time in each academic term prior to work term.
5. be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work terms).

In addition, students whose first language is not English who are admitted to Carleton based on CAEL, IELTS or TOEFL assessments must also meet the following requirement: either a score of 6.0 on the CAEL Spoken English Test for Co-op students, or a score of 22 on the TOEFL test for spoken English, or a score of 6.5 on the IELTS test for spoken English.

Meeting the preceding requirements only establishes eligibility for admission to the co-op option - the prevailing job market may limit enrollment in it. Students should also note that hiring priority is given to Canadian citizens for co-op positions under the auspices of the Public Service Commission. Work terms for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies co-op students exist in a variety of public and private sector fields. Every effort will be made to ensure that there are appropriate work opportunities available, but there are no assurances that a co-op position will be found. Students with a high CGPA, enthusiasm, and potential, however, will have a competitive edge in securing co-op employment. Students will be assisted by the Carleton University Co-op Office to find work term positions.

Registration

Students who are accepted into the Co-op Education Option in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies must be registered in EURR 5913 [0.0] Co-operative Work Term in each work term.

Note:  This course does not carry academic course credit, but is noted on academic transcripts.  Students are permitted to enroll in one 0.5 credit course during each work term.

Graduation

Students must successfully complete two work terms, in addition to the M.A. in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies requirements, to successfully graduate and receive a co-op designation on their final transcript and diploma.

Appeals

The Co-op Office administers the regulations and procedures applicable to the co-op option, and will report any situation of a student failing to report to a placement or being required to withdraw from the co-op option for any reason to the Director of the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies for a final decision. Any decision may be appealed through the normal channels of the University.

Diploma in European Integration Studies

Academic Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Program Requirements

Other 5000-level courses may be approved by the graduate supervisor as Diploma credits if they are deemed appropriate to the program.