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FACULTY OF POLISH STUDIES |
SLAVIC STUDIES |
| Polish philology | Cultural Studies | Baltic studies | Classical studies | Slavic studies |
Cultural Slavic studies
In the 2005/2006 academic year, the Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Studies is opening enrolment for new cultural Slavic studies. Therefore, from this year, there will be no enrolment for philological Slavic studies.
The cultural Slavic studies curriculum has been designed by members of the Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Studies and it is based on the format of cultural studies run at the Institute of Polish Culture. It is an innovative project which includes elements of general humanities and culture-oriented Slavic studies. The curriculum is based on the practical study of at least one Slavic language (Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian etc.). This new curriculum includes theoretical subjects, such as "Introduction to the knowledge of culture", "Cultural anthropology" and "The linguistic image of the world", which introduce students to some theoretical fundamentals and the methodology of cultural studies. These subjects are intended to serve as a springboard to further study and are followed by specialist courses devoted to the historical and social study of the Western and Southern Slavic states. Building on a long tradition of philological studies at the Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Studies, the new curriculum focuses on linguistics, literature and folklore, i.e. crucial elements of cultural studies.
The cultural Slavic studies curriculum has been divided into two cycles. The first cycle lasts for three years and leads to a bachelor's degree (students participate in seminars and introductory lectures devoted to Slavdom). Advanced courses at this level introduce students to problems of a selected Slavic nation. The second stage leads to a master's degree. Studies at this level have a regional character, and they situate the description of particular Western and Southern Slavic countries in the context of the phenomena of civilisation and broader cultural areas, such as Central Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. At this level, students can develop an individual programme of study, according to their interests.
Slavic studies
The Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Studies offers classes and conducts research in the history and theory of literature, linguistics, folklore and, broadly understood, cultural studies of the Southern and Western Slavic countries and the Balkans. The cultures and languages of the Eastern Slavic countries are researched to a very limited extent.
Practical classes of the following languages are given on a full-time basis: Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian and Slovene; the Upper and Lower Sorbian language courses last one semester only.
Slavic studies students learn at least one Western or Southern Slavic language. In the first and second year students have to attend lectures on the history and culture of the Slavs and the typology of Slavic literatures and languages. Students are also given general information on the Slavic languages, and they are introduced to various philological methodologies. From the second year on, students may choose courses according to their interests - they are required to collect a certain number of credits to complete an academic year. In the last two years, students are offered classes in the literatures and cultures of Slavic societies which are close to Poland in geographical terms but actually very little is known about them. There are also classes in the history of the Slavic nations, contemporary and old Slavic languages and the relation between them and the Polish language. Students have the possibility of attending classes in other humanities disciplines. Visits to Southern and Western Slavic countries are integral part of this programme - they are awarded to the best students (semester-long study visits and one-month language courses).
Postgraduate studies
The Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Studies offers the postgraduate programm:
- Postgraduate Studies "Contemporary Slavic Countries of the Central and Southern Europe"
Students are required to be fluent in Polish.
More information can be found on the web page of the Institute of Western and Southern Slavic Studies.