After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• understand written and spoken texts in Russian in a variety of genres, styles, and topics, interpret them on the basis of facts, and explain in outline how the language or a literary text works
• knowledgeably interpret Russian cultural production, as well as the actions and shared values of Russian people in social and historical context
• apply mastered theoretical approaches and interpretative keys to any text or situation
• passively translate nontechnical written texts using accessible language aids, tools, and information sources in an expert way
• perform simple interpretation into their mother tongue in common communicative situations

Graduates can find employment in areas where knowledge of the Russian language and Russian cultural environment is necessary – in cultural institutions, tourism, the civil service, media, publishing houses, and lower-level and middle management; in translating technical and literary texts, and in interpretation or expert work.

The standard duration of studies is six semesters. Students in the single-subject study must earn at least 180 credits in type A/required, type B/selective, and type C/elective courses. Type A/required courses form the expert basis of the field and they amount to 84 credits – including credits in courses aimed to help students write their Bachelor’s thesis. Common courses for the Faculty of Arts (philosophy, physical education, and foreign language – 10 credits in total) are also type A/required. There is one type of B/selective course in another Slavonic language (4 credits); students earn the rest of the credits by completing any course from the current offer of type C/elective courses for their study programme or for other fields.

The students in dual concentration study are obliged to earn at least 180 credits in both their subjects together (95 credits in their primary, and 85 credits in their secondary study programme). The Bachelor’s studies are concluded by the Bachelor’s thesis defence (or by submitting the Bachelor’s Minor Thesis if Russian Language and Literature is the secondary study programme) and passing the final state examination.

During the course of their studies, students should follow the study catalogue valid for their year of matriculation. The study catalogues for the individual years of matriculation are available at the Faculty of Arts website.

Bachelor’s studies are concluded by a thesis defence (in single-subject studies, or in the primary field of dual concentration studies) and passing the final state examination.

The Bachelor’s final state examination provides a comprehensive written and oral test of the knowledge obtained by completing obligatory linguistic and literary theoretical courses. The written exam tests practical knowledge of the language, Russian vocabulary, grammar, and orthography, and it is obligatory to pass it in order to be allowed to move on to the oral part of the exam. The oral exam is conducted in Russian and has three parts: 1) practical knowledge of Russian; 2) the theory of the Russian language; 3) Russian literature, culture, art, and geography. The questions are based on set topics and literature.

The thesis defence is also a part of the final state examination. The main body of the Bachelor’s thesis has to contain at least 70,000 characters.

For more information, please visit the department web pages (in Czech): http://www.phil.muni.cz/wusl/home/studium/informace/statni-zaverecne-zkousky-a-zaverecne-prace

Graduates can continue with any Master’s degree programme (provided they meet the requirements for acceptance). The Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University provides a direct connection with several Master’s degree programmes in Russian studies: Russian Language and Literature, Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in Russian Language and Literature, Russian Language Translation; and with Philological Area Studies and Literature Comparatistics.