BA Slavic Literatures and Cultures at Harvard University

Programme overview

The concentration in Slavic Literatures and Cultures offers you the opportunity to study the great works and cultural traditions, past and present, of Russia and the other Slavic countries, especially Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic. These countries share a rich cultural life as well as a turbulent and fascinating history. In the Slavic concentration, you will develop proficiency in Russian or another Slavic language such as Czech, Polish, or Ukrainian; you will learn to read literary works in the original language, gain valuable experience for working and traveling abroad, and come to understand these cultures and the important role they have played in the modern world.

Faculty: Harvard College: Arts and Humanities | Department: Slavic Literatures and Cultures | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cambridge, MA, United States

What you will study

The Slavic concentration encourages creativity and initiative and will teach you both how to analyze literary works and how to place them in their political and cultural context. The language requirement helps students develop advanced proficiency in Russian or another Slavic language (such as Czech, Polish, Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, or Ukrainian), and use their knowledge of the language to read everything from newspapers and primary historical texts to great works of world literature like War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, and The Master and Margarita. Gateway courses include Fall 2024 SLAVIC 133 Modernist Journeys (not offered 2024-2025) SLAVIC 175 Between East and West: A Critical Mapping of Polish Culture (not offered 2024-2025) SLAVIC 182: The Political Novel SLAVIC 191 Silent Film; Prof. Daria Khitrova GENED 1059: Moral.

Official programme page

Application information

USD 62,226 a year (2026-27). Harvard College undergraduate tuition for 2026-27, one rate for all students; excludes fees ($6,216), housing, food and health insurance. Source

Entry term is fall. Applicants choose Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision; admitted students reply by May 1.

First-year applications through the Common Application: Restrictive Early Action closes November 1 with notification by mid-December; Regular Decision closes January 1 with notification by the end of March. The application fee is $95 (fee waiver available) and can be paid online via the Common Application. Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with exceptions only where the tests are not accessible.

Apply through the official page: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

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