About the Center for East European and Russian/Eurasian Studies (CEERES)
The University of Chicago has been providing instruction in disciplines of the CEERES region continuously since 1903, when courses in Russian language and area studies were begun. The center now known as CEERES has been in existence since 1965, and it continues to coordinate instruction and facilitate research about Russia/Eurasia and Eastern/Central Europe, including the Arctic, Balkans, Caucasus, and Central Asia. In addition to its robust language offerings, CEERES supports curricula which are particularly strong at present in Russian/Soviet history; Slavic and Arctic Indigenous linguistics, Slavic literatures (Russian, Polish, Czech, Balkan); Russian and East European cultural anthropology; comparative literature; archaeology of the Caucasus; Russian and East European film and art history, and business administration. CEERES faculty have expertise also in political science, international relations, economics, sociology, and Central and East European, Byzantine, and Ottoman history.
Academic Programs
The Center does not itself offer a separate master's degree; however, the Center strongly supports the development of students by offering joint programs with other departments in the University. For instance, the Center administers a joint M.A./M.B.A degree in conjunction with the Graduate School of Business. An interdisciplinary B.A. program is offered in Russian and Eastern European Studies and interdisciplinary M.A. degrees are available through the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) and the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) with concentrations in CEERES languages and area studies. In addition, the Center cooperates with the Committee on International Relations in providing a master's program in international relations with specialization in Russia and Eastern Europe.
CEERES administers Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships from Title VI of the U.S. Department of Education. We are currently approved to give awards for the following languages (Note: It is possible to get permission to give awards for other languages spoken in the CEERES region, particularly for summer awards, on a case-by-case basis):
These fellowships aid students who are performing research on CEERES-related topics or studying CEERES-related languages, regardless of their department. For additional information please see our FLAS manual.