The department offers an interdisciplinary MA in Russian and Slavic studies, a program that allows students to take Russia-related courses in departments across NYU. In addition to the departmental curriculum’s particular strengths in literature, history, and film, the course of study can encompass a wide variety of specializations, from anthropology and politics to music, linguistics, and performance studies. With its focus on interdisciplinarity and comparative methodologies, the program can serve as excellent preparation for graduate study at the PhD level. It also provides a thorough grounding in the Russia field for terminal MA students who choose to pursue a career in this area.Students applying to the M. A. program must hold a B.A. degree and have a thorough knowledge of the Russian language. Usually students have an undergraduate degree in Russian, but majors in other subjects may be accepted if the applicant's knowledge of Russian is sufficient for graduate study.The M.A. degree requires successful completion of eight courses (32 points) and a thesis. Before being granted the M.A., students must attain the level of advanced in all language skills (speaking, oral comprehension, reading, and writing), to be demonstrated by either passing an examination or earning the equivalent of an A grade in auditing the department's third-year Russian course.