American Studies

This M.A. program is focused on interdisciplinary and comprehensive study of Western hemisphere countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Latin American countries. These nations play significant role in contemporary world and are important partners of Russia in international affairs. The program’s alumni are highly qualified specialists prepared for a career in various spheres covering all the aspects of Russia’s cooperation with the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.

The American Studies program was launched at the School of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University in 2010 succeeding the North-American Studies program, which had been initiated as early as 1998 by a prominent Russian expert in American studies professor Boris A. Shiryaev.

Content of the Program

Required Courses:

·        Western Hemisphere in International Systems of the 15th and early 16th centuries

·         Integration Processes in the Western Hemisphere

·        Russia’s Relations with the Western Hemisphere Countries: Political, Economic and Cultural Aspects

·        The Foreign Policy Strategies and Decision-Making Process in the U.S. and Canada

·        Political Systems and Political Institutions in Latin America: a Comparative Analysis

Elective Courses:

·        Social Structure and Social Policy of the Western Hemisphere countries: Comparative Analysis

·        Major Issues in Canada’s Domestic and Foreign Policy

·        International Education in the U.S. Foreign Policy

·        The U.S. Policy in the Middle East

·        American Social and Political Philosophy

·        The ‘Left Turn’ in the Latin American Countries

·        The Problems of Environmental Security in the Western Hemisphere

Core Courses:

·        Major Issues in Theories of International Relations

·        History and Research Methodology of International and Regional Studies

·        The Readings Colloquium

·        Research Seminar

Key Features

·        Our students are B.A. graduates and young professionals from Russia and other countries with the background in International Relations, Political Science, History, Linguistics, Sociology, Economics, Law, Psychology, and Journalism.

·        Students have an opportunity to study for a semester in one of our partner universities in North and South America, including Virginia Commonwealth University (the U.S.), George Mason University (the U.S.), University of Montreal (Canada), and University of Santiago-de-Chile (Chile).

·        Our master students get involved in various research projects under university grant programs, as well as in organizing of major international and regional conferences and workshops.

Admissions of Russian and foreign citizens are arranged in accordance with the "Rules of admission to St. Petersburg State University for the major educational programs of higher education (undergraduate programs, training programs, graduate programs) in 2014". There are admission quota financed by the federal budget, as well as the fee-paying quota based on contracts with individuals and / or entities.

Admissions of foreign citizens 
International applicants can be admitted to SPbU both to places on a fee-paying (contractual) basis and places funded by the Russian Government (on references from the Russian Federation Ministry of Education).

International applicants can be admitted to SPbU both to places on a fee-paying (contractual) basis and to places funded by the Russian Government (Scholarship includes tuition fee).

Admission procedure on a fee-paying (contractual) basis includes entry examinations for foreign applicants.

List of the required documents for application:

1.application form for an educational programm of the relevant level, stated by an Admission Committee;

2.educational certificate/diploma* (or its notarized copy) and its transcript (in case it is provided bu the legal system of a foreighn state that issued the certificate/diploma);

3.copy of identity document;

4.copy of entry visa to the Russian Federation (if there is one);

5.copy of migration card;

6."Stay Regulations for Foreighn Citizens in Russian Federation" sighned;

7.4 (four) photographs 3x4 sm.

How to apply:

1.To register at the Personal Account on the website of Admission Office;

2.To fill an application form for an educational program;

3.Signed application with other documents submit by one of the following ways:

-          attach at the Personal Account,

-          in person,

-          by post.

Deadline for application in 2015:

• April 01 - August 10: for applicants not requiring an entry visa
• April 01 - July 10: for applicants requiring an entry visa

Periods for the admissions tests in 2015:

• May 5 – 19;
• June 15 – 30;
• July 13 – 24;
• August 03 – 17.

*The educational certificate needs to be

• legalised if required
• recognized in the Russian Federation (to have either a recognition certificate or an equivalence certificate if required)

List and Forms of 2015 Admissions Tests for Main Master Programmes at St. Petersburg State University http://abiturient.spbu.ru/images/2015/VI/mag_ino_2015_EN.htm

FOR APPLICANTS ON GOVERNMENT-FUNDED BASIS 
Requirements for documents 2014 http://abiturient.spbu.ru/images/2014/foreigns/kriterii_en.htm

As specified in the Governmental decree of Russian Federation (October, 8 2013 № 891"On Fixing an Education Quota for Foreign Nationals and Stateless Citizens in the Russian Federation"), foreign citizens are provided an opportunity to take part in an Competition for state-funded educational places at Universities in Russian Federation, including SPbU (funded from the budget of Russian Federation). Information about order of admission will be available on this page in the terms defined by the Government of the Russian Federation. http://abiturient.spbu.ru/index.php/russkij/admissions-of-foreign-citizens/admissions-of-foreign-citizens/m-admission-procedure-gov

Full information on the rules and admission process for undergraduate and graduate programs can be found on the official website of St. Petersburg State University Admissions Commission: http://abiturient.spbu.ru/