The Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian & East European Studies

Title VIII Graduate Awards

The Department of State's Title VIII program funds graduate students with U.S. citizenship to study the less commonly taught languages of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union through Arizona State University's Critical Languages Institute. The program offers intensive summer instruction in languages including Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian (BCMS), Kazakh, Macedonian, Polish, Russian (3rd year or higher), Tatar, Ukrainian, and Uzbek. Students can participate in online-only programs, online programs with 4-week abroad extensions, or 8-week study abroad programs. The 7- or 8-week programs provide 8 credits, equivalent to a full two-semester sequence during the academic year, with experienced native-language instructors and small class sizes. All classes beyond the introductory level are offered in-country, and most language programs offer students completing their introductory course an additional 3-credit overseas module. The program includes online and in-person components providing cultural and geopolitical context, including a 1-credit online graduate class specifically designed for Title VIII recipients, which connects students on different language programs and builds professional capacities.