The Faculty Philology and Journalism at Rostov State University was established in 1915, when professors and students of the Faculty of History and Philology of Warsaw University moved to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
The Faculty of History and Philology was divided into a History Faculty and a Philology Faculty in 1965. The Philology Faculty was later divided into two sections: Journalism and Russian and Literature.
Today, training is provided in the following specializations:
· Russian language and literature;
· Journalism (including International Journalism);
· Romance and Germanic philology.
In the next two years, the department plans to introduce specializations in TV Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, and Documentary Researches.
The Faculty of Philology and Journalism at Rostov State University is the leading scientific and educational center for the study of Mass Communications in Southern Russia. The Faculty’s influence is seen in the wide circulation of its research, not only in Russia, but in the nations of the former USSR and the entire world. In recent years, the faculty has published dozens of scientific studies on journalism, linguistics, and research in the field of literature. Joint work between the professors of the Journalism Department at Silezian University (Poland) resulted in the publication of a collection of studies on local mass media. Another collaboration with Dortmund University (Germany) resulted in the publication of a similar collection. All-Russian Conferences on Journalism and Philology are held annually by the Faculty. International scientific conferences on Journalism were held in 1991 and 1995 - participants included researchers from Germany, Poland, the USA, and representatives of international science organizations. Numerous Russian and American grants have been awarded to the Faculty, an indication of continuing strong reputation.
Leading scientists of the Faculty are successfully pursuing research in the fields of mass communication typology, the linguistic basis of computer science, and various other areas.
The Faculty recently introduced a two-stage training program for educators at Russian Philological and Journalism programs.
The Faculty offers a four-year Bachelor’s Degree and a five-year training of Specialists. The Master’s program provides two years of education beyond the Bachelor’s, with the aim of preparing students to be college educators, experts in their area of study, or to move into a related profession.
Postgraduate student education is an integral part of the Faculty’s mission. The Faculty is involved in the education of the next generation of professors and researchers with a three-year continuing education program. A two-year program for postgraduate students is offered to working professionals under the auspices of their employers or sponsor organizations.
Journalism
On the one hand, journalism is one of the most interesting professions. For a journalist every new day reveals something unknown. In our lifetime, we are sure to meet a great many people with their own peculiar inner worlds. The life of my country, my city or village has many sides. A new plant being built. A new type of wheat being grown. An invention made by a scientist. It is the journalist who learns and first tells the people.
On the other hand, journalism is one of the most restless professions. The journalist is said to work around the clock, and actually it is quite true. You can see him practically everywhere. He is at the desk in the editorial office, in the printing house, on the farm and on the cosmodrome. He is in the mountains with geologists and out in the stormy sea with fishermen.
Students of Journalism at RSU study, not only journalism, but social sciences and English. They study the language and style of the newspaper, the genres of information, shorthand, the basics of TV, photography and the history of the Russian and foreign press.
In their second year, they must choose a branch of journalism to specialize in either the history of journalism or its theory and practice. In addition, they must choose any of the three means of mass media - TV, radio or newspaper in which to specialize.
Specialization presupposes writing essays. Tutors are assigned to students to discuss and criticize their essays. They actually guide the student’s independent study and research, an essential part in the formation of highly qualified specialists.
Philology
One cannot penetrate into the essence of a literary work without having sufficient knowledge of the language in which it is written.
Thus, the ability to write and to translate, go side by side and are inseparable when studying foreign literature. Language-learning, like all other arts, contrasts with science. True, it concerns the process of learning the grammatical systems of a foreign language, but it also requires a talent for use of the language. Proficiency in understanding the structure of a language is attained by treating the subject as a science, by studying the theory. Later, second language learners build their interest in the subject by linguistic observations and analyses.
Studying English, one develops both proficiency and an understanding of its structure. The latter can only come as a result of perfectly formed habits. By mastering the foreign language, we come to understand our mother tongue much better.
The traditional beginnings of Russian literature are well known. They consist of the teaching kindness, conscientiousness, a keen sense of justice, truth and hope. It is only natural that great men of letters followed the path in literature revealed by great Russian writers such as Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chechov and Turgenev.
Looking at the trends in modern literature, one can see that never before has literature spoken about man’s destiny with so much alarm. An alarm often rising to the pitch of despair. Modern English and American literature seems to center around problems of misery, anguish and loneliness. These problems should not be treated superficially.
The same themes are approached from different perspectives. These perspectives depend on the artistic personality of the writer. We are trying to see and understand the writer’s personality while reading his books either in translation or in the author’s native language which, in turn, allows us to understand his culture and time. Through the study of Philology, we can best reach an understanding of the world’s languages and cultures.
