SOVIET ACADEMIC DEGREES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500330079-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 79
• Publication Date: December 21, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

.*". . Si-ail
DEC 19M
Approved For Release 2001/09/11 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000500330079}8.~`,
U.S. Officials Only
CCNFIDETIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT 25X1A .;
PLACE ACQUIRED
(/Y SOURCE)
DATE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
Soviet A:.ademic Degrees
Nov 53 and earlier
f TNt UlItil OTATtt. .ITNIR M[ .[AMINO O/ TITLI 10. O1CTIO.t 700
XI TM. of two U.I. COOl. At IW1NOt01 ITS TRANOYI111 OR ON ROY[.
ATIOR Of ITt CORTORTi TO OR 010t0T IV AN UNAUtwORIIt0 -0R1ON It
DATE DISTR..21f V44, .
1. Q. Do the stated requirements f,-x the Soviet "aspirant" correspond to the US
"baohel'", the Soviet "kandidat;" with the US "master"i and the Soviet "dokror"
with thi TJ3 ttda~tcc't? If not, with which US degrees are the Soviet stated
rAquiremants most nearly equireleni., and what are the major deviations. from
the pa'; ;era?
A. Sovist. R :ademl degrees d n n :?t :,cap r esprnd with US academic degrees, but do
parallel thorn. Par ent,het.i;,al1 , they are more similar to US degrees than
Earnpoan degrees. "A-epL'ant" has two senees: The student lecturer aspiring
to be the re tpient of the degree of "aspirant" and the "aspirant" himself.
?rne ,aspirant" Ys acne wno 1la:T ample`.cc1 the equivalent 'to the studies involve
in obtaining a US"BA" degree, has done some graduate study (on US standards),
and is teaching in his field. In studies completed he has not performed the
resear-h of t_h- TJS"MA", but,' in experience and familiarity with his subject,
he is probably mare qualified than the "MA" because he is not only pursuing his
3+.udies but has the experien_e of his lecturing. According to Soviet `Iaw, the
r.spira^.t" i the basi' form of preparation for professional teaching and scholarly
sear b. i The ITS "MA" does net. .necessarily concern the aspect of teaching.]
The 'laspi ar.;'; an be .~T~teLied only L- those universities which have in their
empp1 ~y highly q-aalifled pr fessors equipped with the lrnewledge for bestowing
thi deg.-?c. A Twei ca:. be accepted for the "aspirant" unless he.is under
40 years %1 age, and In completing his higher education has shown ability for
poda;oogi-al and research activities. The "aspirant" must spend three.yea> s in
preparation far re: elving thiQ degree. I would call him an aepirant'for.the
degree of "aspirant-". L? ring this three year period, he is assigned.to a-'..'
professor (not necessarily a "kandidat") who leads him into independent
-,:hclarly resear-h. At the end of the three year period he must pasa'a eoial
e,xaxinatlon and defend the dissertation that he has prepared. ,The.?period ~gd'
ircturing is usually ^anfiied to the last two years of this three year,peiriod.
Aft'-r t ha firs, v-ir, - he "aepi.:.a:.* %' is a member of the faculty of the university.
In. his :rrigl.nal sslection is the consideration that he
1 tea:t,_,' at .h., z..i:?ersi*y. The Soviet law of 1944 is the
U. S. Officials nl
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0'11FMENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAIWUS OFF IGIALS ON11
2
judicial basis for the Degree of "aspirant"Q
Is the average holder of the Soviet degree of "kandidat" essentially equal in
experience, formal training, knowledge, and research achievement to the US
"master Is" degree recipient or to the holder at a US doctorate? If equivalent
to neither, about where between the two US degrees would the Soviet "kandidat"
be properly placed?
A. Between the time of the Soviet Revolution and 1937 it was impossible to confer
the degree of "kandidat" or "doktor". Under the Imperial Government of Russia
these degrees were less prevalent than they are today. Under the Soviet
basic law of 1937 these degrees can be conferred. For a degree of "kandidat"
the scholar must complete the period of training an an "aspirant", receive this
?eCree, and defend the dissertation. The length of study for the "kandidat"
is unspecified, but, is for more than the US PhD. The "kandidatts" diseertatiaa
must show considerable independent work and include a diseuesion.of his complete
field, a theoretical generalizattcn on scholarly research in his field, or
a scholarly, well-founded. presentation of now problems In his field. His
dissertation must also show considerable scholarly interest. A "kandidat" can
be equated only to a US full professor of long standing. Pedagogical experience
is a determining factor for the degree of. "kandidat".
3. R. If the Soviet "kendidat" is judged to be essentially equivalent to the US
doctorate, then with approximately how prominent and experienced a US scientist
wo~il.d the Soviet "doktor" be equivalent?
A. In the US there 13 no equation to the Soviet "doktor" who are members of the
various academies. The "doktor" carries with it an academic position and a
job. Even a man of the scholarly distinction of Vishinskv might not necessarily
be a "9.)ktor" if he did not hold his academic position.
CONFIDENTIAL/US OFFICIALS CVLY/._
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 Approved For Release 2001/09/11: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500330079-6
25X1A t Val l '/ ti'"
Approved For Release 2001/09/11: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500330079-6