Introduction

Given by the Centre for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies

Hungarian is spoken by ten and a half million inhabitants of present-day Hungary, about three million people in the neighbouring countries, and perhaps as many as an additional two million around the world. These figures make Hungarian, which is related to Finnish, Estonian, and Lappish, but virtually no other language in Europe, by far the largest minority language in the great Indo-European language territory.

Despite the isolation that might have been imposed by the uniqueness of their language, Hungarians have been engaged with, and participants in, greater European affairs since their arrival in the Carpathian basin more than a thousand years ago. Hungarians have made signal contributions in the fields of arts, science, and mathematics, winning Nobel prizes in Chemistry (4), Medicine (3), Physics (3), Economics, and Literature. In the music world the names Bártok, Kodály, Lehár, Liszt, Széll, Ormandy, Schiff, and many others are internationally famous. Leo Szilárd, Edward Teller, Paul Erdõs, and John von Neumann are famous figures in theoretical physics and mathematics. Joseph Biró developed the ball-point pen and to this day the British call a ball-point pen, a biro. Hungarians have also become famous in sports, particularly soccer, boxing, and fencing, and in the world of cinema. And who has not played with the Rubik's cube?

Hungarian studies at the University of Toronto focus on the language, literature, and culture of Hungary and on the international role of Hungary and Hungarians - particularly on Hungarian immigration to Canada. For many of the courses no prior knowledge of the Hungarian language is necessary, making them easily accessible also to students in other programs.

Program Coordinator:
Professor Robert Austin, robert.austin@utoronto.ca

Hungarian Programs

Enrolment in the Hungarian program requires the completion of four courses; no minimum GPA required.

Hungarian Studies (Arts program)

Major program:

(6 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
HUN100Y1
Higher Years:
1. HUN200Y1, HUN310Y1, HUN320Y1
2. Two courses from: HIS453H1; HUN335H1, HUN345H1, HUN351H1, HUN355H1, HUN356H1, 440Y1, HUN450H1, HUN451H1, HUN455H1; SLA414H1

Minor program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one at THE 300+ level)

Four courses from: HUN100Y1, HUN200Y1, HUN310Y1, HUN320Y1, HUN335H1, HUN345H1, HUN351H1, HUN355H1, 440Y1, HUN450H1, HUN451H1, HUN455H1; HIS453H1

Faculty of Arts & Science Language Citation

The Hungarian program participates in the Faculty of Arts and Science’s Language Citation initiative. Students may achieve this Citation in Hungarian.
Language study is a demanding and intellectually rewarding educational experience. Our students learn to communicate both orally and in writing in other languages and are thus able to experience other parts of the world in more intimate ways. Their access to other cultures opens doors for further study and employment. Students in our department also have the opportunity to read a vast array of world-renowned authors in the original languages, as well as works – normally not available in English – in other areas of study, for example, cinema studies, drama, folklore, history, intellectual history, philosophy, mathematics, and political science.

The Language Citation recognizes a significant level of achievement in language study. For course selection students should consult the Undergraduate Coordinator as early as possible since not every language course is offered each year. Students who begin language study at the Intermediate level should consult the Undergraduate Coordinator for approval of advanced literature and culture courses that may satisfy the requirements for the Language Citation.

The Language Citation in Hungarian is available to students who complete HUN200Y1 and HUN310Y1 with a grade of at least B-.
Students should note that, as explained on the page 20 of this Calendar, the Language Citation is not equivalent to an academic program and that enrolment in a program is not necessary in order to earn the recognition bestowed by the Citation.