The Major in Russian

The major in Russian is a course of study of the language, literature and culture of Russia. The major provides a framework which can be adapted to meet the needs of a wide variety of students, ranging from those oriented on the study of language and literature to those interested in any of a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. The major in Russian, because of its flexible nature, is well suited to students wishing to pursue a double major with a complementary field of study, such as Politics, International Relations, History or Comparative Literature. The major in Russian is well suited to students enrolled in pre-law or pre-med, and students contemplating careers in international business, teaching, foreign service and journalism. Majors are strongly encouraged to spend a semester of study abroad, normally during the junior year. Study in Russia may be pursued through the American Councils of Teachers of Russian program, which offers intensive study of Russian language, literature and contemporary culture.

Major Requirements

*Note: students who declared a Russian major prior to November, 2006 may still elect to complete the previous version of the major—click here to see requirements.

Students pursuing the major in Russian are required to articulate a plan of study in consultation with the undergraduate chair, normally by the conclusion of the sophomore year. Sample study plans and detailed instructions on their preparation are available upon request. The purpose of the study plan is to ensure an adequate level of coherence in the student's work towards the major.

The major requires a total of twelve courses (12 c.u.), beyond the completion of the introductory through intermediate language program (001-004) or literacy courses for Russian speakers (360-361), or the demonstration of equivalent proficiency. These twelve courses must include:

1. Survey Courses (2 c.u.)
One survey of nineteenth- and pre-nineteenth-century literature and culture (100-149)*
One survey of twentieth and post-twentieth-century literature and culture (150-189)*

* One of these two courses may be replaced by a survey course that covers material from both periods (190-199)

2. Seminars (3 c.u.)
One seminar in medieval literature and culture (234)*
One seminar in nineteenth literature and culture (200-249)*
One seminar in twentieth- and post-twentieth-century literature and culture (250-289)*

* One of these courses may be replaced by a seminar course that covers material from two or more of these three periods (290-299).
* For students with advanced Russian competence, these courses may be replaced by courses in corresponding topics at the 400 level taught in Russian with the approval of Undergraduate Chair.

3. Advanced Language Courses (2 c.u.)
Russian 311 and 312.*

* Students studying abroad during the junior year will normally receive credit for at least one of these courses.
* Students with advanced language proficiency may substitute these by courses taught in Russian on 400 and 500 levels.

4. Advanced Seminars Taught in Russian (2 c.u.)
At least two advanced courses at the 400 level taught in Russian in the study of literature, language, culture, or politics (400-450).

5. Electives (3 c.u.)
Electives may be additional courses from the Russian curriculum proper or courses cross-listed with Russian. With the approval of the Undergraduate Chair or the student's Academic Advisor, expressed either at the acceptance of the student's study plan or before the conclusion of the add/drop period of the semester in question, electives may also include courses of other departments which are not cross-listed with Russian, yet which concern Russia or the former Soviet Union in significant portion of their content. Subject to this same approval requirement, electives may also be courses related to the student's specific focus of study within the major, which expose the student to relevant methodology or substance.

With the approval of the Undergraduate Chair or the student's Academic Advisor, courses taken during study abroad in Russia may be used to satisfy major requirements. Normally, they will be counted towards elective courses, but in some circumstances they may count as advanced seminars in Russian (point 4 above).

6. Honors Thesis (optional)
Students with a minimum 3.3 overall GPA and a minimum 3.5 in major coursework are eligible for honors in the Russian major. Those who seek to receive such honors must complete a thesis of 35-40 pages with bibliography and notes, having enrolled in RUSS 399, which will be counted as one of the electives (point 5 above). The Slavic Department will not consider research projects completed for other programs or majors as honors theses for the Russian major. The honors thesis may be written during either semester of the senior year, under the guidance of a Slavic Department faculty member whose area of expertise coincides with the subject of the project. Within the first week of the semester in which the project is to be completed, students should provide to the Undergraduate Chair a two-page research proposal endorsed by the faculty member who will supervise the project. One copy of the paper must be submitted to the Under¬graduate Chair before the major certification is approved for graduation. Only students who receive a final grade of “A” on their research project will be recognized with honors in the Russian major. All theses are kept on file by the Department.