Slavic & East European Studies Courses

Slavic & East European Studies | Courses | Faculty

Polish also on this page.

(All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise noted.)

Russian

110 Elementary Russian I (1st sem)

Beginning of four-skill language course. Russian spoken in class, grammar introduced gradually. Regular written assignments and language lab exercises to develop proficiency in all four language skills. No previous language experience required.

120 Elementary Russian II (2nd sem)

Continuation of RUSS 110. Goal: ability to carry on elementary conversation, read and write simple prose. Prerequisite: RUSS 110 or equivalent.

230 Intermediate Russian I (1st sem)

Continuation of RUSS 120. Emphasis on grammar, simple conversation and readings. Conducted primarily in Russian. Prerequisite: RUSS 120 or equivalent.

240 Intermediate Russian II (2nd sem)

Continuation of RUSS 230. Emphasis on grammar review and conversation based on short reading selections. Conducted primarily in Russian. Prerequisite: RUSS 230 or equivalent.

250 Russian Culture (I) (1st sem)

General introduction to Russian culture; historical roots of contemporary Russian habits and ways of thinking. History, social ideas, government, literature, arts, architecture, cinema, education, etc., in selected historical periods; emphasis on 19th-century development. No knowledge of Russian required.

251 Modern Russian Culture (I) (2nd sem)

Introduction to Russian culture of the 20th century. Consideration of history, Marxist political and economic theories and practice, education, religion, and other topics, but with focus on culture and the arts. Eamination of official and unofficial arts of Soviet and post-Soviet times, including the work of emigres. No knowledge of Russian required; RUSS 250 highly desirable.

255 Masterpieces of Russian Literature in Translation (AL) (1st sem)

The development of Russian literature, primarily in the 19th century. Major authors and their masterpieces. Literary themes and techniques against their socio-historical background. Russia's debt and contribution to 19th-century West European fiction. Readings: major works by Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev, and Chekhov. No knowledge of Russian required.

256 Modern Russian Writers in Translation (AL) (2nd sem)

Survey of 20th-century fiction in masterworks by the best modern Russian writers. Emphasis on literary themes and techni-ques; socio-historical background provided. Readings: Doctor Zhivago, Pasternak; Petersburg, Bely; Invitation to a Beheading, Nabokov; additional selections may include Solzhenitsyn, Babel, Zamyatin, others. No knowledge of Russian required.

301 Advanced Russian I (1st sem)

Conducted in Russian. Grammatical structure, principles of word building, exercises, translation, readings, close analysis of texts. Goal: understanding lectures in Russian; ability to respond with some degree of fluency; vocabulary sufficient to be able to read using a dictionary. Prerequisite: a year of intermediate Russian or equivalent.

302 Advanced Russian II (2nd sem)

Continuation of RUSS 301, which is prerequisite.

353 Dostoevsky and European Literature (AL) (1st sem)

Certain of Dostoevsky's major novels (Notes from the Underground, Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov) in the context of other Western European works such as Balzac's PĖre Goriot, Dickens' David Copperfield, Schiller's The Robbers and Don Carlos. No knowledge of Russian required.

354 Tolstoy and the Novel (AL) (2nd sem)

Survey of Tolstoy's major works in translation. Emphasis on literary themes and techniques; historical and cultural background to Tolstoy's life and times. Readings: War and Peace, Anna Karenina (both in the Norton Critical Edition), and other selections. No knowledge of Russian required.

Polish

110 Elementary Polish I (1st sem)

First semester of four-skill language course. Develops basic fluency in speaking, reading, and writing.

120 Elementary Polish II (2nd sem)

Continuation of POLISH 110. Prerequisite: POLISH 110 or equivalent.

230 Intermediate Polish I (1st sem)

Continuation of POLISH 120. Increases basic fluency in speaking, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: POLISH 120 or equivalent.

240 Intermediate Polish II (2nd sem)

Continuation of POLISH 230. Prerequisite: POLISH 230 or equivalent.

Slavic & East European Studies | Courses | Faculty