Slavic Studies is concerned with the languages, literatures, and civilizations of the Slavic world. Built on sound knowledge of one or two Slavic languages (normally Russian or Czech) the program allows students to develop an in-depth appreciation and understanding of East European cultures and civilizations through a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary fields. Students take courses in literature, history, culture, theater, political science, economics, and international relations. Concentrators focusing on Russia learn one of the world’s most commonly spoken languages and study some of the world’s best-regarded authors and composers: Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Gogol and Bulgakov, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky, and Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky. Focusing on Czech allows students to explore, for example, how Czechs distinguished themselves by peacefully transitioning from communism to capitalism (the “Velvet Revolution”) and separating peacefully with the Slovak Republic (the “Velvet Divorce”). Most concentrators study abroad in a Slavic country, either during the academic year or the summer.
Requirements for the AB Degree
| Six semesters of one Slavic language or the equivalent, or a combined total of eight semesters of two Slavic languages or the equivalent. | ||
| Introductory Russian and Introductory Russian | ||
or RUSS 0110 | Intensive Russian | |
| Intermediate Russian and Intermediate Russian | ||
| Advanced Russian and Advanced Russian | ||
In cases where a student's interests and course of study warrant it, and only upon consulting the concentration advisor, the student may apply more than one Slavic language to the concentration (Czech or Polish in addition to Russian), and would then need a combined total of eight semesters of two Slavic languages: | ||
| Introductory Czech and Introductory Czech | ||
| Intermediate Czech and Intermediate Russian | ||
| Introductory Polish and Introductory Polish | ||
| Intermediate Polish and Intermediate Polish | ||
| The concentration in Slavic Studies requires students to complete a minimum of seven 1000-level courses devoted to the study of the East European civilizations: literature, history, culture, theater, political science, economics, international relations. Typically, at least four of these courses will be from within the Department of Slavic Studies. Students' choice of courses is subject to the approval of the concentration advisor. | ||
Courses in the Department of Slavic Studies: | ||
| Dimensions of Czech Animation: Contexts, Interpretations, and Dialogs with the East | ||
| Special Topics in Russian Studies I: Advanced Reading and Conversation | ||
| Special Topics in Russian Studies II: Advanced Reading and Conversation | ||
| Russian Fantasy and Science Fiction | ||
| Nationalism and Nationalities | ||
| Russian Cinema | ||
| Russian Literature in Translation I: Pushkin to Dostoevsky | ||
| Russian Literature in Translation II: Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn | ||
| Soviet Culture: Propaganda, Dissidence, Underground | ||
| The Russian Novel | ||
| Imagining Moscow: Utopia and Urban Spaces in 20th-Century Russian Culture | ||
| Love, Adultery, and Sexuality | ||
| Approaches to Russian Literature | ||
| Beyond the Kremlin: Russian Culture and Politics in the Twenty-First Century | ||
| Literature and History: Russian Historical Imagination in the European Context | ||
| Sexuality and Revolution in 20th-Century Russian Culture | ||
| Pushkin | ||
| Tolstoy | ||
| Dostoevsky | ||
| Nabokov | ||
| Chekhov | ||
| Central Europe: An Idea and its Literature | ||
| Gogol | ||
| Russian Postmodernism | ||
| Polish Culture Through Film | ||
| Language and Politics in East Europe and Russia | ||
Sample courses in other departments: | ||
| The Rise of the Russian Empire | ||
| Russia in the Era of Reforms, Revolutions, and World Wars | ||
| The Collapse of Socialism and the Rise of New Russia | ||
Honors
Honors candidacy in Slavic studies assumes an excellent academic record, particularly in the concentration. Additional requirements are the same as those for a standard concentration, plus the writing of a senior thesis (SLAV 1990). For procedures and schedule for writing a senior thesis, please refer to the department guidelines.