Group of students sitting around a table

Russian (RUS)

RUS 101  Elementary Russian I  (3 credits)  

This course introduces students to the basic Russian language. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of the fundamental skills of understanding, speaking, reading and writing. The classroom periods are supplemented by intensive practice in the language laboratory.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall.
RUS 102  Elementary Russian II  (3 credits)  

A continuation of RUS 101.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall and Spring.
Prerequisites: RUS 101 or 2 years of high school Russian and the ability to read the Cyrillic Alphabet.
RUS 113  Structured Review for Russian Speakers  (3 credits)  
RUS 154  Topics from Russian Literature in Translation  (3 credits)  

This course covers subjects selected from the literature and culture of Russia and the other countries of Eastern Europe. Knowledge of Russian or other East European language is not required.

Course Rotation: NYC: Summer.
Prerequisites: This course covers subjects selected from the literature and culture of Russia and other countries of Eastern Euripe. Knowledge of Russian or other East European language is not required.
RUS 154A  Topic in Translation: Slavic Cultures  (3 credits)  

This course is based on a variety of literary sources providing vastly different perspectives on Slavic cultures of Central and Eastern Europe. The main focus of this course is on their ethnic and cultural narratives.

RUS 154B  Topic: Eastern European Cultures in the 20th Century  (3 credits)  
RUS 154C  Topic: Culture and Literature of Modern Russia  (3 credits)  
RUS 154D  Eastern European Cultures in the 21st Century  (3 credits)  
RUS 154E  Stabilty and Change in Modern Russia and the Former USSR  (3 credits)  
RUS 154F  Topic: Masterpieces of Russian Literature  (3 credits)  

This course covers subjects selected from the literature and culture of Russia and the other countries of Eastern Europe. Knowledge of Russian or other East European language is not required.

Prerequisites: Course is conducted in English. Lubin, CSIS or Lienhard students may use this course to meet core requirements. Education and Dyson students may use this course for enhancement credit or Dyson Overlay.
RUS 154G  Con Artists and Shady Ladies in Russian Literature  (3 credits)  

Strange figures have populated the Russian literary landscape from the time of Gogol, Dostoevksy, and Bulgakov. The main focus of this course is on their literary creations, from the late 19th through early 20th centuries.

RUS 154J  Topic: Saints and Fools in Russian Literature  (3 credits)  

Strange figures have populated the Russian literature landscape from the time of Gogol, Dostoevsky and Bulgakov. The main focus of this course is on their literary creations, from the late 19th through early 20th century.

RUS 154K  Topics: Tsar, Cossacks, and the Good Soldier Svejk: Slavic Cultures  (3 credits)  

Comparative study of Slavic cultures through the literatures of East Europe. The main focus of this course is on a variety of literary readings that will provide vastly different perspectives on the culture(s) of Slavic peoples from antiquity to the late 19th century. Taught in English.

Course Rotation: NY: Spring, odd years.
RUS 160  The Russian Soul Through Film  (3 credits)  

The course will investigate Russian culture through the most significant trends and periods in the development of Russian cinema. Screening award-winning films by major Russian directors such as Tarkovskii, Mikhalkov, and others will examine the impact cinema continues to have on Russian society and culture today. The presentation of films (in Russian with English subtitles) will be thematic and supplemented by a variety of texts. This is a writing-enhanced course that requires an effective amount of writing to attain course objectives as stated below. You will be required to hand in a review of a scholarly (non-fiction) book dealing with Russian culture/cinematography (approx. 1,200 words), for which you will receive feedback for revision before it is graded. You will also be given several both formal and informal (exploratory) writing assignments, including two movie reviews (approx. 900 words each) and four in-class freewrites respectively. For each of the movie review you will receive feedback for revision before they are graded. For each of the assignments you will be provided with a detailed handout, specifying grading criteria. Your in-class freewrites will be you reactions to cinematographic and cultural material covered in the course. They will be weighed into a course grade on the basis of quantity of writing produced and quality of the thought content

Course Rotation: Fall: odd years
RUS 196A  Slavs: Austrian-Hungarian Empire: Culture and Ethnicity  (1 credits)  

This culture course is designed to prepare students for an 8 day cultural excursion to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and Vienna. The class will for weekly one-hour sessions thorughout the semester. The students will be introduced to the history of the multicultural and polilingual society of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The itinerary will include guided tours to historical sites in the capitals of Bohemia, Moravia, and Austria.

RUS 196B  Slavs in the Balkans  (1 credits)  

This is a 9-day cultural excursion to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, Dubrovnik, an ancient Mediterranean city, and Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The class will meet for weekly one-hour sessions. The students will be introduced to the history of the multicultural and multilingual societies of Catholic Croatia and Slovenia, with the strong Protestant tradition. The itinerary will include guided tours to historical sites in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, the rival of the Republic of Venice, and Ljubljana, a city formerly under Austrian Habsburg rule.

RUS 196C  St. Petersburg: Treasures of Imperial Russia  (1 credits)  

The class will meet for weekly one-hour sessions throughout the semester, including orientation sessions. The students will be introduced to the culture and literary history of St. Petersburg. Students will be required to write an 8-9 page research paper dealing with the history, culture, literature (Fedor Dostoevsky) and sights of the Imperial capital founded by Peter the Great. The itinerary will include guided tours to the Russian Museum and Famous Hermitage, St. Isaac’s Cathedral (100 kilos of gold went into the gilding of the dome), The Winter Palace and The Summer Gardens-The Emperor’s Summer Palace.

Course Rotation: Spring
RUS 209  Russian Conversation, Diction, and Phonics  (3 credits)  
RUS 250S  Topics in Russian: Stories of the Middle Ages  (3 credits)  
RUS 250T  Topic in Translation: Russian Fairy Tale and Fantasy  (3 credits)  
RUS 251A  Topics from Russian Culture: Slavic Cultures  (3 credits)  
RUS 251B  Topic: Twentieth Century Russian Literature  (3 credits)  
RUS 251C  Topic in Russian Literature in Translation: 19th Century Classics  (3 credits)  
RUS 251M  Topic: Cultures and Traditions of the Eastern Blockade  (3 credits)  
RUS 263  Russian for Heritage Speakers  (3 credits)  

Intensive review of Russian grammar for heritage speakers with oral fluency and elementary writing ability. Practice in reading at an intermediate level and in oral and written expression.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall.
Prerequisites: The ability to speak and understand Russian at near-native fluency and the ability to write at a basic level in Russian. Not open to students who have taken RUS 101 or RUS 102. Students without any writing experience should take RUS 101 or RUS 102. New Core: Fulfills 3 credits in Area of Knowledge II.
RUS 281  Intermediate Russian I  (3 credits)  

Intermediate language course dealing with aspects of Russian grammar and vocabulary. Special emphasis is given to the Russian verbal structure and sentence pattern.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall.
Prerequisites: RUS 102 or 4 years of high school Russian. Not open to students who have completed RUS 263. New Core: Fulfills 3 credits in Area of Knowledge II.
RUS 282  Intermediate Russian II  (3 credits)  

See course description for RUS 281. This course is a continuation of RUS 281. New Core: Fulfills 3 credits in Area of Knowledge II.

Course Rotation: NYC: Spring.
RUS 299A  Seminar: Conversation and Culture  (3 credits)  
RUS 299B  Russian Seminar: Commercial Russian  (3 credits)  
RUS 299C  Seminar: Russian Conversation and Culture  (3 credits)  
RUS 301  Russian Composition and Conversation  (3 credits)  

A course designed to enhance practice in composition and conversation with emphasis on the writing process and the improvement of the student's oral and writing skills; development of idiomatic usage and expression. A special attention is paid to literary reading and creative writing, which will continually integrate grammatical applications and newly learned linguistic concepts. Conducted in Russian.

Course Rotation: NYC: Spring.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of intermediate Russian or equivalent.
RUS 304  Russian Translation and Interpretation  (3 credits)  

The main objective of the course is to familiarize the student with techniques and standard practices in translation and interpretation as particular forms of cross-cultural interaction. The course is designed to help students acquire a broad array of language skills along with knowledge about problem areas in oral and written translation from English into Russian and vice versa. A special attention will be paid to the development of idiomatic usage and expression, with an emphasis on differences in grammar and vocabulary of the two languages. Conducted in Russian.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall, even years.
RUS 305  Russian for Professional Communication  (3 credits)  

A course designed to develop the skills of professional communication in Russian. Students will be introduced to commercial terms involved in correspondence and will have practice in writing and speaking. Business and journalism abilities are stressed.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall - Even years.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of intermediate Russian or permission of Instructor.
RUS 309  Russian Translation II: Translating Culture  (3 credits)  

The main objective of the course is to familiarize the student with the theory and practice of Russian-English translation. The course is designed to help students acquire a board array of language skills along with knowledge about cross-cultural differences and their importance in the process of translation. The course introduces students to different translation methods and pragmatic patterns in the target culture conducted in English.

Course Rotation: NY: Spring (Even Years)
RUS 310  The Culture of Russia  (3 credits)  

A study of the multifaceted culture of Russia from its origins to the present including literary, social, political, and historical aspects. All lectures and classroom discussions are in Russian and will be based on selected cultural and literary readings, videos, slides, and films.

Course Rotation: NYC: Spring - Odd years.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of Intermediate Russian or the equivalent.
RUS 316  Masterpieces of Russian Literature I  (3 credits)  

A survey of major Russian writers and their works through the centuries. A selection of readings from the novel, short story, drama and poetry will be included. Oral/written reports in Russian will be required.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall - Odd years. PLV: Spring - Even years.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of intermediate Russian or equivalent.
RUS 317  Masterpieces of Russian Literature II  (3 credits)  

A survey of major Russian writers and their works through the centuries. A selection of readings from the novel, short story, drama, and poetry will be included. Oral/written reports in Russian will be required.

Course Rotation: NYC: Fall - Odd years. PLV: Spring - Even years.
Prerequisites: 6 credits of intermediate Russian or the equivalent.
RUS 318  Leo Tolstoy and Beyond: Literatures in Eastern Europe  (3 credits)  

A survey of works from Russian literature of the second half of the 19th century (Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov) and the 20th century, as well as works of other East European literature (Shevchenko, Sienkiewicz, Hasek). Students will examine shared literary features and the roles of literature(s) in Eastern Europe in shaping national myths and identities, especially in the post-totalitarian society. The class is taught in Russian.

Course Rotation: NYC: Spring, even years.
Prerequisites: Six credits of intermediate Russian or instructor's permission.
RUS 320  Comparative Study of Russian and Slavic Languages  (3 credits)  

Comparative study of the historical background and linguistic structures of the Slavic languages, leading advanced students of any Slavic language to a reading knowledge of Russian, Czech, Polish, Croatian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian.

Course Rotation: NYC: TBA.
Prerequisites: 3 credits of advanced Russian or the Instructor's permission.
RUS 324  Culture: Literary Readings in Russian and Slavic Languages  (3 credits)  

Comparative study of Slavic cultures through the literatures of Eastern Europe, with further readings in Russian, Czech, Polish, Croatian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian.

Course Rotation: NYC: TBA.
Prerequisites: RUS 320 or instructor's permission.
RUS 380  Russian Seminar  (3 credits)  

Seminars are designed to complement the student's knowledge of literature, culture, language by either covering material not included in other courses or by investigating in detail a major author or work.

RUS 380A  Seminar: Mixail Bulgakov  (3 credits)  

The course is devoted to the major novel by Mixail Bulgakov, Master and Margarita. Reading and discussion will be built on Russian language skills with an eye of developing a more sophisticated set of abilities in Russian. Students will read Bulgakov’s text in its entirety, as well as a series of critical works about the novel, accompanied by screening the recent series of the novel. Students will do research on the novel and its references. Oral/written reports in Russian will be required.

RUS 380C  Seminar: Love and Death in Russian Literature  (3 credits)  
RUS 391  Internship  (3 credits)  
RUS 395  Independent Study in Russian  (1-9 credits)  

With the approval of the appropriate faculty member, the department chairperson and the academic dean, students may select a topic for guided research that is not included in the regular course offerings. The student meets regularly with the faculty member to review progress. A research project or paper must also be submitted.

RUS 395A  Independent Study in Russian (A)  (1-9 credits)  
RUS 395B  Independent Study in Russian (B)  (1-9 credits)  
RUS 395C  Independent Study in Russian (C)  (1-9 credits)  
RUS 396A  Topic: Introduction to Slavic Linguistics: Comparative Study in Russian  (3 credits)