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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Intermediate language course dealing with aspects of Russian grammar and vocabulary. Special emphasis is given to the Russian verbal structure and sentence pattern.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Comparative study of Slavic cultures through the literatures of Eastern Europe, with further readings in Russian, Czech, Polish, Croatian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian.
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.
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.
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.
Print this page.
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog
The PDF will include all information in the catalog.
The PDF will include all information in the catalog.