The Major

See the Registrar's Web site for the official graduation requirements in the Russian Major.

• The Standard Russian Major for those whose interest is primarily in literature and linguistics, or who simply wish to attain a mastery of the language.
• The Area Studies Major is intended for those who want to learn Russian and to do work in International Studies.
• The Minor in Russian is for those who wish to obtain a minor in Russian language and literature
• The Minor in Russian Area Studies is for those who want to learn about Russian literature and civilization without language study.
• A qualified student in any of these majors also has the option of participation in the Honors Program.

Two types of majors are available to students. Both require Russian 15 and Russian 31, which can be omitted only by vote of the entire Department. Majors may choose to participate in the Honors Program. The department also offers a Russian minor.

1. The Major in Russian

• Prerequisite: Russian 27.
• Requirements: Russian 15; Russian 28 and 29; Russian 31, Russian 32, and a course which constitutes the culminating experience. (Russian 71, 86, or 87--the Honors Thesis--may serve as the culminating experience in the Russian major.) In addition to these six core courses, students students are required to take four more courses in Russian. Up to two of these four courses may be numbered in the teens; the remaining courses must be numbered 35 or higher.
  
  Note: Students may receive a certificate in Russian Area Studies by (1) completing all the requirements for the major in Russian and, (2) taking four courses from among those offerings in other departments that may normally be used to satisfy the requirements for the Russian Area Studies Major (see the following paragraph). Such students will have both the major in Russian and the certificate in Russian Area Studies listed on their transcripts.
  
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2. The Major in Russian Area Studies

• Prerequisite: Russian 3.
• Requirements: Russian 31; five area studies courses, and an additional three courses numbered Russian 23 or higher. Regular courses which meet the area course requirement include Economics 29 and 49; Government 42 and 52; and History 54, 55, and 56. Up to three Russian courses in the teens (Russian 11-19) may be counted as area courses for the Russian Area Studies major. In addition, offerings of such courses as Government 84, History 96, and Music 8, when dealing with relevant topics, may be counted. Other courses used to satisfy this requirement must be approved in advance by the Chair of the department. For the culminating experience, students must write a thesis, take Russian 86, or take a Russian-related course that satisfies the culminating experience in another department.
  
  For students contemplating careers in business, international relations and diplomacy, the major in Russian Area Studies offers courses in Russian geography, Russian history, the Russian political system and Russian culture. Russia is the largest country in the world - a land of huge untapped resources endowed with a rich cultural heritage. Through these courses, students gain an understanding of its vast ethnic and religious diversity.
  
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3. The Minor in Russian

• Prerequisite: Russian 3, or permission of the chair. Requirements: a TOTAL OF SIX courses including (a) Russian 31; (b) one or two of the following courses: Russian 11-19; (c) up to four other Russian courses numbered 23 or higher, for a total of six courses beyond the prerequisite; (d) Students may count only one of the LSA+ courses toward the minor.

4. The Minor in Russian Area Studies

• Prerequisite: ONE of the following courses: Russian 13, 15, 19, or 21. Requirements: a TOTAL OF SIX courses including Russian 31; and five courses chosen from the following: Russian 11, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 32, 35, 36, 38, 62, or 71, of which three should be numbered 32 and higher and exclusive of the course selected as a prerequisite. Not more than TWO LSA+ courses could be counted for fulfillment of the prerequisite and requirements. Up to two Russian area studies courses, including Economics 29 and 49, Government 52, and History 54, 55, and 56, or offerings of such courses as Government 84, History 96, and Music 8, when dealing with relevant topics, may be counted towards completion of this minor. Other courses used to satisfy this requirement must be approved in advance by the Chair of the Department.
  
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5. The Honors Program

Seniors who give evidence of outstanding ability and who wish to do serious research on an independent project are invited to apply for honors work. Students must satisfy the minimum College requirements (see page 78 of the ORC) and must also meet two departmental requirements. First, they must have a grade average of 3.3 for all courses taken within the major. Second they must have received at least an A- in an advanced course that emphasizes research and analysis, such as Russian 61, 62, or 71.

Area Studies majors may satisfy this second requirement with one of these courses, or, if the topic of the thesis is outside the area of language and literature, with a course from the academic area in which they intend to do research. Application is normally made by the third week of the fall term, with Russian 85 taken in the fall and Russian 87 in the winter. The thesis must be submitted no later than the third week of spring term. More information is contained in an announcement sent to current majors each year. It is available from the administrative assistant of the department.