The Slavic Track

Purpose
This track is designed for students seeking a basic knowledge of a Slavic language other than Russian, and familiarization with its literature and culture in English translation. In addition, students either do work in another Slavic literature or culture in English translation (including Russian), or study another Slavic language (including Russian). Students must also complete the degree requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. These courses will not count toward a major in the Russian track.

1. Czech Option: C101-C102, C201-C202, C363-C364; and line 4.
2. Polish Option: P101-P102, P201-P202, P363-P364; and line 4.
3. Serbian and Croatian Option: S101-S102, S201-S202, S363-S364; and line 4.
4. R353 and any three other departmental language, literature, film, or culture courses at the 200 level or higher.

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Minor in Slavic Languages and Literatures

Requirements
Five courses in Slavic languages and literatures, totaling 15 College of Arts and Sciences credit hours, at the 200 level or above, of which at least 9 credit hours must be numbered 223 or above.

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Special Credit in Slavic Languages and Literatures

1. Students who wish either to test out of the College of Arts and Sciences language requirement or to get special ("S") credit for their knowledge of a SLAV language, or both, must take a written departmental placement test for that language. An additional oral examination may be administered at the discretion of the relevant language instructor. International students may not receive 100- or 200-level credit (either regular or special) in their native languages, but they may request that the language requirement be waived for them, pending results of the placement testing. Students who have finished high school in the United States, regardless of their native language, are not considered to be international students and may therefore receive special credit in a SLAV language.
2. Students testing into the second semester of a SLAV language may earn 5 credit hours of special credit for the semester they tested out of. Students testing into the third semester may earn 10 credit hours of special credit. Students do not have to take a SLAV course in order to be awarded this credit.
3. Students testing into the fourth or fifth semester of a SLAV language may earn 200-level credits (either 4 or 8), only if they take a 200-level or higher course and complete it with a grade of B or better. For example, students testing into SLAV R202 can get 4 hours of special credit for R201 if they complete R202 with a grade of B or better; students testing into R301 can get 8 hours of special credit for R201-R202 if they complete R301 with a grade of B or better. Special credit is not awarded in the Slavic department for courses above the 200 level.
4. SLAV majors may not apply special credit they earn for 200-level courses toward fulfillment of their major requirements. They are required to substitute other courses in order to meet the College of Arts and Sciences and departmental credit requirements for all majors in SLAV.

Course Descriptions

Russian Language
Russian Literature and Culture in English Translation
Other Slavic and East European Languages
Other Slavic Literatures and Cultures in English Translation
Related Courses

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Russian Language

R101-R102 Elementary Russian I-II (5-5 cr.) P for R102: Grade of C or better in R101 or equivalent. Introduction to contemporary Russian and aspects of Russian culture. Intensive drill and exercises in basic structure; development of vocabulary. Classes supplemented by one hour of drill and work in Language Laboratory. It is recommended that majors take R121-R122 concurrently.
R201-R202 Intermediate Russian I-II (4-4 cr.) P: Grade of C or better in R102 or equivalent. C or better in R201 is prerequisite for R202. Continuation of work in structure and vocabulary acquisition through study of grammar, drills, and readings. Oral practice and written exercises. It is recommended that majors take R221-R222 concurrently.
R301-R302 Advanced Intermediate Russian I-II (3-3 cr.) P: Grade of B or better in R202 and R222. Morphological, lexical, and syntactic analysis of a broad spectrum of textual materials with special emphasis on meaning. Development of oral and written fluency and comprehension. Remedial grammar and phonetics as required. Recitation classes supplemented by lab and discussion sections.
R325 Advanced Intermediate Oral Russian I (2 cr.) C: R301 or consent of the department. Designed primarily for those interested in developing oral fluency. Sections in advanced conversation, recitation, and oral comprehension, supplemented by lab and drill in corrective pronunciation, dictation, and reading. Credit possible for participation in CIEE St. Petersburg programs and in Russian play rehearsals and performance. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours. I Sem., II Sem., SS.
R326 Advanced Intermediate Oral Russian II (2 cr.) C: R302 or consent of the department. Continuation and advanced treatment of topics covered in R325 as well as topics of current events. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours.
R398 Special Credit in Slavic Languages (1-8 cr.) Students who successfully complete advanced Russian institutes at other universities, or special technical language programs, or the CIEE programs at St. Petersburg or similar programs in other Slavic or East European countries, or who skip sequential courses by advanced placement, will be given corresponding undistributed credit as certified by the department. May be repeated for a maximum of 14 credit hours.
R401-R402 Advanced Russian I-II (3-3 cr.) P: Grade of B or better in R302. Refinement of active and passive language skills, with emphasis on vocabulary building and word usage. Extensive reading, discussion, composition writing. Individualized remedial drill in grammar and pronunciation aimed at preparing students to meet departmental language proficiency standards. Recitation class supplemented by lab and conversation sections.
R403 Russian Phonetics (3 cr.) P: R302 or equivalent. Elements of articulatory and acoustical phonetics and their application to a comparative study of Russian and English sound systems. Methods in teaching pronunciation and intonation. Error analysis and correction of student's own pronunciation in lab and drill sections. II Sem.
R404 Structure of Russian (3 cr.) Systematic description and analysis of the structure of modern Russian phonology, morphology, and word formation. Comparison to elements of English grammar is included.
R405-R406 Readings in Russian Literature I-II (3-3 cr.) A & H P: R302 or equivalent. R: R263, R264. Reading, in the original, of important Russian literary works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Discussion and analysis of the works. R405, I Sem.; R406, II Sem.
R407-R408 Readings in Russian Culture, History, and Society I-II (3-3 cr.) A & H P: R302 or equivalent. Extensive translation from the original of selected works on Russian history, government, music, folklore, geography, culture. Discussion of both linguistic problems and content. R407, I Sem.; R408, II Sem.
W301-W302 Elementary Russian I (5-5 cr.) Intensive summer equivalent of R101 and R102.
W303-W304 Intermediate Russian I (5-5 cr.) Intensive summer equivalent of R201 and R202.
W305-W306 Advanced Intermediate Russian I (5-5 cr.) Intensive summer equivalent of R301 and R302.
W307-W357 Advanced Russian I (5-5 cr.) Intensive summer equivalent of R401 and R402. First level of certificate program in Russian. Topic: the lexicon.
W308-W358 Advanced Russian Syntax and Stylistics I (5-5 cr.) Intensive Russian at the fifth-year level. Second level of certificate program in Russian. Topic: syntax.
W309-W359 Advanced Russian Syntax and Stylistics III (5-5 cr.) Intensive Russian at the sixth-year level. Third level of certificate program in Russian. Topic: stylistics.
R470 Political Russian (3 cr.) The course is designed for advanced Russian students who are oriented toward economics and politics. In particular, this would target juniors and seniors seeking experience in political science or political studies. The goal of the course is to develop the student's functional proficiency in all basic language skills: reading, listening, speaking. The topics covered will include, but will not be limited to, official visits, international negotiations, economics, national security, arms control, etc. Students will be exposed to authentic materials such as newspaper articles, audiotape excerpts from news broadcasts, and the like.
R472 Business Russian (3 cr.) P: placement above third year or consent of instructor. Acquisition of vocabulary and construction characteristic of business Russian. Reading of background literature. Special attention will be given to study of culture in business and nonbusiness situations.
R491-R492 Russian for Graduate Students I-II (4-4 cr., undergrad.; 3-3 cr., grad.) Mastery of basic grammar followed by vocabulary building. Active control of Russian structure needed for productive reading; emphasis on problems of translation. Open with consent of instructor to undergraduates about to complete the B.A. requirement in another foreign language. R491, I Sem.; R492, II Sem.
S497 Internship in Slavic (1-3 cr.) P: Major standing, minimum GPA of 3.0, 12 credit hours in Slavic at 300 level or above, and prior arrangement with faculty member or editor. Supervised experience in teaching undergraduate Slavic course or in editing departmentally based journal or allied publication. May be repeated once for credit for a total of 6 credits.
S498 Supervised Individual Reading (1-3 cr.) P: R302 or equivalent, consent of instructor. Reading, in the original, of materials in field of Slavic studies of particular interest to student. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
S499 Senior Honors Seminar (6 cr. max.) P: Approval of the departmental honors committee.

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Russian Literature and Culture in English Translation

Knowledge of Russian not required.

R123 Masterworks of Russian Short Fiction (3 cr.) A & H, TFR Masterpieces of Russian short fiction in a variety of literary modes, from the early nineteenth century to the present, with particular attention to Russian writers and works that have influenced the short story worldwide. Authors include Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Chekhov, Babel, and Nabokov.
R223 Introduction to Russian Culture (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Survey of development of Russian culture and thought from medieval Russia to the present, as seen primarily through literature and the arts. No knowledge of Russian is necessary.
R263 Pushkin to Dostoevsky (3 cr.) A & H, CSA The golden age of the Russian novel; its social, cultural, and economic context; the flowering of art and music; the rise of the metropolis in association with poverty, alienation, quest for identity (both national and personal), as reflected in the romantic and realistic works of Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, and Dostoevsky. Knowledge of Russian not required.
R264 Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn (3 cr.) A & H, CSA 1880 to present, a period of profound political, social, and intellectual ferment: the Bolshevik Revolution, Civil War, collectivization, the Stalinist purges, World War II, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the rise of a "new" Russia. Knowledge of Russian not required.
R334 Tolstoy and Dostoevsky (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Two giants of world literature who have shaped not only modern cultural history but philosophy and politics as well. Major works of each author will be read within an international perspective. Knowledge of Russian not required.
R345 Jewish Characters in Russian Literature (3 cr.) A & H, CSA The "Jewish question," the identity and self-identity of Jewish characters from the standpoints of literary analyses, cultural ethnography, folklore and religious studies, and social and political history. Literary works of major nineteenth- and twentieth-century Russian writers provide the primary sources for the discussions.
R349 Myth and Reality: Women in Russian Literature and in Life (3 cr.) A & H, CSA The roles, creations, and status of women in Russian and cross-cultural perspectives; and historical, literary, and social roles of Russian women. Major female characters of classical Russian literature and works of the most substantial Russian women writers will be studied. Special attention will be paid to the current situation in Russian literature and society.
R352 Russian and Soviet Film (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Development of Russian cinematography from 1896 to the present. Characteristic features of Soviet films; the theory and practice of filmmaking in the former Soviet Union; the Soviet and Russian cinema in its relationship to Russian literature and in the larger context of European cinema art. Knowledge of Russian not required. II Sem.
R353 Central European Cinema (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Broad cultural overview of Central European cinema, highlighting major developments of cinema in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the former Republics of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia in the post-Stalin era. Special attention will be given to the individual style and aesthetics of several major film directors.

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Other Slavic and East European Languages

A101-A102 Elementary Albanian I-II (4-4 cr.) No previous knowledge of Albanian required. Introduction of basic structure of contemporary Albanian language and culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. A101 and A102, SS.
B101-B102 Elementary Bulgarian I-II (4-4 cr.) No previous knowledge of Bulgarian required. Introduction to basic structure of contemporary Bulgarian language and culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. B101, I Sem.; B102, II Sem., SS.
C101-C102 Elementary Czech I-II (5-5 cr.) No previous knowledge of Czech required. Introduction to basic structure of contemporary Czech language and to culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. C101, I Sem.; C102, II Sem., SS.
C201-C202 Second-Year Czech I-II (3-3 cr.) P: C102 or permission of department. Continuation of work in structure and vocabulary acquisition through written exercises, study of word formation, drills, reading and discussion of short stories. C201, I Sem.; C202, II Sem.
C301-C302 Advanced Intermediate Czech I-II (3-3 cr.) Development of oral and written fluency and comprehension in Czech language based on morphological, lexical, and syntactical analysis of contemporary textual materials. Credit not given for both C301 and C471, or for both C302 and C472.
C311 Intensive Elementary Czech I (5 cr.)
C312 Intensive Elementary Czech II (5 cr.)
C313 Intensive Intermediate Czech I (5 cr.)
C314 Intensive Intermediate Czech II (5 cr.)
G101-G102 Elementary Georgian I-II (4-4 cr.) These courses cover every aspect of Georgian grammar (phonology, morphology, and syntax). By the completion of the courses students should be able to read average unadapted Georgian texts (both fiction and nonfiction) with the aid of a dictionary. During the semester students will be encouraged to practice with a basic Georgian vocabulary in order to develop conversational skills. G101, I Sem.; G102, II Sem., SS.
G311 Intensive Elementary Georgian I (5 cr.)
G312 Intensive Elementary Georgian II (5 cr.)
K101-K102 Elementary Slovene I-II (4-4 cr.) Intensive study of the structure of Slovene, for reading and speaking knowledge of language. No previous knowledge of a Slavic language required.
M101-M102 Elementary Romanian I-II (5-5 cr.) No previous knowledge of Romanian required. Introduction to basic structure of contemporary Romanian language and to culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. M101, I Sem.; M102, II Sem., SS.
M201-M202 Intermediate Romanian I-II (3-3 cr.) P: M102 or permission of department. Continuation of work in structure and vocabulary acquisition through written exercises, study of word formation, drills, reading, and discussion of short stories. M201, I Sem.; M202, II Sem.
M311 Intensive Elementary Romanian I (5 cr.)
M312 Intensive Elementary Romanian II (5 cr.)
M313 Intensive Intermediate Romanian I (5 cr.)
M314 Intensive Intermediate Romanian II (5 cr.)
P101-P102 Elementary Polish I-II (5-5 cr.) Introduction to modern standard Polish, reading, writing, and speaking. Focus on learning grammatical patterns and building an active vocabulary. P101, I Sem.; P102, II Sem., SS.
P201-P202 Intermediate Polish I-II (3-3 cr.) P: P102 or permission of department. Continuation of work in structure and vocabulary acquisition through written exercises, study of word formation, drills, reading, and discussion of short stories. P201, I Sem.; P202, II Sem.
P301-P302 Advanced Intermediate Polish I-II (3-3 cr.) P: P202 or equivalent proficiency. Morphological, lexical, and syntactical analysis of a broad spectrum of textual materials with special emphasis on meaning. Development of oral and written fluency and comprehension.
P311 Intensive Elementary Polish I (5 cr.)
P312 Intensive Elementary Polish II (5 cr.)
P313 Intensive Intermediate Polish I (5 cr.)
P314 Intensive Intermediate Polish II (5 cr.)
S101-S102 Elementary Serbian and Croatian I-II (5-5 cr.) No previous knowledge of Serbian or Croatian required. Introduction to basic structure of contemporary Serbian and Croatian language and to culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. S101, I Sem.; S102, II Sem., SS.
S201-S202 Intermediate Serbian and Croatian I-II (3-3 cr.) P: S102 or permission of department. Continuation of work in structure and vocabulary acquisition through written exercises, study of word formation, drills, reading and discussion of short stories. S201, I Sem.; S202, II Sem.
S301-S302 Advanced Intermediate Serbian and Croatian I (3-3 cr.) P: S202 or equivalent proficiency. Reading of literary texts from a variety of periods and locations in the Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian speech area. Sequence of readings in original parallels syllabus of S363-S364 in translation. Review of grammar, syntax, and expansion of lexicon as needed.
S311 Intensive Elementary Croatian/Serbian I (5 cr.)
S312 Intensive Elementary Croatian/Serbian II (5 cr.)
S313 Intensive Intermediate Croatian/Serbian I (5 cr.)
S314 Intensive Intermediate Croatian/Serbian II (5 cr.)
V101-V102 Elementary Slovak I-II (4-4 cr.) Course develops proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are taught phonetic transcription. Grammatical concepts are introduced and reinforced through exercise drills and conversation. All of the cases are presented along with all verbal tenses. Special attention is devoted to verbal aspect in Slovak.
Q311 Intensive Elementary Macedonian I (5 cr.) No previous knowledge of Macedonian required. Introduction to basic structure of contemporary Macedonian language and to its culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. SSII.
Q312 Intensive Elementary Macedonian II (5 cr.) No previous knowledge of Macedonian required. Introduction to basic structure of contemporary Macedonian language and to its culture. Reading and discussion of basic texts. SSII.

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Other Slavic Literatures and Cultures in English Translation

Knowledge of Slavic languages not required.

C363-C364 Literature and Culture of the Czechs and Slovaks I-II (3-3 cr.) A & H, CSA Survey of Czech and Slovak cultures and history, emphasizing relation to the other Slavic peoples and to Western Europe. Readings and lectures in English. C363, I Sem.; C364, II Sem.
P223 Introduction to Polish Culture (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Survey of Polish culture from the origins of the Polish state to modern times. Important historical, political, and social developments and trends as seen through literature, art, science, music, architecture, and political documents. Knowledge of Polish not required.
P363-P364 Survey of Polish Literature and Culture I-II (3-3 cr.) A & H, CSA I: Polish literature in English translation from its origins to the end of the nineteenth century in its historical and socio-political context. II: Polish literature in English translation from the end of the nineteenth century to the present in the larger European context. Knowledge of Polish not required. P363, I Sem.; P363, II Sem.
P365 Topics in Polish Literature and Culture (3 cr.) A & H P: P364 or consent of instructor. Discussion of the verbal-visual relationship as presented in Polish literature and in major theoretical works. Knowledge of Polish not required.
S223 Introduction to Balkan and South Slavic Cultures (3 cr.) A & H, CSA Survey of the cultures of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, and Romania, concentrating on the modern period. Lectures and readings in English.
S363-S364 Literature and Culture of the Southern Slavs I-II (3-3 cr.) A & H, CSA Survey of the history and cultures of the Croats, Slovenes, Serbs, Macedonians, and Bulgarians from prehistory to the present. Readings and lectures in English. S363, I Sem.; S364, II Sem.

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Related Courses

See listings under Russian and East European Institute.

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