Courses of Instruction

RUSSIAN (RUS-Arts and Science; Department of German, Russian, and East Asian Languages)

101/102 Beginner's Course (4, 4)

Essentials of Russian language including rudiments of grammar, acquisition of a simple vocabulary, practice in reading and conversation, and simple written exercises.

105 Everyday Spoken Russian (1)

Introduction to the Russian language and culture with emphasis primarily on speaking. This sprint course will cover a broad range of language functions from introducing and describing oneself to making suggestions and asking for directions and requesting a service. Taught in Russian.

133 Imagining Russia (2)

Survey of Russian history, society, politics, economy, literature, film, and arts from a variety of intellectual perspectives. Classroom lectures plus out of class cultural presentations. Cross-listed with POL/GEO/ATH/ HST 133.

MPF, MPT 137 Russian Folklore (3)

Introduction to Russian folklore, including study of the folk tale, charms and incantations, ceremonial poetry connected with the calendar, jokes, proverbs, folk ditties, wedding ceremonies, funeral customs, modern gestures, graffiti. Some discussion devoted to Slavic pre-Christian society and survivals of pagan customs in the Christian era. Considerable treatment of comparative folklore worldwide. IIB, IIIB. CAS-B-LIT.

Advanced Courses

Note: RUS 101 and 102 or equivalent are prerequisite for all advanced language courses.

MPT 201/202 Intermediate Russian (3, 3)

Conversation, vocabulary building, readings, composition, grammar. RUS 202: CAS-A.

212 Secular Jewish Culture From the Enlightenment to Zionism (3)

Surveys key aspects of secular Jewish culture, identity, thought, society & politics from mid 17th to mid 20th century. Significant treatment of Jewish life in Western Europe (France & Germany) and Eastern Europe; shorter treatment of Jewish experience in US & Mandate Palestine. Readings in English. Cross-listed with FRE/ GER 212 and HST 211.

MPT 250 Topics in Russian Literature in English Translation (3; maximum 9)

Treatment of selected works of Russian literature that suggest particular thematic problems. For nonspecialist with little or no background in Russian literature. CAS-B-LIT.

251 The Eastern European Vampire Tradition in Folklore, History, and Literature (3)

Begins with a detailed examination of the folkloric and historical roots of the Eastern European vampire tradition. This will be followed by reading and discussion of representative nineteenth and twentieth-century literary works. CAS-B-LIT.

253 Jewish Identity and Russian Literature (3)

This course examines how images of Jews in mainstream literature helped form conceptions (and misconceptions) of Jewish identity in modern Russian culture. Taught in English. Cross-listed with ENG 253. CAS-B-LIT.

254 Introduction to Russian and Eurasian Studies (3)

Examines the major developments that have shaped Russian and Eurasian culture, society and politics over the last millennium. The course incorporates perspectives from the social sciences, humanities and the fine arts. Cross-listed with ATH, POL, HST, REL 254.

MPF, MPT 255 Russian Literature from Pushkin to Dostoevsky in English Translation (3)

Examines works by Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, and Dostoevsky and a number of critical essays representative of a variety of viewpoints. Uses interdisciplinary approach that takes into account social, historical, political, religious, as well as literary factors. Cross-listed with ENG 255. IIB. CAS-B-LIT.

MPT 256 Russian Literature in English Translation: From Tolstoy to Nabokov (3)

Treatment of selected works of Russian literature (realism, modernism, post-modernism) with special attention to Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bunin, Sologub, Bulgakov, Babel, Solzhenitsyn, and Nabokov. Cross-listed with ENG 256. CAS-B-LIT.

MPT 257 Russian Literature in English Translation: From Pasternak to the Present (3)

Treatment of major trends in the development of Russian literature since 1953. Examines works by Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, Rasputin, Trifonov, and others. CAS-B-LIT. Offered infrequently.

258 Contemporary Russian Women's Writing (3)

A chronological and thematic introduction to Russian women's prose after 1953 and how this writing both critiqued and upheld gender inequalities in Soviet and Russian society. Taught in English. CAS B.

MPT 263 Soviet & Post-Soviet Russian Cinema (3)

Critical survey of directors, genres, and movements in Soviet cinema. Screening of films from Eisenstein to current directors. Lectures, discussion, and readings in English. Cross-listed with FST 263. CAS-B-LIT.

272 Cultures and Identities of Eastern Europe: An Introduction through Literature and Film (3)

An introduction to the cultures of Eastern Europe, from Poland to the former Yugoslavia, through representative twentieth-century literary works and films, with particular focus on the history of Eastern Europe's Jewish community and the tragedy of the Holocaust. Cross-listed with FST 272. CAS-B-LIT.

MPT 301/302 Advanced Russian (3, 3)

Conversation, advanced composition, reading in Russian literature. Prerequisite: RUS 202.

306 Peoples & Cultures of Russia (3)

Description and analysis of the cultures of Russia and Eurasia with a focus on non-Russian peoples and contemporary survival.

311 Reading in Russian (3)

Enables students to develop fluency in reading Russian texts. Core readings for all students and supplemental readings according to individual interests. Prerequisite: RUS 202 or equivalent.

MPC 401 St. Petersburg: History, Literature, Culture (3)

Concentrates on one city, the "second capital" of Russia, St. Petersburg. In-depth study of the history, politics, literature, art, and architecture of St. Petersburg. Taught in English. Appropriate for students who have taken one of the Russian Thematic Sequences or for those with a concentration in Russian literature, history, or politics. Offered infrequently.

411/412 Advanced Conversation and Composition (3, 3)

Practice in oral communication and composition at the advanced level. Prerequisite: RUS 302.

450 Topics in Russian Culture (3; maximum 9)

In-depth study of a selected topic in Russian culture. Taught in Russian. Prerequisite: RUS 302 or permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.

451 Golden Age of Russian Culture (3)

Overview of Russian culture, literature, music, and art in its golden age (nineteenth century). Taught in Russian. Prerequisite: RUS 412 or permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.

480 Departmental Honors (4-6)

May be taken in senior year. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department.

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