RSSS 101 – Elementary Russian I

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

For the student with no previous experience in Russian.

RSSS 102 – Elementary Russian II

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

For the student with some knowledge of Russian.

RSSS 114 – How to Learn a Foreign Language

Cross Listed

Gen Ed: Building Connections

The goal of the course is to provide students with important tools to help them become successful foreign language learners. Students will become familiar with basic elements of language such as parts of speech and the pronunciation of new sounds as a means of enabling them to anticipate and effectively deal with problems in pronunciation, vocabulary building, and sentence formation that often come up in foreign language study. They will also learn about the intertwining of culture and language, such as how expressions of politeness and body language differ across cultures. They will also be exposed to different language teaching and learning styles, typical mistakes language learners make, and strategies for making language learning more effective. This information will be presented in the context of the wide variety of languages taught at the University of Arizona

RSSS 150B1 – East European Cinema in Social Context

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Individuals & Societies/150

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

East European Cinema in a Social Context (RSSS150) introduces students to a variety of excellent films that have come out of Eastern Europe in the last 100 years or so. Students will learn about the socio-political and cultural contexts of these films, the societies in which they were produced, and the events and situations that they depict. The goal of the course is to increase students' understanding and knowledge of Eastern European societies, cultures, and history while at the same time enhancing their appreciation and understanding of particular film masterpieces and cinema in general. By engaging them in the close study of these films, the course should help students develop analytical and viewing skills. Students should emerge from this course with a strong understanding of cinematic terms, an enriched understanding of diverse cultures of the region, and the tools for further exploration in a variety of academic disciplines (language, film, history, etc.). For purposes of this course, Eastern Europe includes the geographical area bounded by the Czech Republic in the west, Russia in the east; Poland in the north, and the former Yugoslavia & Greece in the south. We will watch a selection of movies from different areas.

RSSS 150B2 – Multicultural Russia

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Individuals & Societies/150

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This course explores the diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural identities of Russia's population, including the history of how such identities have evolved over time. We will discuss encounters and conflicts between mainstream and minority cultures, as well as the ways such encounters are viewed on the global stage and within Russia. By analyzing works of literature, films, historical documents, linguistics, works of art, musical recordings, and scholarship from the humanities and social sciences, students will become familiar with the most pressing debates on diversity, post-colonialism, and plurality in contemporary Russia.

RSSS 199 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 202 – Intermediate Russian II

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

Fourth semester Russian.

RSSS 299 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 299H – Honors Independent Study

Honors Course

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 302 – Advanced Grammar and Composition

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

RSSS 304 – A History of Soviet and Post-Soviet Film

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

This course examines the cultural and historical context within which cinema was produced in the Soviet Union. Among the topics to be discussed are: ideology, the image of Stalin, World War II, the sexless Soviet cinema, daily life Soviet style, and the search for Russianness in the wake of the empire's collapse.

RSSS 306 – Russian Rap from Love and Sex to Propaganda and Protest

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Gen Ed: Building Connections

Russian Rap introduces students to a more recent history of the Russian Federation and various political, social, and cultural changes through exploration of the development and rise of Hip Hop culture within a newly reshaped country. In particular, the focus is on the global phenomenon of rap music and Hip Hop as it enters and adapts to local contexts in Russia. Beginning with an overview of Russian history up to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the course spans over near four decades of Russian history and a way of life of modern Russians (1990s - present). Students will engage in exploration of Russian rap music from a variety of prominent musicians, as well as analysis of their significance from socio-political and cultural perspectives. Particular emphasis is on a comparison between rap within Russian and American contexts as well as connecting it to an idea of Hip Hop as a global phenomenon. As an outcome, students should develop an understanding of recent Russian history and culture along with an ability and tools for understanding how musical artifacts represent historical, societal, and cultural changes and aspects of the region.

RSSS 315 – Werewolves and Vampires: Slavic Folklore in our Culture

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

The course will examine supernatural figures who find their folkloric and historical origins in the Slavic and East European tradition. Through legends, chronicles, novels, films, and music, the course will consider how and why these creatures come to reflect contemporary fears.

RSSS 320 – Criminal Russia: From Rasputin to Putin

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Gen Ed: Building Connections

In contemporary Russia -- marked by extreme inequality; political prosecutions; government discrimination against racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities; extensive corruption, and prisoners¿ human rights violations -- the illegal has permeated the legal. ¿Criminal Russia¿ centers on the concept of power, and specifically, on the process of its consolidation and application by legitimate and illicit structures, and on the effect these processes have on different populations. To do this, the course begins with considering the influence of crime on the government in imperial Russia and the nation¿s fascination with a glorified criminal archetype. Then, moving to the more recent period, ¿Criminal Russia¿ explores the oppressive nature of the Soviet state, realized in unlawful mass incarcerations into Gulags; the interweaving of the criminal code into Russian politics; the rise and (alleged) fall of the Russian mafia; the country¿s penitentiary system as a reflection of societal power verticals and the collective sense of right and wrong; and the paradoxical place of the criminal culture within the national consciousness. Upon completing the course, students will be able: (1) to critically analyze issues of power (and power abuse) by the state and by its shadow using various disciplinary approaches, (2) to address issues of freedom, oppression, incarceration, and human rights, in Russia and elsewhere, and (3) to explain how counter cultures subvert dominant ideologies.

RSSS 328 – Women in Russian Literature and Culture

Cross Listed

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Images of Russian women as reflected in literary, historical, and religious texts. Cultural attitudes revealed help to understand the status and role of women in today's Russia.

RSSS 350 – The Soviet Experiment

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

Readings and discussion in English of representative Russian literary works from the 20th century.

RSSS 395A – Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture

Russia has always been an enigmatic place for the West, with its globe-shaking politics and its rich contribution to the world culture. Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture is an attempt to overcome the Western puzzlement with Russian contradictions; the topics offer a glimpse into a variety of cultural, social, and political features of Russian society. The course materials, lectures, and discussions will provide a wide variety of insights to the particular contexts and modalities in which Imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet Russia has operated, thus revealing the true meaning behind the seemingly perplexing "for the West" beliefs, attitudes and customs of the Russia's population and the interrelation between the national consciousness with the country politics.

RSSS 399 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 399H – Honors Independent Study

Honors Course

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 415 – Advanced Topics in Russian Language, Literature and Linguistics

A variable topics course taught in English or Russian (depending on subject material).

RSSS 493C – Internship

Honors Course

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.

RSSS 493C – Internship

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.

RSSS 498H – Honors Thesis

Honors Course

Writing Emphasis Course

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

RSSS 499 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 101 – Elementary Russian I

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

For the student with no previous experience in Russian.

RSSS 102 – Elementary Russian II

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

For the student with some knowledge of Russian.

RSSS 114 – How to Learn a Foreign Language

Cross Listed

Gen Ed: Building Connections

The goal of the course is to provide students with important tools to help them become successful foreign language learners. Students will become familiar with basic elements of language such as parts of speech and the pronunciation of new sounds as a means of enabling them to anticipate and effectively deal with problems in pronunciation, vocabulary building, and sentence formation that often come up in foreign language study. They will also learn about the intertwining of culture and language, such as how expressions of politeness and body language differ across cultures. They will also be exposed to different language teaching and learning styles, typical mistakes language learners make, and strategies for making language learning more effective. This information will be presented in the context of the wide variety of languages taught at the University of Arizona

RSSS 150B1 – East European Cinema in Social Context

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Individuals & Societies/150

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

East European Cinema in a Social Context (RSSS150) introduces students to a variety of excellent films that have come out of Eastern Europe in the last 100 years or so. Students will learn about the socio-political and cultural contexts of these films, the societies in which they were produced, and the events and situations that they depict. The goal of the course is to increase students' understanding and knowledge of Eastern European societies, cultures, and history while at the same time enhancing their appreciation and understanding of particular film masterpieces and cinema in general. By engaging them in the close study of these films, the course should help students develop analytical and viewing skills. Students should emerge from this course with a strong understanding of cinematic terms, an enriched understanding of diverse cultures of the region, and the tools for further exploration in a variety of academic disciplines (language, film, history, etc.). For purposes of this course, Eastern Europe includes the geographical area bounded by the Czech Republic in the west, Russia in the east; Poland in the north, and the former Yugoslavia & Greece in the south. We will watch a selection of movies from different areas.

RSSS 315 – Werewolves and Vampires: Slavic Folklore in our Culture

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

The course will examine supernatural figures who find their folkloric and historical origins in the Slavic and East European tradition. Through legends, chronicles, novels, films, and music, the course will consider how and why these creatures come to reflect contemporary fears.

RSSS 399 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 101 – Elementary Russian I

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

For the student with no previous experience in Russian.

RSSS 114 – How to Learn a Foreign Language

Cross Listed

Gen Ed: Building Connections

The goal of the course is to provide students with important tools to help them become successful foreign language learners. Students will become familiar with basic elements of language such as parts of speech and the pronunciation of new sounds as a means of enabling them to anticipate and effectively deal with problems in pronunciation, vocabulary building, and sentence formation that often come up in foreign language study. They will also learn about the intertwining of culture and language, such as how expressions of politeness and body language differ across cultures. They will also be exposed to different language teaching and learning styles, typical mistakes language learners make, and strategies for making language learning more effective. This information will be presented in the context of the wide variety of languages taught at the University of Arizona

RSSS 150B1 – East European Cinema in Social Context

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Individuals & Societies/150

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

East European Cinema in a Social Context (RSSS150) introduces students to a variety of excellent films that have come out of Eastern Europe in the last 100 years or so. Students will learn about the socio-political and cultural contexts of these films, the societies in which they were produced, and the events and situations that they depict. The goal of the course is to increase students' understanding and knowledge of Eastern European societies, cultures, and history while at the same time enhancing their appreciation and understanding of particular film masterpieces and cinema in general. By engaging them in the close study of these films, the course should help students develop analytical and viewing skills. Students should emerge from this course with a strong understanding of cinematic terms, an enriched understanding of diverse cultures of the region, and the tools for further exploration in a variety of academic disciplines (language, film, history, etc.). For purposes of this course, Eastern Europe includes the geographical area bounded by the Czech Republic in the west, Russia in the east; Poland in the north, and the former Yugoslavia & Greece in the south. We will watch a selection of movies from different areas.

RSSS 160C2 – Contemporary Russia in a Historical and Global Context

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Traditions and Cultures/160

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This course examines contemporary Russian culture and politics in a historical context, determining how the country's past influences present day culture and politics. We will learn of Russia's recent cultural and artistic triumphs within the context of Russia's rich history. In discussing Russian literary and cinematic works of the early 21st century, we will assess the impact of history on Russian consciousness and identity, noting how Russia presents itself around the world, and how it is perceived by other nations.

RSSS 199 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 201 – Intermediate Russian I

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

Third semester Russian.

RSSS 208 – Russian Conversation II: Intermediate Russian Oral Communication

This course focuses on advancing students' knowledge of spoken Russian and their understanding of linguistic registers. The goal is to expand student's vocabulary and improve students' speaking fluency as well as their ability to speak in Russian with nuanced diverse speech acts. This course will build upon students' foundation of Russian language obtained in RSSS 101-102 Elementary Russian and will teach students to apply the knowledge of Russian grammatical structures to various cultural contexts by involving students in various interactive activities, role plays and class presentations.

RSSS 280 – Sports and Empire: Sport in Soviet & Post-Soviet Eastern European Society

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

Gen Ed: Building Connections

For almost 100 years, the Soviet Union and Russia have used large sporting events for both geopolitical and domestic purposes. In the Soviet Union sport was not only a means of entertainment, but also a key element of state propaganda. Through sport, the new Soviet person was to be made. By 1956, the Soviet Union took home more Olympic medals than the US team, setting the stage for a rivalry between capitalist and socialist states that would last throughout the Cold War era. This course will explore the birth of sport in Russia and Eastern Europe, trace how the Soviet system created a propaganda machine out of international sporting competition, and how the Soviet legacy continues into the modern day. We will also discuss contemporary sporting issues--such as doping scandals and the hosting of international events--to analyze how sport is used as a projection of identity, resistance and/or power in the global arena.

RSSS 299 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 299H – Honors Independent Study

Honors Course

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 301 – Advanced Grammar and Composition

Pass/Fail Option Available to Qualified Students

RSSS 310 – Red Stars, Cosmonauts, and Robots: Soviet and East European Science Fiction

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This course studies a selection of the best and most influential fantastic, marvelous, and uncanny works from the region that brought the world rocketry, Sputnik, and the robot. Students will analyze a variety of media (in translation) from Eastern Europe that posit situations based in a "fantastic" space, time or world to compare how broader cultural concerns are expressed through the genre of science fiction. We will discuss the development of the genre in Eastern Europe from the era of Romanticism to the modern day, with emphasis on the historical-cultural context of the Space Race between the US and USSR and its impact on the genre. This course will explore the view "from the East" of such topics as progress, imperialism, human perfectibility, gender constructs, the nature of communication, human/other identity, and the limits of knowledge as humanity pushes further into the final frontier. Students will read all texts in translation; all films will be available with English-language subtitles.

RSSS 315 – Vampires and Werewolves: Slavic & East European Folklore in our Culture

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

The course will examine supernatural figures who find their folkloric and historical origins in the Slavic and East European tradition. Through legends, chronicles, novels, films, and music, the course will consider how and why these creatures come to reflect contemporary fears.

RSSS 340 – The Pen and the Sword: Russian Writers and Autocracy 1825-1905

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This course is designed to be an introduction to the "Golden Age" of Russian literature. We will read a selection of classic Russian texts, with representative works from "canonical" authors like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, among others. The writers we will read not only played a key role in the development of Russian literature, but their handling of life's greatest issues (the existence of God, the meaning of life, struggle for gender equality, the organization of society, the mystery of death, etc.) have influenced cultural, intellectual, and political movements throughout the world. The course readings are organized chronologically and by theme, and we will trace the progression of the major literary movements of the era (sentimentalism, romanticism and realism) while exploring the individual style/technique of each author. Works will be considered within their cultural context --historical, social, ideological and intellectual --in order to provide a better understanding of Russian thought, culture, and literature. All readings, discussions and written assignments will be in English.

RSSS 345 – World War II: The Soviet Cultural Experience

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

A cultural exploration of the Soviet experience of WWII, "The Great Patriotic War." Students examine how the Soviets shaped the narrative of this conflict in poetry, prose, speeches, music, posters, paintings, monuments, and film.

RSSS 395A – Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture

Russia has always been an enigmatic place for the West, with its globe-shaking politics and its rich contribution to the world culture. Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture is an attempt to overcome the Western puzzlement with Russian contradictions; the topics offer a glimpse into a variety of cultural, social, and political features of Russian society. The course materials, lectures, and discussions will provide a wide variety of insights to the particular contexts and modalities in which Imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet Russia has operated, thus revealing the true meaning behind the seemingly perplexing "for the West" beliefs, attitudes and customs of the Russia's population and the interrelation between the national consciousness with the country politics.

RSSS 399 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 399H – Honors Independent Study

Honors Course

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 415 – Advanced Topics in Russian Language, Literature and Linguistics

A variable topics course taught in English or Russian (depending on subject material).

RSSS 493C – Internship

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.

RSSS 498H – Honors Thesis

Honors Course

Writing Emphasis Course

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

RSSS 499 – Independent Study

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

RSSS 499H – Honors Independent Study

Honors Course

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.