Major & Minor Requirements

Learning Outcomes for Undergraduate Russian Studies students:

  • Demonstrate, in writing and discussion, familiarity with the major literary and cultural movements of the Russian/Slavic-speaking world from the 19th century to the present.  Identify major authors, themes, genres within these movements.
  • Language-Focused and Heritage:  Achieve the proficiency of “Basic (Foundational)” (TORFL, Russian Ministry of Education) or “Intermediate” (ACTFL) by testing in speaking, writing, listening, reading, and grammar according to the proficiency measurements established by TORFL and ACTFL. 
  • Culture-Focused:  Achieve the proficiency of “Elementary” (TORFL, Russian Ministry of Education) or its ACTFL equivalent by testing in speaking, writing, listening, reading, and grammar according to the proficiency measurements established by TORFL and ACTFL.
  • Effectively communicate in written and oral discourse how the larger context shapes individual expression in the past and present.

Major Emphasis 1: Language-Focused

Requirements - 30 units

Required Courses (23 units)

  • RSSS 201 (2nd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 202 (2nd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 301 (3rd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 302 (3rd year Russian language, 2nd semester)
  • RSSS 340 (“The Pen and the Sword: Russian Writers and Autocracy 1825-1905”)
  • RSSS 350 (“The Soviet Experiment”)
  • One of the following courses:
    • RSSS 308 (Oral Communication: Global Simulation) OR equivalent* 
    • RSSS 415 001 (“Advanced topics: Oral Communication”)
    • RSSS 415 002 (“Advanced Topics: Reading”)

Electives (7 units)

Choose from the following list:

  • RSSS 208 ("Russian Conversation II")
  • RSSS 210 (“Utopian Visions”)
  • RSSS 212 ("Mythic Russia: Russian Fairytales and Folklore")
  • RSSS 275 (“The Balkans: Identity in Crisis”)
  • RSSS 280 ("Sports and Empire: Sport in Soviet & Post-Soviet Eastern European Society")
  • RSSS 304 (“History of Soviet and Russian Film”)
  • RSSS 305 ("Russian and American Foodways")
  • RSSS 306 ("Russian Rap from Love and Sex to Propaganda and Protest")
  • RSSS 310 (“Soviet and East European Science Fiction”)
  • RSSS 311 (“Love for Sale: Fallen Women in Art and Literature”)
  • RSSS 315 (“Werewolves and Vampires: Slavic Folklore in our Culture”)
  • RSSS 317 ("History of Russian Theatre and Performance")
  • RSSS 320 ("Criminal Russia: From Rasputin to Putin")
  • RSSS 325 (“Eastern Orthodoxy in a Global Age”)
  • RSSS 328 (“Women in Russian Literature and Culture”)
  • RSSS 335 ("Healthy Places, Toxic Spaces: GeoHumanities & Health in Russia & Eastern Europe")
  • RSSS 345 (“World War II: The Soviet Cultural Experience”)
  • RSSS 395A ("Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture")
  • RSSS 399 (Independent Study)
  • RSSS 490 ("Identity, Language & Nation")
  • RSSS 493c (“Experiential Learning”)* contact Prof. Leafgren at leafgren@email.arizona.edu concerning experiential learning internships
  • RSSS 499 (Independent Study)

Major Emphasis 2: Culture-Focused

Requirements - 30 units

Required courses (14 units)

  • RSSS 201 (2nd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 202 (2nd year Russian language, 2nd semester)
  • RSSS 340 ("Russian Writers and Society, 1825-1905")
  • RSSS 350 (“The Soviet Experiment”)

Electives (16 units)

Choose from the following list:

  • RSSS 208 ("Russian Conversation II")
  • RSSS 210 (“Utopian Visions”)
  • RSSS 212 ("Mythic Russia: Russian Fairytales and Folklore")
  • RSSS 275 (“The Balkans: Identity in Crisis”)
  • RSSS 280 ("Sports and Empire: Sport in Soviet & Post-Soviet Eastern European Society")
  • RSSS 301  (3rd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 302 (3rd year Russian language, 2nd semester)
  • RSSS 304 (“History of Soviet and Russian Film,”)
  • RSSS 305 ("Russian and American Foodways")
  • RSSS 306 ("Russian Rap from Love and Sex to Propaganda and Protest")
  • RSSS 308 (“Oral Communication: Global Simulation”) or equivalent* (contact Prof. Leafgren at leafgren@email.arizona.edu)
  • RSSS 310 (“Soviet and East European Science Fiction”)
  • RSSS 311 (“Love for Sale: Fallen Women in Art and Literature”)
  • RSSS 315 (“Werewolves and Vampires: Slavic Folklore in our Culture”)
  • RSSS 317 ("History of Russian Theatre and Performance")
  • RSSS 320 ("Criminal Russia: From Rasputin to Putin")
  • RSSS 325 (“Eastern Orthodoxy in a Global Age”)
  • RSSS 328 (“Women in Russian Literature and Culture”)
  • RSSS 335 ("Healthy Places, Toxic Spaces: GeoHumanities & Health in Russia & Eastern Europe")
  • RSSS 345 (“World War II: The Soviet Cultural Experience”)
  • RSSS 395A ("Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture")
  • RSSS 399 (Independent Study)
  • RSSS 415 001 (“Advanced topics: Oral Communication”)
  • RSSS 415 002 (“Advanced Topics: Reading”)
  • RSSS 490 ("Identity, Language & Nation")
  • RSSS 493c “Experiential Learning.”* (contact Prof. Leafgren at leafgren@email.arizona.edu concerning experiential learning internships) 
  • RSSS 499 (Independent Study)

Minor Requirements 

The minor in Russian and Slavic Studies requires 18 units as follows:

Language (3 units)

One course from the Russian language series:

  • RSSS 201 (2nd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 202 (2nd year Russian language, 2nd semester)
  • RSSS 301 (3rd year Russian language, 1st semester)
  • RSSS 302 (3rd year Russian language, 2nd semester)
  • RSSS 308 (Oral Communication: Global simulation)
  • RSSS 405A (19th-century Russian literature in the original)
  • RSSS 405B (20th-century Russian literature in the original)
  • RSSS 415 001 (“Advanced topics: Oral Communication”)
  • RSSS 415 002 (“Advanced Topics: Reading”)
  • RSSS 499 (Independent Study)

Electives (15 units)

15 units from the following list:

  • RSSS 208 ("Russian Conversation II")
  • RSSS 210 (“Utopian Visions”)
  • RSSS 212 ("Mythic Russia: Russian Fairytales and Folklore")
  • RSSS 275 (“The Balkans: Identity in Crisis”)
  • RSSS 280 ("Sports and Empire: Sport in Soviet & Post-Soviet Eastern European Society")
  • RSSS 304 (“History of Soviet and Russian Film”)
  • RSSS 305 ("Russian and American Foodways")
  • RSSS 306 ("Russian Rap from Love and Sex to Propaganda and Protest")
  • RSSS 310 (“Soviet and East European Science Fiction”)
  • RSSS 311 (“Love for Sale: Fallen Women in Art and Literature”)
  • RSSS 315 (“Werewolves and Vampires: Slavic Folklore in our Culture”)
  • RSSS 317 ("History of Russian Theatre and Performance")
  • RSSS 320 ("Criminal Russia: From Rasputin to Putin")
  • RSSS 325 (“Eastern Orthodoxy in a Global Age”)
  • RSSS 328 (“Women in Russian Literature and Culture”)
  • RSSS 335 ("Healthy Places, Toxic Spaces: GeoHumanities & Health in Russia & Eastern Europe")
  • RSSS 340 ("Russian Writers and Society, 1825-1905")
  • RSSS 345 (“World War II: The Soviet Cultural Experience”)
  • RSSS 350 (“The Soviet Experiment”)
  • RSSS 395A ("Topics in Slavic and Eurasian Culture")
  • RSSS 399 (Independent Study)
  • RSSS 490 ("Identity, Language & Nation")
  • RSSS 493c (“Experiential Learning”)* contact Prof. Leafgren at leafgren@email.arizona.edu concerning experiential learning internships
  • RSSS 499 (Independent Study)

 

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Thank you for your interest in Russian & Slavic Studies. There are many benefits of majoring in Russian. Learn More >>

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