Current Courses

101 - Elementary Russian
In Elementary Russian the stress is on learning the language through constant use, not through memorization of abstract rules and word lists. During the Fall quarter students acquire the basics of grammar and vocabulary. During the Winter and Spring quarters, students continue to study grammar and spend more and more time on reading and discussing various texts on modern life in Russia. More advanced grammatical principles and new vocabulary are introduced through conversational sessions. The skills acquired by the students in class are then reinforced in the language lab. The goal of the whole 101 course is to get the students to the point where they are ready to start reading unsimplified works by the masters of Russian literature and to work with fairly advanced conversation materials by the beginning of the second-year course.

102 - Intermediate Russian
The primary goal of second year Russian is to expand the student's speaking, reading and writing skills by building on grammar and vocabulary learned during the first year of study. As a complement to the linguistic side of the course, the student will gain a greater familiarity with Russian history and culture through varied means including, readings of literary works and audiovisual programs. The course also prepares students to study in Russia during the summer or next academic year.

106-1,2,3 - Elementary Czech
Czech language and culture. Basic reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Prerequisite: Must be taken in sequence or consent of language coordinator required.

207-1,2,3 - Intermediate Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian
A largely oral approach to the basic grammar and vocabulary necessary for reading, speaking, comprehending, and writing basic Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (B/C/S). Most material will be presented in the Latin alphabet, but students will be expected to use the Cyrillic alphabet as well and to gain basic knowledge of the similarities and differences among B/C/S. Must be taken in sequence. Prerequisite: consent of language coordinator.

108-1,2,3 - Elementary Polish
Polish language and culture. Basic reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Must be taken in sequence or consent of language coordinator required.

210-1, 2, 3 - Introduction to Russian Literature
Comprehensive overview of the central prose works and literary movements in 19th-century Russia. 1. Thematic and formal study of major works by Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Turgenev. 2. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky. 3. Turgenev, Leskov, the late Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bunin.

211-1, 2 - 20th-century Russian Literature
Major works in cultural-historical context from the revolutions of 1917 through the present. 1. Russian modernism in literature, music, film, and visual art. 2. Masterpieces of 20th-century Russian prose, including works by Babel, Bulgakov, Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, and contemporary Russian fiction writers.

255 - Early Slavic Civilization
History, literature, and culture of the Slavs (Bulgarians, Macedonians, Serbs, Croats, Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks) from antiquity through the 13th century.

257 - Introduction to the Soviet Union and Successor States
Broad survey of Russian cultural, social, political, and economic life in the 20th century. Focus on the Soviet period and its aftermath in light of Russia's historical background.

261 - Polish Culture in the 20th Century
Study of key developments in Polish history, literature, and thought by way of texts drawn from literature, history, politics, journalism, memoirs, essays, and film. Poland as a microcosm for recent European history and culture.

303 - Advanced Russian Language and Culture
This is a fourth course of a four-year sequence of Russian. In order to develop listening comprehension this course combines reading materials with regular home assignments (readings, translations, grammar exercises, essays) and a written project with students presenting their project to the class during a "mini-conference" at the end of each quarter.

304 - Russian for Advanced and Native Speakers

Advanced Russian for Russian speakers who grew up in the US and other advanced speakers. Intended to help acquire reading and writing skills, with stress on advanced levels of these skills and speaking. Taught entirely in Russian. Content varies; may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of language coordinator.

311 - Dostoevsky

Introduction to Dostoevsky's life and works: Notes from the Underground, Crime and Punishment, Bothers Karamazov

313 - Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov's major Russian and American prose, from his émigré years (The Defense, The Gift, and Invitation to a Beheading) to his celebrated English-language works (Lolita, Speak, Memory, and Pale Fire).

341 - The Structure of Russian
A one-quarter course which covers the phonology and morphology of Contemporary Standard Russian. It includes a description of the phonetics, phonemics, morphophonemics and word-formation of Russian.

350 - Folklore, Music, Poetry
Traditional folk and religious folklore and poetry: from Biblical and Greek origins through East Slavic, Russian, and Western European works. Forms, literary and political implications, Russian and Western European poetic and rhythmic interrelations.

358 - Polish for Advanced and Native Speakers

Advanced Polish for Polish speakers who grew up in the US and other advanced speakers. Intended to help acquire reading and writing skills, with stress on advanced levels of these skills and speaking.. Students become familiar with major achievements of Polish artistic prose in the 20th century. Taught entirely in Polish. Content varies; may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of language coordinator.

359-1, 2 - Russian Prose
Russian Prose Selected works of Russian masters. 1. 19th century. 2. 20th century. Content varies; may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor

360 - Survey of 19th-century Russian Poetry
Introduction to the wealth of Russian 19th-century lyric poetry and basic techniques for its study: Pushkin, Baratynsky, Lermontov, Tyutchev, Fet. Knowledge of Russian required. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

378 - Visual Art in the Context of Russian Culture
Survey of major trends in Russian visual art in the dual contexts of Russian culture and European visual art. Works integrated with readings drawn from Russian literature and history.

390 - Literature and Politics in Russia
More than in any other European tradition, Russian literature has played a central role in defining the nation's political agenda. The interaction of literature with Russian cultural and political history.

392 - Contemporary East European Literature
Post-World War II literature of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the former Yugoslavia; national identity, dissidence, and literary postmodernism.

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