Back to Language and Culture Studies

Major and Minor Requirements

OVERVIEW OF MAJOR

Students may major in Russian (Plan A major) or Russian and a second language (Plan B major).

REQUIREMENTS

Plan A majors are required to complete 12 credits in Russian.

Plan B majors whose primary concentration is Russian are required to complete nine courses in Russian. Plan B majors whose secondary concentration is Russian are required to complete seven courses in Russian.

Plan A Majors:
Plan A majors are required to complete 12 credits in Russian as follows:

  • Seven courses in Russian, to be chosen from among the following: RUSS 101, 102, 201, 202, 210, 270, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 320.
  • Two courses in Russian literature and culture.
  • A senior thesis, RUSS 497.
  • Two cognate courses in Russian studies from outside the department.

Credit acquired through the Language Across the Curriculum program may also count toward the cognate requirement. Students who begin Russian in their sophomore year are encouraged to do summer work off campus at an approved program.

Plan B Majors:

Plan B majors whose primary concentration is Russian are required to complete nine courses in Russian, as follows:

  • Seven courses from the language sequence.
  • One literature and culture course in translation (RUSS 284, 285, 286, 288, 357).
  • The senior exercise (RUSS 497. Senior Thesis). The thesis must explore a topic that joins Russia with the student’s secondary concentration.

Plan B majors whose secondary concentration is Russian are required to complete five courses in Russian from the Russian language sequence. Literature courses taught in English and cross-listed with a LACS prefix may not be counted.

Please note that some aspect of Russian literature or culture must be an integral part of the senior exercise required for the student’s primary concentration.

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement for the Plan A or Plan B Russian major is fulfilled by RUSS 497

All Russian majors (Plan A and Plan B, both categories) are required to pass the department’s Russian language proficiency examination.

Language Concentration (“Minor”) in Russian develops linguistic skills as well as an appreciation of Russian culture and civilization. Students take a sequence of six courses in the Russian language. In exceptional circumstances and with consent of the faculty advisor for the minor, up to two of these courses may be replaced by a course in English on Russian culture.