Slavic Languages and Literatures
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Slavic Languages & Literatures department
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Director of undergraduate studies: Hilary Fink, 2705 HGS, 432-1301, hilary.fink@yale.edu; language coordinator: Irina Dolgova, 2704A HGS, 432-1307, irina.dolgova@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SLAVIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
Professors
Vladimir Alexandrov, Katerina Clark, Laura Engelstein, Harvey Goldblatt, Robert Greenberg (Adjunct), Benjamin Harshav, John MacKay, Tomas Venclova
Associate Professor
Hilary Fink
Assistant Professor
Kate Holland
Senior Lector II
Irina Dolgova
Senior Lectors
Krystyna Illakowicz, Rita Lipson, Constantine Muravnik, Julia Titus, Karen von Kunes
The major in Russian offered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures acquaints students with Russian literature and culture, develops students' appreciation of literary values and skill in literary analysis, and gives them a basic competence in Russian. For an area major in Russian studies, see Russian and East European Studies, an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.
Students majoring in Russian may concentrate exclusively on Russian language and literature (Program I), or they may elect to study Russian literature in the context of comparative studies of literature (Program II). For Program II, credit is given for work done in other departments. Specific courses in each program must be arranged with the director of undergraduate studies. Students interested in specializing in Russian or Slavic linguistics may arrange a special concentration in linguistics with the director of undergraduate studies.
The major. Prerequisite to the major in both programs is RUSS 151b. The department offers two sequences of language courses to fulfill the prerequisite: either (1) RUSS 110a, 120b, 130a, 140b, 150a, and 151b or (2) RUSS 125a, 145b, 150a, and 151b. Prospective majors should complete RUSS 140b or 145b by the end of their sophomore year or accelerate their course of study by taking summer courses or studying abroad. While completing the prerequisite, students are encouraged to begin fulfilling requirements of the major that do not presuppose advanced knowledge of Russian by taking courses in Russian history and Russian literature in translation.
In addition to the prerequisite, the major in Russian requires eleven term courses, which must include the following (some courses may fulfill more than one requirement):
1. Two terms of Russian literature in translation: RUSS 250a and 253b.
2. Fourth-year Russian: RUSS 160a and 161b.
3. Two terms of Russian literature read and discussed in the original, typically selected from courses numbered 170 or above and conducted in Russian.
4. At least two term courses in Russian literature of the nineteenth century and two in Russian literature of the twentieth century. Students should select courses from the 170 and 250 series with this distribution requirement in mind.
5. RUSS 490a or b. The senior essay is the intellectual culmination of the student's work in the major. All primary sources used in the essay must be read in Russian.
In addition to the requirements above, each program requires the following:
Program I. One term course in the history or culture of Russia, selected in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies; three additional term courses in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures above RUSS 151b. These may include literature courses taught either in translation or in the original, advanced language training courses, or graduate courses.
Program II. Four term courses relevant to the major in the context of comparative studies of literature in other departments, selected in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
Study abroad. Students majoring in Russian are strongly encouraged to spend a summer or a term studying in the Russian Federation under the auspices of programs approved by the director of undergraduate studies. Language courses taken during the summer or during a term in Russia in approved programs may substitute for certain advanced Russian courses at Yale. Students interested in study abroad should consult the director of undergraduate studies well before their junior year.
Senior requirement. All majors write a senior essay (RUSS 490a or b), an independent project carried out under the guidance of a faculty member.
Placement examination. A departmental placement examination will be given on Sunday, August 31, at 2 P.M. in 221 HGS. Students who have studied Russian elsewhere must take the placement examination before enrolling in any Russian language course at Yale. For further information consult Irina Dolgova, language coordinator, 432-1307.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisite: RUSS 151b
Number of courses: 11 term courses beyond prereq (incl senior essay)
Distribution of courses: Both programs—2 terms of 19th-century Russian lit; 2 terms of 20th-century Russian lit; 2 courses numbered 170 or above and conducted in Russian; Program I—1 course in hist or culture of Russia; 3 addtl courses in dept of Slavic Langs and Lits above level of RUSS 151b; Program II—4 courses relevant to major in other depts, with DUS approval
Specific courses required: Both programs—RUSS 160a, 161b, 250a, 253b
Senior requirement: Senior essay (RUSS 490a or b)
