Russian Courses Fall 2009

RUSS 101: Elementary Russian I

Section 000 Maria Lunk MW 9:35-10:25 and TT 10:00-11:15
Section 001 Vera Proskurina MW 11:45-12:35 and TT 11:30-12:45
Section 002 Vera Proskurina MW 12:50-1:40 and TT 1:00-2:15
4 credit hours

Content: Russia is the largest country in the world. From the standpoint of usage, Russian ranks with English and Chinese as one of the three major world languages. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, new and exciting job opportunities for students who know Russian have appeared. Elementary Russian is designed to introduce students to the Russian language and to the rich culture of Russia. The course focuses upon contemporary Russian and the development of speaking, listening, and writing. The course instruction utilizes multimedia resources, including Russian television.

Text:
Nachalo, 2nd Edition

Particulars: Course requirements include chapter quizzes, midterm and final exams. Both oral and written testing is done.

RUSS 190: The "Mad" Russian (Freshman Seminar - FOR FRESHMEN ONLY)
Section 00P Juliette Apkarian MW 4:00-5:30
Cross-listed as REES 190

Content: From images of vodka-drinking mystics like Rasputin to those of "crazed" leaders like Ivan 'the Terrible' of Stalin, the West has been quick to associate madness with Russian culture. In the course we will examine this stereotype of Russians in the West and contrast it with the concept of madness as it actually is understood by Russians themselves. The journey will take us through a wide range of works, including Cold War propaganda, blockbuster films, and the writings of Dostoevsky.

Text: TBA

RUSS 201: Intermediate Russian Conversation and Reading

Section 000 Maria Lunk MW 11:45-12:35 and TT 11:30-12:45
4 credit hours

Content: Intermediate Russian is designed to develop proficiency in conversational and written usage of Russian. Although implementation of new grammar is essential, the main focus is on Russian as a living means of communication.

Text:
V Puti: Russian Grammar in Context, Olga Kagan, Frank Miller, 2005

Particulars: Unit quizzes, mid-term, and final exam.

RUSS 271: Masterpieces of 19th Century Literature in Translation
Section 000 Juliette Apkarian TT 4:00-5:30 Limit 15
4 credit hours

Content: Nineteenth-century Russia produced some of the most original and exciting writers of all time, including Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. Grappling with the contradictions of tsarist rule, Russian writers offer special insight into the enigmas of their own country as well as those of the human condition more broadly. Their works explore questions about national and personal identity, the nature of power, the meaning of life, and relationships between art and politics. The course is multimedia in approach (film, music, art), and it examines the brilliant legacy of well-known Russian writers as well as some less known in the West.

Text: TBA

Particulars: TBA

RUSS 301: Advanced Oral and Written Communication I

Section 000 Vera Proskurina MWF 2:00-2:50
4 credit hours

Content: The course is designed to develop fluency in spoken Russian as well as enhance writing skills, vocabulary development, and reading and listening comprehension. Discussion and compositions focus on contrasting and comparing contemporary Russian and American societies. Attention will be given to grammatical constructions and stylistic differences to assist in the development of communicative skills.

Particulars: TBA

RUSS 360: Dostoevsky in English Translation
Section 000 Mikhail Epstein/Elena Glazov-Corrigan TT 1:00-2:15
Same as CPLT 389WR
Same as IDS 385WR

Content: Of all Russian writers Dostoevsky had the most serious impact on the world culture. He widened horizons of artistic imagination and human thought. In this class four major works of fiction by Dostoevsky will be discussed. Dostoevsky will be approached as a creator of a genre of polyphonic novel and a predecessor of modern intellectual trends such as Jungian theory of psychological archetypes and existentialism. Interpretations of Dostoevsky's work by Berdiaev, Vyacheslav Ivanov, and Bakhtin will amplify reading experience and outline topic for discussion.

Particulars: The course will be taught in English. Final paper.

Required Texts: TBA

RUSS 402: Masterpieces of 20th Century Russian Literature in the Original
Section 000 Elena Glazov-Corrigan TT 4:00-5:15

RUSS 495: Honors Program In Russian

Section 00P (Permission Only) Faculty

RUSS 496: Russian Language Internship

Section 00P (Permission Only) Faculty

RUSS 497: Individual Directed Reading

Section 00P (Permission Only) Faculty

RUSS 797: Directed Studies in Russian Language or Culture

Section 00P (Permission Only) Faculty

For additional offerings please see REES Course Offerings (Russian and East European Studies)

Please see OPUS for current GER information including tags.

Last updated April 9, 2009