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Russian StudiesFull Time Faculty: Julia Chadaga, Gitta Hammarberg, James von Geldern (Co-chair) The Russian Studies program offers students an opportunity to learn one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, and to access and understand Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia through coursework in language, literature, culture, history, and area studies. Russia and the other members of the former Soviet Union are resurgent economic, political, and military powers with an influence felt around the world. They have a remarkable history and a culture that is as rich in experimentation and innovation as it is in tradition. The twentieth century brought not only revolution and turmoil, but also dazzling experimentation with form, content, and new ways of thinking. Yet a closer look at Russia’s history reveals centuries of such innovation, which continues to the present day. This region has produced some of the most enduring and beautiful works of music, literature, art, and cinema. Our program provides pathways into discovering this region, its people, and its works. Many of the authors we teach—such as Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Nabokov—produced classics of world literature that have broadened the definition of their genres. The readings are in translation in the majority of our courses, and all students are welcome. Many of our courses are cross-listed with English, History, International Studies, and the Humanities and Media and Cultural Studies departments. The Russian Studies major allows students to become proficient in conversational and written Russian, to immerse themselves in Russian literature and culture, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of historical and political contexts. The major is flexible to accommodate the complexity of the subject and our students’ diverse interests. Students can weight their major toward area studies or the humanities, and still be able to take complementary courses in such fields as history, geography, political science, and economics. Our majors graduate with practical skills (e.g., writing, public speaking, research) and valuable critical, analytical, and creative thinking skills. Students typically major in Russian in preparation for careers in law, journalism, business, foreign service, marketing, public health, scientific research, ecology, translation, teaching, and graduate work in the humanities or social sciences. Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States are dynamic and complex nations with rapidly growing economies, and as this region continues to develop, it offers ever greater career opportunities for graduates with knowledge of Russian. The Russian House Students compete for the privilege of living in the Macalester Russian House, where conversation with a resident native speaker and fellow students of Russian allows them to improve oral proficiency and develop increased understanding of Russian culture and society. Living in the Russian House is excellent preparation for a semester in Russia. The Russian House also hosts special events including dinners, film screenings, guest speakers, student performances, and holiday celebrations. Study Abroad Today the opportunities to travel, study and do research in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are better than ever. After 1–2 years of language study, our students may apply to programs offered by Middlebury College (in Moscow, Yaroslavl, and Irkutsk), the School for International Training (in St. Petersburg), or other programs as approved by the department and the International Center study abroad advisors. General Distribution Requirement All Russian courses count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities. General Education Requirements Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and multiculturalism will be posted on the Registrar’s web page in advance of registration for each semester. Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog. Major Requirements The purpose of the major in Russian Studies is to provide students with the language, critical skills and area knowledge necessary for the use of Russian in commerce, science, and international relations and for further study of Russian literature and the former Soviet Union. A major in Russian Studies consists of 44 credits, distributed as follows: I. Russian department courses: 36 credits, to include: a) Basic language sequence beyond Russian 101–102 (Elementary Russian), 16 credits: Russian 203–204 (Intermediate Russian), 8 credits, and another 8 credits of Russian language abroad in the third year, or equivalent. Russian Studies majors are expected to complete the equivalent of three years of Russian language in a combination of courses taken on campus and abroad. Students with significant language background when they come to Macalester may substitute courses listed below. b) Literature, culture, special language courses, 16 credits: Russian 251 (Hussars, Hookers, Holy Fools: Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature in Translation), Russian 252 (Experiments in Living: Twentieth-Century Russian Literature and Culture), Russian 255 (The Fierce and Beautiful World: Russian Culture Before the Revolution), Russian/Humanities and Media and Cultural Studies 256 (Mass Culture Under Communism), Russian 257 (Tolstoy’s War and Peace), International Studies/Russian 265 (Translation as Cross-Cultural Communication), Russian/Humanities and Media and Cultural Studies 270 (Wrongdoing in Russian Literature), Russian 363 (Orientalism and Empire: Russia’s Literary South), Russian/English 366 (Nabokov), Russian 367 (Dostoevsky and Gogol), and topics courses offered as Russian 194, 294 or 394. At least one of these courses should focus on the 19th century and one on the 20th century. c) Russian 488 (Senior Seminar), 4 credits, designed as the integrative capstone experience. May be taken upon completion of Russian 204 and an approved study abroad plan. Since the topic changes from year to year, students may repeat Russian 488 for credit under b), with the consent of the instructor. II. Study abroad A semester study abroad program as approved by the department and the Macalester Study Abroad Committee. Most students will study abroad in the fall semester following completion of Russian 204. Courses taken abroad may count for up to 8 credits in the language sequence, as well as four credits under sections I.b or III. III. Supporting courses (8 credits) Two area studies courses, as approved by the department. Such courses are significantly devoted to the area of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Preapproved courses include: International Studies/Russian 272 (Postnationalism: the Post-Soviet Sphere), International Studies/Russian 364 (Culture and Revolution), History 360 (The Rise and Fall of Tsarist Russia) and History 362 (History of the Soviet Union and its Successors), Economics/International Studies 225 (Comparative Economic Systems), Economics 227 (Adam Smith and Karl Marx) and Economics/International Studies 325 (China, Russia and Central Europe in Transition), International Studies 285 (Ethnicity and Nationalism in Central and Eastern Europe), International Studies 317 (Writers and Power: The European East in the 20th Century). Appropriate topics courses include Music 394 (Shostakovich). Minor Requirements A minor in Russian Studies consists of any five courses as listed above beyond Russian 102 (Elementary Russian II), to include Russian 203–204 (Intermediate Russian I and II). Policy on Russian Language Grades In order to be accepted into the next higher Russian language course in the sequence, a student must have received a grade of C– or higher in the previous course. For additional information regarding the language requirement, see the College requirements. Honors Program The Russian department participates in the Honors Program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the Russian department are available either from the department office or the Director of Academic Programs. Topics Courses 194, 294, 394, 494 The subject matter of these courses will vary: departmental and interdisciplinary topics such as “Things Don’t Like Me: The Material World and Why It Matters” and “Making History: Russian Cinema as Testimony, Propaganda, and Art.” Most topics courses are taught in English. Every year. (4 credits)
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