The Slavic Department offers a range of courses in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and English. Please take a look at our current course offerings along with a list of other recent and upcoming courses. To sign up for our courses, go to the Course Catalog, and search for Russian, Polish, or Ukrainian.
Jump to current courses in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Literature & Culture
Current Slavic Department Courses
(Fall 2024)
Literature & Culture
Every semester we offer a selection of courses on the literature and culture of the region taught in both Russian and English. Most of our literature & culture courses meet the HALC or Diversity Global core requirements.
RUSS 1115: Russia A-Z I
Profs. Lioudmila Fedorova, Bradley Gorski, George Mihaychuk, Jill Neuendorf, Svetlana Grenier & Olga Meerson
Thursday 2:00–2:50 PM
Course Taught in English
This one-credit course is a survey of major topics in Russian culture from its beginnings to the present. It acquaints students with fields of inquiry in Russian language, literature, linguistics and culture and provides the necessary background for further study. It is intended as an introductory course for interested students with little or no background in these subject areas. The course is team-taught by members of the Department of Slavic Languages. In the final three classes of the semester, professors will report on their individual research. All lectures and readings are in English. (1 credit)
RUSS 4441: Tolstoy: War, Truth & Love
Prof. George Mihaychuk
MW 5:00–6:15 PM
Course Taught in English
In this course, we will consider the intricacies of the literary process by which characters and readers are led to the truths that Tolstoy unapologetically offers. And we shall have to consider how one can reconcile his championing clarity and simplicity with the complexity of his literary texts and his views on life. We will examine these issues in several works: an early story from the Sebastopol Tales, his great novel War and Peace, “Khadji Murat,” “The Death of Ivan Ilich,” his play The Power of Darkness, and his booklet What is Art? (3 credits; HALC)
RUSS 4467: Pushkin: Paradoxes of Freedom
Prof. Svetlana Grenier
Tu/Th 5:00–6:15 PM
Course Taught in Russian
Students will read and analyze a selection of lyrics, two narrative poems (verse tales: The Gypsies and The Bronze Horseman), one or two of Little Tragedies (verse drama), and one or two of The Tales of Belkin (stories in prose). We will consider Pushkin’s work in the context of European Romanticism and Realism. This is an upper-level Russian course, taught primarily in Russian. (3 credits; HALC)
RUSS 4472: The Russian Short Story
Prof. Olga Meerson
MW 3:30–4:45 PM
Course Taught in English
This course introduces stories by major Russian writers starting with Karamzin, then sampling the 19th Century Classics—ranging from Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Leskov, and, bridging into the 20th century, Chekhov. In the 20th Century, it comprises authors ranging from Kharms, Platonov, Bulgakov, and Zoshchenko, through Nabokov and then, the Post-Soviet Pelevin and Sorokin, thus bridging into the 21st century and issues of burning relevance today, both poetic and political. (3 credits)
Polish
- PLSH 1001: Beginning Polish I (3 credits)
- MWF 10:00–10:50 AM – Iwona Sadowska
- PLSH 1501: Intermediate Polish I (3 credits)
- MWF 9:00–9:50 AM – Iwona Sadowska
Russian
- RUSS 1011: First-Level Russian I (6 credits)
- MTWRF 10:00 AM + F 11:00 AM – Jill Neuendorf & Anna Pechnikova
- MTWRF 2:00 PM + F 3:00 PM – Jill Neuendorf & Anna Pechnikova
- RUSS 1012: First-Level Russian II (6 credits)
- MTWRF 12:00 PM + F 11:00 AM – Iwona Sadowska & Svetlana Moser
- MTWRF 12:00 PM + F 11:00 AM – Iwona Sadowska & Svetlana Moser
- RUSS 1511: Second-Level Russian I (6 credits)
- MTWRF 11:00 AM + F 12:00 PM – Elena Boudovskaia & Oxana Ware
- MTWRF 3:00 PM + F 2:00 PM – Iwona Sadowska & Svetlana Moser
- RUSS 1512: Second-Level Russian II (6 credits)
- MTWRF 9:00 AM + F 10:00 AM – Jill Neuendorf & Anna Pechnikova
- MTWRF 9:00 AM + F 10:00 AM – Jill Neuendorf & Anna Pechnikova
- RUSS 3001: Third-Level Russian I (3 credits)
- MW 12:30–1:45 PM – Olga Meerson
- MW 12:30–1:45 PM – Olga Meerson
- RUSS 3002: Russia(n) in Context (3 credits)
- TR 3:30–4:15 PM – Svetlana Grenier
This course focuses on oral proficiency. A variety of materials–textbook, video and audio recordings, Russian literature selections and readings in the Russian press–will be used to develop the students’ ability to converse on daily topics and handle cultural, political and social issues in Russian life today.
- TR 3:30–4:15 PM – Svetlana Grenier
- RUSS 4005: Fourth-Level Russian (3 credits)
- MW 11:00–12:15 PM – Anna Pechnikova
The goal of the course is to enlarge students’ vocabulary and to develop their ability to conduct conversation and discussion on a variety of issues and topics that pertain to the use of the language in their future professions. Class discussions focus on contemporary issues and are based on articles from the Russian press, the Internet, and television programs.
- MW 11:00–12:15 PM – Anna Pechnikova
- RUSS 4006: Russian Through Culture (3 credits)
- TR 12:30–1:45 PM – Jill Neuendorf
This course develops students’ Russian language skills by reading, watching, analyzing, and discussing authentic cultural documents. We will read great (short) works of literature in the original Russian, watch classic Russian and Soviet films, and analyze contemporary culture and historical movements. Students will not only sharpen their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in Russian, they will also engage with a broad survey of important Russian culture. They will develop the intercultural sensitivity and understanding they need for careers or further study in Russia or the Russophone world.
- TR 12:30–1:45 PM – Jill Neuendorf
- RUSS 4097: Professional Russian I (3 credits)
- MW 5:00–6:15 PM – Elena Boudovskaia
Designed for students (especially, graduate students in CERES and MSFS) who will be using Russian in their professional lives, this course aims to enhance the participants’ command of the language in both the oral and written forms. The course will focus on the preparation, delivery and discussion of oral presentations and written essays on topics related to the students’ professional interests. Topics will range from international relations, politics and economics to Russian literature and popular culture.
- MW 5:00–6:15 PM – Elena Boudovskaia
Ukrainian
- UKRN 1001: Beginning Ukrainian (3 credits)
- MW 12:30–1:45 PM – Elena Boudovskaia
Past and Future Slavic Department Courses
The Slavic Department offers a wide range of courses on an occasional and rotating basis. Browse the following categories to get a sense of what courses we have offered in the past and what we will offer again sometime soon.