Department of Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literatures

Majors and Minors

RGSLL offers both a B.A. and a minor in Russian Language & Literature. Both require the student to take both a designated course curriculum as well as a customized set of advanced courses from a variety of different topics. All RGSLL majors include the basic requirements for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, which can be found here.

B.A. IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE:

1. The General Requirements of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
2. The Basic Russian Language Sequence: SLAV 005/006 (recommended) or SLAV 001/002 and 003/004.
3. Intermediate Russian (SLAV 009/010).
4. Topics in Russian (SLAV 109/110).
5. Survey of 19th-Century Russian Literature (SLAV 091/092).
6. Russian Culture (SLAV 161/162).
7. 20th-Century Russian Literature and/or Cinema, taught in English (6 credit hours chosen from SLAV 165, SLAV 166, SLAV 185, SLAV 186, or SLAV 195).
8. Literature in Russian (6 credit hours chosen from SLAV 171, SLAV 172, SLAV 173, or SLAV 174).

Proficiency Requirements: By the end of SLAV 010, students should consult their advisor to choose one of two proficiency tracks:

1. Emphasis on proficiency in speaking. Students choosing this track must attain speaking proficiency at the Intermediate High level, as measured by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview. A semester of intensive language study in Russia on an approved program is required unless waived by the department.
2. Emphasis on proficiency in reading. Students choosing this track must attain reading proficiency at the Advanced level on the ACTFL scale, as measured by a departmental examination. SLAV 101 and SLAV 102 are required, unless waived by the department.

MINOR IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE:

1. The Basic Russian Language Sequence: SLAV 005/006 (recommended) or SLAV 001/002 and 003/004.
2. Intermediate Russian (SLAV 009/010) or Readings in the Russian Press (SLAV 101/102).
3. Russian Literature, Cinema or Culture, taught in English (12 credit hours chosen from SLAV 091, 092, 161, 162, 165, 166, 171, 172, 173, 174, 185, 186, or 195).

SPECIAL HONORS:

Majors who wish to be considered for Special Honors must meet the general requirements listed under University Regulations and have attained a 3.5 grade-point average in the major and at least a 3.0 overall. Students who meet these criteria must apply for admission to the program in writing by the end of the first semester of their junior year. Students must attain speaking proficiency at the Advanced Level, as measured by the Oral Proficiency Interview administered by an ACTFL-certified oral-proficiency tester, and must successfully complete an honors thesis (SLAV 197-198).

ADVISING:

Please contact Prof. Richard Robin for all major or minor advising. Note that Prof. Robin does not teach over the summer. It is important that you make any appointments before the end of the spring semeseter, or instead wait until the start of the fall.