Associate Professors Sheila McCarthy and Julie de Sherbinin; Visiting Instructor Andrei Strukov; Teaching Assistant Oksana Dyachenko

The major emphasizes Russian language and literature as the foundation for study in other disciplines such as history and government in order that students develop a multi-disciplinary understanding of Russia in the past and the present. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities on the campus, including guest lectures and seminars, discussion group meetings, films, weekly Russian table dinners, and live Russian television broadcasts.

Students majoring in Russian language and culture are expected to study in Russia for at least one semester. Instructors advise beginning students carefully about the variety of high-quality summer and semester programs available in many Russian institutions. The Colby in St. Petersburg Program offers students highly individualized study of language, literature, and history in addition to the opportunity to teach English in a secondary school.

Requirements for the Major in Russian Language and Culture
(1) A minimum of seven courses (three or four credits) numbered above Russian 127 in the Department of German and Russian, including Russian 426 or 428, and at least one course each in 19th- and 20th-century literature (in English).

(2) History 227 and 228.

(3) A seminar in Russian literature or Russian history (Russian 426, 428, History 329, 426).

The point scale for retention of the major applies to all courses offered toward the major. No requirements for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

Requirements for the Minor in Russian Language and Literature
(1) Four introductory Russian language courses: Russian 125, 126, 127, 128.

(2) Two courses in Russian literature in translation: one course in 19th-century literature and one course in 20th-century literature, to be chosen from Russian 231, 232, 237, or 238.

(3) One course in Russian literature in the original, chosen from Russian 325 or 326.

Russian majors and minors are strongly encouraged to broaden their study through related courses in other departments, particularly courses in the History Department, such as History 112, 227, 228, 229, 329, 426, 447, and in the Government Department, such as Government 131, 151, 257, 258, 272, 332, 355, 432.

Course Offerings

[123j] Introduction to Russian Culture A survey of the major trends in Russian culture with the goal of better understanding the current social, economic, and political situation in the country. Readings in literature and cultural history focus on the influence of the Russian Orthodox religion, the Slavophile/Westernizer controversy, Soviet ideologies, collectivism vs. the individual, and village vs. urban life. Russian art, music, and film provide material for discussion. Conducted in English; no knowledge of Russian required. Three credit hours. D.

125fj, 126s Elementary Russian Students will acquire an overall knowledge of the structure of the Russian language and will develop skills in spoken Russian, listening comprehension, and reading and writing basic Russian. In addition to the textbook and language laboratory, the course will make use of Russian television as an aid in understanding both the language and culture of Russia. Prerequisite: Russian 125 is prerequisite for 126. Four credit hours; three credit hours in January. MS. DE SHERBININ AND MR. STRUKOV

127f, 128s Intermediate Russian The course places increased emphasis on reading and writing skills while continuing to supplement texts with Russian television and other audiovisual aids to increase oral and listening skills. Prerequisite: Russian 126; Russian 127 is prerequisite for 128. Four credit hours. MS. DE SHERBININ AND MS. MCCARTHY

231j, [232] Topics in Russian Literature Topics, which change every year, may cover an author, a work, a genre, or a theme central to Russian literature of the 19th (231) or 20th (232) centuries. In 2000: War and Peace, Lev Tolstoi's epic study of Russia and Napoleon's invasion. The course will examine closely the text of the novel and view the classic Soviet film version. Lecture/discussion format; brief student oral presentations; careful attention to the writing process. Conducted entirely in English. Three credit hours. L. MS. MCCARTHY

[233] Russian Women's Writing Consideration of Russian and Soviet women's fiction, poetry, and autobiography with attention to the alternative visions they proffer church and state orthodoxies. Readings examine gender constructs in Russian culture, 19th-century women's prose, Silver Age women's poetry, Soviet ideals of gender equality, and contemporary literature. Theoretical readings are drawn from feminist scholarship. Conducted in English; no knowledge of Russian required. Four credit hours. L, D.

237f 19th-Century Russian Literature An introduction to some of the world's most influential authors--Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov--and study of selected works by Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, and Turgenev. Discussion format; occasional lectures on Russian intellectual history; emphasis on improved writing and speaking skills. Conducted in English; no knowledge of Russian required. Four credit hours. L. MS. DE SHERBININ

238s The Search for Utopia: 20th-Century Russian Literature An examination of the socialist realists' vision of Utopia, including selected works of Gorky, Sholokhov, and others, in comparison to the prophecies of modernist writers, such as Bulgakov, Zamiatin, Olesha, Pasternak, and others. Careful attention to the writing process in a series of brief student essays. Conducted in English. Four credit hours. L. MS. MCCARTHY

325f, 326s Conversation and Composition Grammar review and continued practice in oral and written expression. Reading and analysis of literary and historical texts from the 19th and 20th centuries. Original audiovisual taped materials supplement the readings. Conducted in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 128; Russian 325 is prerequisite for 326. Four credit hours. MS. DE SHERBININ

335f, 336s Conversation Group An informal weekly small-group meeting for conversation practice in Russian. Topics include autobiography, education, leisure time activities, travel, stores and purchases, film, TV, and newspaper excerpts for discussion. Conducted entirely in Russian. May be repeated for credit. Nongraded. Prerequisite: Russian 127 or equivalent. One credit hour. MS. DYACHENKO

346s 20th-Century Russian Poetry Weekly one-hour meetings focus on a poem by one of the major 20th-century Russian poets, including Blok, Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, Pasternak, Mandelshtam, and Brodsky. Readings in Russian; discussion and short papers in English. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Russian 127. One or two credit hours. MS. DE SHERBININ

371j Language and Culture A three-week intensive course in St. Petersburg, Russia. Class sessions include phonetics, continuing work on selected grammar topics, and discussion of literary and historical readings. The course includes theater and concert evenings, tours of historical sites, and residence with a Russian family. Conducted entirely in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 127 or equivalent. Three credit hours. FACULTY

[425] The Russian Short Story Lectures, readings, and discussion of representative Russian short stories from the 19th and 20th centuries; weekly compositions in Russian, continued work in fine points of Russian grammar, audiovisual materials. Conducted entirely in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 326. Four credit hours. L.

[426] The 19th-Century Russian Novel A seminar that analyzes one major Russian novel of the 19th century, such as Tolstoy's Anna Karenina or Turgenev's Fathers and Children. Additional readings and discussions on the life and times of the author and the political, social, and historical context of the novel. Conducted entirely in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 425 or 427. Four credit hours. L.

427 Contemporary Russian Studies Readings and discussion of representative contemporary Russian short stories and periodical literature; biweekly compositions in Russian. Conducted entirely in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 326. Four credit hours. MR. STRUKOV

428s The 20th-Century Russian Novel A seminar that analyzes one major Russian novel of the 20th century, for example, Bulgakov's Master and Margarita or Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago. Additional readings and discussions on the life and times of the author and the political, social, and historical context of the novel. Conducted entirely in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 425 or 427. Four credit hours. L. MS. MCCARTHY

491f, 492s Independent Study Individual projects in areas where the student has demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. One to four credit hours. FACULTY