Majoring or Minoring in Russian

Russian may be offered as a major or minor in the Course Program or as a major or minor in the Honors Program.

Russian is the primary or sole language of instruction in all courses except courses cross-listed with the Literature program. The major itself emphasizes literature and culture, supported by proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Both the major and the minor can be supported by work in allied disciplines (History, Anthropology, other literatures), and Russian can be a supporting subject to numerous other majors. Students interested in a combined Russian Language and Linguistics major may develop a program with advanced courses and seminars in the language offered at Bryn Mawr and the Linguistics Program at Swarthmore College.
Prerequisites for both course students and honors candidates are RUSS 004B, 011, and 013, or equivalent work. Study abroad in Russia is strongly recommended.

Major in Course

A minimum of 8 credits in courses and seminars which may include Russian 003B and 004B but must include RUSS 011, RUSS 013, and RUSS 091 (Special Topics), plus one other course in translation.
Students are expected to take a minimum of 2 seminars in Russian literature. (Students who spend a year on the ACTR, CIEE, Middlebury or Smolny programs in Russia might offer a seminar taken there in lieu of one Swarthmore seminar.)

The Comprehensive Examination is based on work completed in courses and seminars numbered 011 and above.

Minor in Course

Five or 5.5 credits, which must include:

(1) RUSS 004B (or placement above 004B);
(2) either RUSS 011 or RUSS 013, or an equivalent course taken in Russia;
(3) one of the following: RUSS 013 (if not used to fulfill item 2); another course in Russian literature in translation, LITR 015R, LITR 068R, or a comparable literature course in Russia or at Bryn Mawr or U Penn;
(4) one seminar in Russian.