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Russian Chair, 2000-01: Patrick Dale, Political Science, comparative politics, European politics and economics Faculty, 2000-01: Marc Robinson, Russian and Central European Studies, Russian literature; Irina Walter, Russian and Central European Studies; Russian language Taking Russian at St. Olaf means more than just taking a language. The study of Russian introduces you to one of the great cultures of the world -- the culture of Tchaikovsky, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Kandinsky, Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, and many others. Russian language is the key to reading more than one-fourth of all the published scientific literature in the world. Russia continues to be a major player in the global community in many different areas: politics, economics, space-age technology, and the development of new computer software. As the new Russia opens itself to the outside, college graduates with Russian language skills are increasingly sought after for positions in government service, business and investment, journalism, education, and social service. The department offers a major in Russian language as well as courses on Russian literature taught in English. Russian 231 or a higher numbered course taught in the Russian language, or demonstrated proficiency satisfies the foreign language requirement for all students. The literature courses in English count towards a major in Russian Area Studies and satisfy some General Education requirements. Through the ACM, the department participates in an exchange program with the Kuban State University in Russia. Upper level students may participate in the CIEE program in St. Petersburg.REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR Russian 111, 112, 231, 232, 251, 254, 372, plus two additional courses taught in Russian. COURSES 111, 112 Beginning Russian I, II This course offers an introduction to grammar and reading through oral and written work, supplemented by reading of graded Russian prose. Russian 111 or equivalent is prerequisite to 112. This course introduces students to Russian culture and civilization from its beginning to the present. Students will gain a general understanding of Russia and will be introduced to her history, art, literature, political systems, music, society, geography, religions, etc. Required for Russian Studies majors. No prerequisites. GE: HWC, ORC. 231, 232 Intermediate Russian I, II Students continue their grammar, oral, and written work with an emphasis on conversation and reading selections from classical and contemporary Russian authors. Russian 231 or equivalent is prerequisite to 232. GE: FOL-R. 250 Topics in Russian Literature (in English translation) This course will examine the development of differing approaches to some aspect of Russian life and culture as presented in the classical texts of Russian literature. Actual topics will vary according to year and instructor. GE: ALS-L. 251 Conversation and Composition This course will facilitate oral and written use of the language through conversation and composition, English to Russian translation, selections from Russian literature, and original themes. Prerequisite: Russian 232 or special permission of the instructor. GE: FOL-R. 254 Russian Culture and Civilization This survey of Russian culture and civilization utilizes original Russian texts on history, the arts, religion and education, as well as documentary films and selections from literature. The course is designed to foster the acquisition of the language of Russian cultural and intellectual discourse. Prerequisite: Russian 251 or special permission of the instructor. GE: FOL-R. 255 The Capitals in Russian Literature (abroad, in English translation) The course examines the two capitals of Russia as they have been depicted in its literature. While visiting actual sites, students will explore how major authors such as Dostoevsky, Gogol, Tolstoy and Bulgakov created the literary images of these cities. GE: ALS-L. 261 Introduction to Russian Literature (in English translation) This course traces the development of Russian literature from its medieval beginnings to the end of the 19th century. Students study a variety of genres including sagas, the novel, the short story, and lyric poetry. Major authors to be studied include: Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Taught in English. No prerequisites. GE: ALS-L. 262 20th-Century Russian Literature (in English translation) This course traces the development of Russian literature from the fin de siËcle to the present. A variety of genres will be studied, including the novel, the short story, drama, and lyric poetry. Major authors to be studied include: Chekhov, Akhmatova, Bulgakov, Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, and Nabokov. Taught in translation. No prerequisites. GE: ALS-L. 265 Introduction to Russian and Soviet Film (in English translation) This course considers masterworks of Russian and Soviet cinema from the Bolshevik revolution to the present. Students examine significant Russian contributions to world cinema. Readings and topics include basic cinema analysis, Russian cinema criticism, and Russian film theory. No prerequisites. GE: ALS-A. 298 Independent Study 371 Dostoevsky (in English translation) Students read and discuss Dostoevsky's major novels from Poor Folk through Brothers Karamazov. Russian majors may take an additional section in the Russian language for major credit in this course. Since perestroika the Russian press covers a variety of topics that are both culturally and intellectually challenging. The goal of this course is to explore a variety of topics significant for Russian society and culture as well as to further develop the language of intellectual discourse through the treatment of complex issues in the press. Prerequisite: Russian 254 or special permission of the instructor. Taught in Russian. GE: FOL-R, ORC. 398 Independent Research |