Undergraduate Russian Major | Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures

Welcome to the Major Program

We are very glad you are planning to major in Russian! Our undergraduate major is designed to offer you training in all the skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) you need to communicate in Russian at the Intermediate Mid-to-High proficiency level. After you complete your major, you should be able to converse with ease and confidence when dealing with most routine tasks and everyday social situations, including non-technical discussions of work, school, recreation, particular interests, and areas of competence, and you will be able to narrate and use connected discourse of paragraph length.

As a Russian major, you will also develop informed appreciation of Russian literature, culture, and society; learn to analyze authentic Russian cultural materials; and acquire an international outlook on world events. To meet this goal, we offer a full curriculum in the Russian language (first- through fifth-year). In addition, we offer a rich repertory of courses in Russian literature, film, culture, and linguistics—some taught in English, others in Russian—to enhance your pragmatic and cultural qualifications. Our graduating students have a broad knowledge of Russia, the Russian language, and a specific area of expertise within Russian studies (e.g., literature, culture, or linguistics). Many have become eligible to join the OSU Chapter of the Dobro Slovo National Honor Society.

Our major enables you to acquire proficiency in Russian language and culture through both coursework and the many extracurricular activities (language table, Russian Club, the Kapustnik talent show, etc.) organized by the Department and the Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies. Declared majors are kept informed of these events through flyers, mailings, and listservs. All these opportunities help majors to achieve the confidence and the language and cultural proficiency you need to use Russian at the professional level.

Major Advising

As soon as you know you want to major in Russian, you should meet with the Undergraduate Coordinating Advisor or some other member of our faculty whom you'd like to have as your advisor, to fill out the Arts and Sciences Major Program Form. This form includes all the courses that constitute your major field of study and serves as a contract for graduation. The advisor files the form with the Undergraduate Office of the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences (ASC), 100 Denney Hall (164 W. 17th Avenue).

If you need to make any subsequent changes in your major program, you should consult with your advisor. Approved changes are registered on an updated Major Program Form.

Courses in which you receive a grade of D+ or lower cannot count toward the major. If you receive such a grade, you should meet with your advisor to determine whether to repeat the course or choose a substitute. If a course is repeated, the additional hours earned are added to the minimum necessary for graduation.

Any of the professors in the Department can serve as your advisor for the major. It is important for you to stay in touch with your advisor through regular consultations. In addition to guiding your undergraduate study, your advisor can be called on if you need to petition Arts and Sciences or if you need a letter of recommendation for postgraduate study or employment.

Please be sure to update your advisor or the Undergraduate Coordinating Advisor on changes in your contact information or academic status.

Major Coursework

All the prerequisites count towards the fulfillment of GE requirements.

Russian Major Specialization 1. Russian Language

This specialization is ideally suited for students who want to acquire a strong speaking proficiency in Russian for use in government, business, or academic careers.

Language prerequisite (12 credits)

Russian 1101 1st-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1102 1st-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1103 2nd-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)

2. Language Requirement (12 credits)

Russian 2104 2nd-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 3101 3rd-Year Russian 1 (4 cr)
Russian 3102 3rd-Year Russian 2 (4 cr)

3. Embedded Literacy Requirements (6 credits)

Russian 4575 Capstone Course for Russian Majors (3 cr) (writing skills)
Slavic 4530 Hacking Slavic Literature (data analysis and technology)

4. Language Electives (9 credits)
Choose at least three classes from the following list:

Russian 3121 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 3122 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 2 (3 cr)
Russian 3140 Language Maintenance (1 cr; repeatable once)
Russian 4101 4th-Year Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 4102 4th-Year Russian 2 (3 cr)
Russian 4135 Practical Russian Pronunciation (3 cr)
Russian 5101 5th-Year Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 5102 5th-Year Russian 2 (3 cr)
Russian 5150 Russian for Business (3 cr)

5. Literature/Culture/Linguistics Elective (6 credits)
Choose two classes from the following list; only one class can be at the 2000 level:

MEDREN 2513 Medieval Moscow (3 cr)
Russian 2335.01 Russian Culture (3 cr)
Russian 2335.99 Russian Culture (3 cr) (online)
Russian 2345 Fairy Tales and Folklore (3 cr)
Russian 2250 Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 2250H Honors Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 2850 Other Russias (3 cr)
Russian 3350 Russian Culture and Politics (3 cr)
Russian 3355.99 Vodka in Russian Society and Culture: Deconstructing Myths (3 cr)
Russian 3460.01 Modern Russian Experience through Film (3 cr)
Russian 3460.99 Modern Russian Experience through Film (3 cr) (online)
Russian 3470. Anna Karenina Goes to Hollywood (3 cr)
Russian 3480 The Russian Spy: Cultures of Surveillance, Secret Agents, & Hacking from the Cold War through Today (3 cr)
Russian 3490 Russian Youth Culture (3 cr)
Russian 3530 Russian Cuisine in History, Literature and Culture (3 cr)
Russian 3750. [Alter]Native Russia: Indigenous Histories, Culture, and Politics in Siberia and the North
Russian 4220 Love and Death in Russian Literature & Film (3 cr)
Russian 4221 Revolution and Restoration in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 4330 Religion in Russia: The Orthodox Church and Religious Minorities (3 cr)
Russian 5230 Utopia and Dystopia in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5250 The Russian Writer (3-4 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Russian 5460 Russian Media (3 cr)
Russian 5530 Madness and the Mad in Russian Culture (3 cr)
Russian 5601 Structure of Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 5630 Russian Translation: Theory, Practice, and the Profession (3 cr)
Russian 5701 History of the Russian Language 1 (3 cr)
Slavic 2330 Vampires, Monstrosity, and Evil: From Slavic Myth to Twilight (3 cr)
Slavic 2365.01 Sports, Socialists, and Society in Russia and Eastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 2365.99 Sports, Socialists, and Society in Russia and Eastern Europe (3 cr) (online)
Slavic 2995.99 Race and Gender in Eastern Europe and the US: A Transatlantic Comparison (3 cr)
Slavic 3310 Science Fiction: East versus West (3 cr)
Slavic 3320 Queer Comrades: Sexual Citizenship and LGBTQ Lives in Eastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 3340 East Europe Immigrant Experience in America (3 cr; 4 cr async)
Slavic 3800 Life in Two Worlds: Bilingualism (3 cr)
Slavic 4520H Slavic and East European Cities (3 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Slavic 4560H Cinderella’s Fantasy: Gender and Women in W/E Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 4597 Politics of Language in Southeastern Europe (3 cr)

By permission of the advisor, courses from the following list may replace one course each in the Language and Literature/Culture/Linguistics electives:

Russian 4191 Internship (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4797 Study at a Foreign Institution (1-12 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4798 Study Tour (1–3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998 Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998H Honors Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4999 Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)
Russian 4999H Honors Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)
Russian 5193 Individual Studies (1–6 cr; repeatable)

Occasionally, other courses may be offered in the Slavic Department or in other departments that can fit into a Russian major. Such substitutions require the approval of the major advisor.

Russian Major Specialization 2: Russian Literature, Culture, and Film

This specialization is designed for students who are particularly interested in Russian culture and wish to acquire an advanced reading knowledge in order to work with primary sources.

Prerequisites (12 credits)

Russian 1101 1st-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1102 1st-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1103 2nd-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)

Language Requirement (10 credits)

Russian 2104 2nd-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 3121 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 3122 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 2 (3 cr)

3. Embedded Literacy Requirements (6 credits)

Russian 4575 Capstone Course for Russian Majors (3 cr) (writing skills)
Slavic 4530 Hacking Slavic Literature (3 cr) (data analysis and technology)
Literature Elective (6 credits)
Choose two courses from the following list; only one class can be at the 2000 level:

Russian 2250 Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 2250H Honors Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 3470 Anna Karenina Goes to Hollywood (3 cr)
Russian 4220 Love and Death in Russian Literature & Film (3 cr)
Russian 4221 Revolution and Restoration in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5230 Utopia and Dystopia in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5250 The Russian Writer (3 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Russian 5530 Madness and the Mad in Russian Culture (3 cr)
Slavic 3310 Science Fiction: East versus West (3 cr)

Culture Elective (6 credits): choose two courses from the following list; only one class can be at the 2000 level.

MEDREN 2513 Medieval Moscow (3 cr)
Russian 2335 Russian Culture (3 cr)
Russian 2345 Russian Fairy Tales and Folklore (3 cr)
Russian 2850 Other Russias (3 cr)
Russian 3350 Russian Culture and Politics (3 cr)
Russian 3530 Russian Cuisine in History, Literature and Culture (3 cr)
Russian 3750 [Alter]Native Russias: Indigenous Histories, Culture, and Politics in Siberia and the North (3 cr)
Russian 5530 Madness and the Mad in Russian Culture (3 cr)
Slavic 2230 Vampires, Monstrosity, and Evil: From Slavic Myth to Twilight (3 cr)
Slavic 2995.99 Race and Gender in Eastern Europe and the US: A Transatlantic Comparison (3 cr)
Slavic 3320 Queer Comrades: Sexual Citizenship and LGBTQ Lives in Eastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 3340 East Europe Immigrant Experience in America (3 cr; 4 cr async)
Slavic 4520H Slavic and East European Cities (3 cr; repeatable with change of content
Slavic 4560H Cinderella’s Fantasy: Gender and Women in W/E Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 4597* Politics of Language in Southeastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 3800 Life in Two Worlds: Bilingualism (3 cr)

*These courses may be used for the major if not counted for the GE.

Film Elective (3 credits)
Choose at least one course from the following list:

Russian 3460 Modern Russian Experience through Film (3 cr)
Slavic 3310 Science Fiction: East versus West (3 cr)

One free elective (3 credits), taken from the above lists.
By permission of the advisor, courses from the following list, to a maximum of 9 cr., may be used as electives:

Russian 4191 Internship (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4193 Individual Studies (1–6 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4194 Group Studies (1-6 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4797 Study at a Foreign Institution (1-12 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4798 Study Tour (1–3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998 Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998H Honors Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4999 Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)
Russian 4999H Honors Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)

Occasionally, other courses may be offered in the Slavic Department or in other departments that can fit into a Russian major. Such substitutions require the approval of the major advisor.

All the prerequisites count towards the fulfillment of GE requirements.

Russian Major Specialization 1. Russian Language

This specialization is ideally suited for students who want to acquire a strong speaking proficiency in Russian for use in government, business, or academic careers.

Language prerequisite (12 credits)

Russian 1101 1st-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1102 1st-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1103 2nd-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)

2. Language Requirement (12 credits)

Russian 2104 2nd-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 3101 3rd-Year Russian 1 (4 cr)
Russian 3102 3rd-Year Russian 2 (4 cr)

3. Major Capstone Requirement (3 credits)

Russian 4575 Capstone Course for Russian Majors (3 cr)

4. Language Electives (9 credits)
Choose at least three classes from the following list:

Russian 3121 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 3122 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 2 (3 cr)
Russian 3140 Language Maintenance (1 cr; repeatable once)
Russian 4101 4th-Year Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 4102 4th-Year Russian 2 (3 cr)
Russian 4135 Practical Russian Pronunciation (3 cr)
Russian 5101 5th-Year Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 5102 5th-Year Russian 2 (3 cr)
Russian 5150 Russian for Business (3 cr)

5. Literature/Culture/Linguistics Elective (9 credits)
Choose three classes from the following list; only one class can be at the 2000 level:

MEDREN 2513 Medieval Moscow (3 cr)
Russian 2335.01 Russian Culture (3 cr)
Russian 2335.99 Russian Culture (3 cr) (online)
Russian 2345 Fairy Tales and Folklore (3 cr)
Russian 2250 Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 2250H Honors Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 2850 Other Russias (3 cr)
Russian 3350 Russian Culture and Politics (3 cr)
Russian 3355.99 Vodka in Russian Society and Culture: Deconstructing Myths (3 cr) (Online)
Russian 3460.01 Modern Russian Experience through Film (3 cr)
Russian 3460.99 Modern Russian Experience through Film (3 cr) (online)
Russian 3470 Anna Karenina Goes to Hollywood (3 cr)
Russian 3480 The Russian Spy: Cultures of Surveillance, Secret Agents, & Hacking from the Cold War through Today (3 cr)
Russian 3490 Russian Youth Culture (3 cr)
Russian 3530 Russian Cuisine in History, Literature and Culture (3 cr)
Russian 3750 [Alter]Native Russia: Indigenous Histories, Culture, and Politics in Siberia and the North (3 cr)
Russian 4220 Love and Death in Russian Literature & Film (3 cr)
Russian 4221 Revolution and Restoration in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5230 Utopia and Dystopia in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5250 The Russian Writer (3-4 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Russian 5460 Russian Media (3 cr)
Russian 5530 Madness and the Mad in Russian Culture (3 cr)
Russian 5601 Structure of Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 5630 Russian Translation: Theory, Practice, and the Profession (3 cr)
Russian 5701 History of the Russian Language 1 (3 cr)
Slavic 2330 Vampires, Monstrosity, and Evil: From Slavic Myth to Twilight (3 cr)
Slavic 2365.01 Sports, Socialists, and Society in Russia and Eastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 2365.99 Sports, Socialists, and Society in Russia and Eastern Europe (3 cr online)
Slavic 3310 Science Fiction: East versus West (3 cr)
Slavic 3320 Queer Comrades: Sexual Citizenship and LGBTQ Lives in Eastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 3340 East Europe Immigrant Experience in America (3 cr; 4 cr async)
Slavic 3360 Minorities in Eastern European Film (3 cr)
Slavic 3800 Life in Two Worlds: Bilingualism (3 cr)
Slavic 4520H Slavic and East European Cities (3 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Slavic 4560H Cinderella’s Fantasy: Gender and Women in W/E Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 4597* Politics of Language in Southeastern Europe (3 cr)

*These courses may be used for the major if not counted for the GE.

By permission of the advisor, courses from the following list may replace one course each in the Language and Literature/Culture/Linguistics electives:

Russian 4191 Internship (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4193 Individual Studies (1–6 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4194 Group Studies (1-6 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4797 Study at a Foreign Institution (1-12 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4798 Study Tour (1–3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998 Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998H Honors Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4999 Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)
Russian 4999H Honors Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)

Occasionally, other courses may be offered in the Slavic Department or in other departments that can fit into a Russian major. Such substitutions require the approval of the major advisor.

Russian Major Specialization 2: Russian Literature, Culture, and Film

This specialization is designed for students who are particularly interested in Russian culture and wish to acquire an advanced reading knowledge in order to work with primary sources.

Prerequisites (12 credits)

Russian 1101 1st-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1102 1st-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 1103 2nd-Year Russian 1 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)

Language Requirement (10 credits)

Russian 2104 2nd-Year Russian 2 (.01 classroom, .51 self-paced, .61 online) (4 cr)
Russian 3121 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 1 (3 cr)
Russian 3122 Self-Paced Advanced Reading Russian 2 (3 cr)

Major Capstone Requirement (3 credits)

Russian 4575 Capstone Course for Russian Majors (3 cr)

Literature Elective (6 credits)
Choose two courses from the following list; only one class can be at the 2000 level:

Russian 2250 Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 2250H Honors Masterpieces of Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 3470 Anna Karenina Goes to Hollywood (3 cr)
Russian 4220 Love and Death in Russian Literature & Film (3 cr)
Russian 4221 Revolution and Restoration in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5230 Utopia and Dystopia in Russian Literature (3 cr)
Russian 5250 The Russian Writer (3 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Russian 5530 Madness and the Mad in Russian Culture (3 cr)
Slavic 3310 Science Fiction: East versus West (3 cr)

Culture Elective (6 credits): choose two courses from the following list; only one class can be at the 2000 level.

MEDREN 2513 Medieval Moscow (3 cr)
Russian 2335 Russian Culture (3 cr)
Russian 2345 Russian Fairy Tales and Folklore (3 cr)
Russian 2850. Other Russias (3 cr)
Russian 3350 Russian Culture and Politics (3 cr)
Russian 3530 Russian Cuisine in History, Literature and Culture (3 cr)
Russian 3750 [Alter]Native Russia: Indigenous Histories, Cultures, and Politics in Siberia and the North (3 cr)
Russian 5530 Madness and the Mad in Russian Culture (3 cr)
Slavic 2230 Vampires, Monstrosity, and Evil: From Slavic Myth to Twilight (3 cr)
Slavic 3320 Queer Comrades: Sexual Citizenship and LGBTQ Lives in Eastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 3340 East Europe Immigrant Experience in America (3 cr; 4 cr async)
Slavic 4520H Slavic and East European Cities (3 cr; repeatable with change of content)
Slavic 4560H Cinderella’s Fantasy: Gender and Women in W/E Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 4597* Politics of Language in Southeastern Europe (3 cr)
Slavic 3800 Life in Two Worlds: Bilingualism (3 cr)

*These courses may be used for the major if not counted for the GE.

Film Elective (3 credits)
Choose at least one course from the following list:

Russian 3460 Modern Russian Experience through Film (3 cr)
Slavic 3310 Science Fiction: East versus West (3 cr)
Slavic 3360 Minorities in Eastern European Film (3 cr)

Two free electives (6 credits), taken from the above lists.
By permission of the advisor, courses from the following list, to a maximum of 9 cr., may be used as electives:

Russian 4191 Internship (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4193 Individual Studies (1–6 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4194 Group Studies (1-6 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4797 Study at a Foreign Institution (1-12 cr.; repeatable)
Russian 4798 Study Tour (1–3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998 Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4998H Honors Undergraduate Research Project (3 cr; repeatable)
Russian 4999 Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)
Russian 4999H Honors Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 cr)

Occasionally, other courses may be offered in the Slavic Department or in other departments that can fit into a Russian major. Such substitutions require the approval of the major advisor.