Apr 24, 2024  
Course Catalog 2006-2007 
    
Course Catalog 2006-2007 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Russian


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Major


Two majors are offered. A basic knowledge of the Russian language is fundamental to both. Courses awarded a final grade below C– /CR/P will not count toward either major.

1. The Russian Major


The Russian Major consists of 24 semester hours. Required courses include completion of the third year of Russian language study plus a minimum of five courses in literature and culture, with at least two courses in translation and two courses in the original (including a senior seminar).

Normally, up to eight hours credit may be awarded for off-campus study at an accredited American university or appropriate abroad program in St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, or other Russian cities. A minimum of 12 semester hours of courses to be applied toward the major must be taken at Oberlin College. Private reading courses, as a rule, do not apply to this category.

Strongly recommended are correlated courses in Russian History, Politics, Sociology, History of Theater, Dance, or Music.

Honors


Russian majors should seriously consider the possibility of participating in the departmental Honors Program. Students will be accepted into the program by invitation. Criteria for admission normally include the following: overall GPA of at least 3.25; major GPA of at least 3.50 by the beginning of the sixth semester; completion of Russian 305, 309, or 311 and at least one literature course in translation by the end of the sixth semester.

2. The Russian and East European Studies Major


The Russian and East European Studies Major has a multidisciplinary focus, combining courses in language, literature, history, politics, and sociology. The major is administered by the Russian Department in consultation with the Russian and East European Studies Curricular Committee. For further details consult “Russian and East European Studies” in this catalog.


Minor


A minor in Russian consists of 15 hours of work at the 300 and 400 levels. One three-hour course may be in Russian literature in translation; one three-hour course must be at the 400 level. Students planning to study on a program in Russia should consult the Russian staff for a preliminary interpretation of such work in terms of Oberlin credit. Courses awarded a final grade below C– will not count toward the minor.

Russian House


Students who wish to pursue their Russian experience intensively are strongly encouraged to take up residence in Russian House, a small coeducational facility housing 18 students and the focal point for most campus Russian language and cultural activities. A native speaker of Russian is regularly in residence. Majors as well as those with a peripheral interest in Russian are encouraged to live in the Russian House for at least one year.

Winter Term


Intensive Beginning Russian is offered each year during Winter Term. Successful completion of this course can lead to enrollment in Russian 102. Faculty are available to sponsor Winter Term projects in the following areas: 19th- and 20th-century Russian literature, literature and the environment, Russian film, Russian theater and dance, translation. Occasionally, the Russian program sponsors a study tour to Russia (two weeks, visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg). The cost of the program is supported by the individual student participants. Additional information may be obtained from the Russian staff.

OCREECAS


Created in 1998 through support from the Clowes Fund, Inc. and a private donation, the Oberlin Center for Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies is designed to promote greater awareness of the region in the Oberlin community. The Center seeks to foster the development of new curricula and to expand summer and post-graduation internship, community service, study abroad, and employment opportunities for students. Under the guidance of the Center’s first director, Associate Professor of Russian Tim Scholl, OCREECAS has begun identifying internship opportunities in Russian, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. The Center also seeks to enhance the Oberlin curriculum through on-campus residencies by visiting scholars and artists.

OCREECAS Internships


Qualified juniors, seniors and recent graduates interested in working in a service or non-profit capacity in Russia, Eastern Europe or Central Asia are encouraged to apply for OCREECAS grants-in-aid. For further information, contact the OCREECAS intern at 440-775-6358.

For further information, consult the Russian and OCREECAS web pages: www.oberlin.edu/russian/ and www.oberlin.edu/creecas/

II. Topics in Translation


B. Topical and Survey Courses


Courses in translation have no prerequisites. 300-level courses generally have a more substantial research component or a heavier reading load than 200-level courses. Students uncertain about their preparedness for a given course should consult with the professor.

III. Advanced Courses (Taught in Russian)


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