The Slavic peoples make up one of the world's most numerous and politically significant families of nations. They fall into three major geocultural groupings: the East Slavs (Russians, Belorussians, Ukrainians); the West Slavs (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Lusatians); and the South Slavs (Slovenes, Serbs, Croats, Macedonians, Bulgarians).
To make the world of the Slavs more accessible to the American student, the Department of Slavic Languages offers instruction in the principal Slavic languages and literatures: Russian, Polish, Czech, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian.
The study of Slavic cultures at Columbia has particular advantages because of the University's facilities and geographical location. The department draws on the excellent resources of a large graduate department and two of the specialized institutes of the School of International and Public Affairs: the W. Averell Harriman Institute and the Institute on East Central Europe. Library facilities both at the University and in New York City (such as the New York Public Library) are outstanding and make Columbia University one of the world's best centers for research in the field of Slavic studies.
Moreover, New York City, which has a substantial and representative Slavic population, is the principal home of major Slavic ethnic associations in the United States (such as the Kosciuszko Foundation). The programs of these associations complement the activities of the department and extend to the student many possibilities for the practical use of the Slavic language or languages studied, as well as a considerable variety of Slavic cultural experiences.
Slavic Languages Course Descriptions
DEPARTMENTAL OFFICE
708 Hamilton;
(212) 854-3941
www.columbia.edu/cu/slavic
DIRECTOR OF
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
Valentina
Izmirlieva
715 Hamilton; (212) 854-6137
vbi1@columbia.edu
LANGUAGE COORDINATOR
Frank J. Miller
701 Hamilton Hall; (212) 854-8155
fjm6@columbia.edu
MAJOR PROGRAMS
Russian Literature and Culture
Slavic Language and Culture (concentration only)
FACULTY
Professors
Robert L. Belknap (Emeritus)
Boris Gasparov
Frank J. Miller
Catharine Nepomnyashchy (Barnard)
Cathy Popkin (Chair)
Irina Reyfman
Associate Professor
Valentina Izmirlieva
Lisa Knapp
Assistant Professors
Tatiana Smoliarova
Rebecca Stanton (Barnard)
Visiting Professor
Alan H. Timberlake
Senior Lecturers
Anna Frajlich-Zajac
Radmila Group
Lecturers
Elena Boudovskaia
Christopher Harwood
Yuri Shevchuk
Alla Smyslova
Senior Associate
Mara Kashper (Barnard)
REQUIREMENTS FOR FULFILLMENT OF THE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Completion through the
fourth term (F1202, V1202, W1202, or W3334) of any of the offered Slavic
languages is required. Students who wish to place into an advanced level should
consult the director of undergraduate studies for approval. Conversation courses
do not fulfill the requirement.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
This major is intended for students who aim to attain maximal proficiency in the Russian language. Intensive language training is complemented by an array of elective courses in Russian culture that allow students to achieve critical understanding of contemporary Russian society and of Russian-speaking communities around the world.
Note: Since this major emphasizes language acquisition, it is not appropriate for native Russian speakers.
The program consists of 15 courses, eight of which meet language requirements. Of the remaining seven courses, two are introductory surveys in either Russian culture or Russian literature (in translation), and the other five are electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
Note: At least one of these should be a Russian culture survey (RUSS V3223x or V3227y).
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
The goal of this major is to make students conversant with a variety of Russian literary, historical and theoretical texts in the original, and to facilitate a critical understanding of Russian literature, culture, and society. It is addressed to students who would like to complement serious literary studies with intensive language training, and is especially suitable for those who intend to pursue an academic career in the Slavic field.
The program consists of 15 courses, six of which meet language requirements. Of the remaining nine courses, three are introductory surveys in Russian literature and culture (in translation), and the other six are electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
Note: Students considering graduate study in Russian literature are strongly advised to complete four years of language training.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN SLAVIC STUDIES
This flexible major provides opportunities for interdisciplinary studies within the Slavic field. Students are encouraged to choose one target language (Czech, Polish, Russian, Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, or Ukrainian), though there are possibilities for studying a second Slavic language as well. Generally, the major has one disciplinary focus in history, political science, economics, religion, anthropology, sociology, art, film, or music. In addition, this program allows students to focus on a particular Slavic (non-Russian) literature and culture, or to do comparative studies of several Slavic literatures, including Russian. Students should plan their program with the director of undergraduate studies as early as possible, since course availability varies from year to year.
The program consists of 15 courses, six of which meet language requirements. Of the remaining nine courses, two should be history courses targeting Russia, Eastern and Central Europe, or Eurasia, two should be literatures or culture courses in Slavic, and the other five should be relevant electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Students may also opt to include a second Slavic language in their program, in which case they may count up to two language courses as electives toward their major requirements.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
Altogether students should complete four courses in a single discipline, including, if appropriate, the required history or literature/culture courses.
STUDY ABROAD
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities that now exist to spend a semester or summer studying in Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, or the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Consult the coordinator of the relevant language program for information about programs and other resources.
SENIOR THESIS
A senior thesis is not required for any Slavic Department major. Students who wish to undertake a thesis project should confer with the director of undergraduate studies during the registration period in April of their junior year and register to take the Senior Seminar (RUSS V3595x) fall term of their senior year. Those who opt to expand the thesis into a two-semester project register for supervised individual research with their thesis advisor (RUSS V3998y) in the spring. (The Senior Seminar may be used to satisfy one elective requirement; the optional second semester of thesis work adds one course to the 15 required for the major.)
Departmental Honors
Students who have a grade point average of at least 3.6 in courses taken for the major and who have submitted a senior thesis of outstanding quality will be considered for departmental honors. Normally no more than 10 percent of the graduating majors may be awarded departmental honors in any given year.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
This program is intended for students who aim to attain proficiency in the Russian language. Intensive language training is complemented by an array of elective courses in Russian culture that allow students to achieve critical understanding of contemporary Russian society and of Russian-speaking communities around the world.
Note: Since this concentration emphasizes language acquisition, it is not appropriate for native Russian speakers.
The program consists of 10 courses, six of which meet language requirements. Of the remaining four courses, at least one is an introductory survey in either Russian culture or Russian literature, and the other three are electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION IN SLAVIC (NON-RUSSIAN) LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
This program is intended for students who aim to attain proficiency in a Slavic language other than Russian. Intensive language training is complemented by an array of elective courses in Slavic cultures that allow students to achieve critical understanding of the communities that are shaped by the Slavic language of their choice.
Note: Since this concentration emphasizes language acquisition, it is not appropriate for native speakers of the target language
The program consists of 10 courses, six of which meet language requirements. The four others are electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
The goal of this concentration is to make students conversant with a variety of Russian literary texts and cultural artifacts that facilitate a critical understanding of Russian culture. It is addressed to students who would like to combine language training with study of the Russian literary tradition.
The program consists of 10 courses, four of which meet language requirements. Of the remaining six courses, two are introductory surveys in Russian literature and culture, and the other four are electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION IN SLAVIC STUDIES
This flexible concentration provides opportunities for interdisciplinary studies within the Slavic field. Students are encouraged to choose one target language (Czech, Polish, Russian, Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, or Ukrainian), and one disciplinary focus in history, political science, economics, religion, anthropology, sociology, art, film, or music. In addition, this program allows students to focus on a particular Slavic (non-Russian) literature and culture, or to do comparative studies of several Slavic literatures, including Russian.
The program consists of 10 courses, four of which meet language requirements. Of the remaining six courses, one should be a history course targeting Russia, Eastern and Central Europe, or Eurasia, one should be a literature or culture course in Slavic, and the other four should be relevant electives, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
Altogether students should complete 3 courses in a single discipline, including, if appropriate, the required history or literature/culture courses.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE
This concentration is addressed to serious literature students who would like to pursue Russian literature but have no training in Russian. It allows students to explore the Russian literary tradition, while perfecting their critical skills and their techniques of close reading in a variety of challenging courses in translation.
The program consists of eight courses and has no language requirements. It requires two introductory surveys of Russian literature. The remaining courses should focus primarily on Russian literature in translation, but may include also courses in Russian culture, history, or in other Slavic literatures, as well as relevant literature courses from other departments, if approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
The course requirements are distributed as follows:
Note: Relevant literature courses from other departments may count toward the requirements for the concentration only if approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION (for a detailed description of each course, see the Slavic Languages Course Descriptions)