Courses of Study:
Minor
Program website: http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/interdepartmental/Russian/russian.html
The program in Russian and East European Studies (REES) provides undergraduates with a curricular framework for the interdisciplinary study of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and East Europe. This interdisciplinary study offers a special breadth and depth of understanding for this region, and leads students to appreciate the interconnectedness of Russian and East European history, economics, politics, and culture. The complementary study allows participating students to achieve an understanding of this world region not otherwise available in existing majors and minors in the traditional disciplines. REES further maintains the extra-curricular objective of hosting and facilitating special events concerning Russia and East Europe: presentations by visiting scholars, cultural events, and other learning activities. The program serves any interested undergraduates wishing to complement their major course of study; social science majors with an interest in the area and also majors in Russian language and literature are encouraged to consider becoming program participants.
How to Become a Program Member (Minor)
Interested students who have no background in Russian or any other east European language are advised to begin language training (with RUS 10a) in their first year. Appropriate placement of those with some knowledge of Russian can be arranged by consultation with Professor Swensen in the Germanic and Slavic language department. Progress toward the minor will also be facilitated by early enrollment (usually in the sophomore year) in HIST 147a (Imperial Russia).
Committee
Andrew Swensen, Chair
(German and Slavic Languages)
Steven Burg
(Politics)
Joan Chevalier
(German and Slavic Languages)
ChaeRan Freeze
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Gregory Freeze
(History)
Robin Feuer Miller
(German and Slavic Languages)
Antony Polonsky
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Requirements for the Minor
A. Students must complete the following courses: HIST 147a (Imperial Russia) and HIST 147b (Twentieth-Century Russia); and four semesters of Russian language, or the equivalent.
B. Completion of any three courses listed below, in at least two separate disciplines.
Courses of Instruction
REES 98a Independent Study
Signature of the instructor and the program chair required.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
REES 98b Independent Study
Signature of the instructor and the program chair required.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
Elective Courses
The following courses are approved for the minor. Not all are given in any one year. Please consult the Course Schedule each semester.
HIST 148b
Central Asia in Modern Times
NEJS 167b
A History of the Jews in Warsaw, Lodz, Vilna, and Odessa
NEJS 168a
History and Culture of the Jews in East-Central Europe to 1914
NEJS 168b
History and Culture of the Jews in East-Central Europe, 1914 to the Present
POL 129a
East European Politics
POL 213b
Graduate Seminar: Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
RECS 130a
Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature
RECS 134b
Chekhov
RECS 135a
The Short Story in Russia
RECS 137a
Women in Russian Literature
RECS 146a
Dostoevsky
RECS 147b
Tolstoy
RECS 148a
Russian Drama
RECS 149b
Twentieth-Century Russian Literature, Art, Film, and Theater
RECS 154a
Nabokov
RECS 155a
From Witches to Wood Spirits: Russian Culture to 1800
RUS 150b
Topics in Russian Literature
RUS 153a
Russian Poetry: Undergraduate Seminar