(file last updated: [8/10/1998 - 15:27:54])
The mission of the Russiansection of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages isto train students in the literature, language, culture, and historyof Russia. Our concentration prepares students to continue workat the graduate level within institutions in the United Statesand abroad. We have always prided ourselves on our ability tobring students to a high level of proficiency in the Russian languageas rapidly as possible. Towards that goal we utilize modern technologicaltools: computer technology, audio, video, and film. Native Russianspeakers are utilized as peer tutors assigned to our Americanundergraduates studying Russian language. In the area of literature,we are very fortunate to be able to provide for our undergraduateconcentrators an excellent degree of coverage of the major authorsand movements in Russian literature in the 19th and 20th centuries.Recognizing that we must provide service not only for concentratorsbut to the broad spectrum of Brandeis undergraduates, we offertwo tracks of literature: a track given in English translationand a track given in Russian. Concentrators are required to takea number of courses in the original language, and when they takecourses in translation, they are required to read a good portionof the course materials in the original language. Courses in Russianhistory and Russian politics are strongly recommended for concentrators.
The department welcomes allstudents to become concentrators in Russian language and literature.This area of academic study is perhaps the most exciting todayin view of recent events in Eastern Europe. We seek enthusiasticstudents who are not afraid to undertake a serious course of study.We offer individualized attention. We are devoted to teachingthe undergraduate student. Our Russian concentrators have goneon to successful careers in academia, government, politics, thepress, medicine, and social services. Please read below for therequirements toward the concentration.
See Germanic and Slavic Languages.
A.ECS 100a (European Cultural Studies: The Proseminar) to be completedno later than the junior year.
B.Advanced language and literature study: RUS 106b, 150b, 153a, and any five of RECS 130a through RECS 149b.
C.Concentrators are required to enroll in and complete one of thefollowing options in the senior year: RUS 97a or b (Senior Essay),RUS 99d (Senior Thesis), a full year course. Students who wishto be considered for departmental honors must elect the thesisoption. Honors will be awarded on the basis of cumulative excellencein all courses taken in the concentration, including the SeniorThesis. The department recommends that students take at leastone course in Russian history.
D.Students wishing credit toward the Russian concentration for RUScourses conducted in English will be required to do all the readingin the original.
These courses do not fulfillthe foreign language requirement.
Five semester courses are required:
A.RUS 105a or RUS 106b.
B.Three courses selected from among RECS 130a, RECS 134b, RECS 146a,RECS 147b, RECS 149b, and RUS 148a or b.
C.One of the following: RUS 150b or 153a.
Successful completion of RUS30a or the equivalent is a prerequisite of the minor.
RUS 10a Beginning Russian
Enrollment limited to 18per section.
For students who have had noprevious study of Russian. A systematic presentation of the basicgrammar and vocabulary of the language within the context of Russianculture, with focus on all four language skills: listening, speaking,reading, and writing. Usually offered every year.
Staff
RUS 20b Continuing Russian
Prerequisite: RUS 10a orthe equivalent. Enrollment limited to 18 per section.
For students with some previousstudy of Russian. Continuing presentation of the basic grammarand vocabulary of the language within the context of Russian culture,and practice of the four language skills. Special attention toreading and writing skills, as well as guided conversation. Usuallyoffered every year.
Staff
RUS 30a Intermediate Russian
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Prerequisite: RUS 20b orthe equivalent. Enrollment limited to 18 per section.
For students with some previousstudy of Russian (RUS 10a, RUS 20b). Continuing presentation ofthe basic grammar and vocabulary of the language within the contextof Russian culture. Special attention to reading and writing skills.Usually offered every year.
Staff
RUS 97a Senior Essay
Signature of the instructorrequired. Students should consult the area head of their concentration.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
RUS 97b Senior Essay
Signature of the instructorrequired. Students should consult the area head of their concentration.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
RUS 98a Independent Study
May be taken only with thepermission of the advisor to concentrators and the chair of thedepartment. Signature of the instructor required.
Reading and reports under facultysupervision. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
RUS 98b Independent Study
May be taken only with thepermission of the advisor to concentrators and the chair of thedepartment. Signature of the instructor required.
Reading and reports under facultysupervision. Usually offered every year.
Staff
RUS 99d Senior Thesis
Signature of the instructorrequired. Students should consult the area head of their concentration.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
The abbreviation RECS denotesRussian and European Cultural Studies courses.
RUS 105a Advanced Grammarand Reading
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Presentation of complex grammar.Special attention to reading and writing skills. Usually offeredevery year.
Staff
RUS 106b Conversation andComposition
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Does NOT meet the foreignlanguage requirement.
A course designed to improveordinary conversational skills and teach composition on an intermediatelevel. Conducted entirely in Russian. Usually offered every year.
Staff
RECS 130a Nineteenth-CenturyRussian Literature
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Open to all students. Conductedin English with readings in English translation.
A comprehensive survey of themajor writers and themes of the 19th century including Gogol,Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and others. Usually offeredin even years.
Staff
RECS 134b Chekhov
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Open to all students. Conductedin English with readings in English translation.
Offers a detailed investigationof the evolution of Chekhov's art, emphasizing the thematic andstructural aspects of Chekhov's works. Attention paid to methodsof characterization, use of detail, narrative technique, and theroles into which he casts his audience. Usually offered in evenyears.
Mr. Szulkin
RECS 135a The Short Storyin Russia
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Conducted in English withreadings available in Russian for concentrators and in Englishtranslation. No prerequisites for non-concentrators.
Focuses on the great traditionof the short story in Russia. This genre has always invited stylisticand narrative experimentation, as well as being a vehicle forthe striking, if brief expression of complex social, religious,and philosophical themes. Usually offered in even years.
Staff
RECS 136b The Literatureof Autobiography, Childhood Reminiscence, and Confession
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Conducted in English withreadings available in Russian for concentrators and in Englishtranslation. No prerequisites for non-concentrators.
Despite the difficulties inattempting a genuine autobiography, childhood reminiscence, orconfession, Russian writers from Avvakum on have undertaken toexpress themselves authentically within these forms. Readingswill be drawn from Avvakum, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Nabokov, andothers. Usually offered in even years.
Staff
RECS 137a The Heroine inNineteenth-Century Russian Literature
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Open to all students. Conductedin English with readings in English translation.
Examines questions of femalerepresentation and identity in readings from Pushkin, Lermontov,Gogol, Aksakov, Goncharov, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, andChekhov. Usually offered in even years.
Staff
RECS 143b History of Russianand Soviet Film
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Open to all students. Conductedin English with readings in English.
A history of the developmentof Russian/Soviet film from the 1890s to the present. The courseis conducted as a lecture course, but with considerable emphasison the viewing and critique of many of the films discussed, inwhole, or in some instances in part. Usually offered in odd years.
Ms. Broude-Epstein
RECS 146a Dostoevsky
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Conducted in English withreadings available in Russian for concentrators and in Englishtranslation. No prerequisites for non-concentrators.
A comprehensive survey of Dostoevsky'slife and works, with special emphasis on the major novels. Usuallyoffered in odd years.
Staff
RECS 147b Tolstoy
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Open to all students. Conductedin English with readings in English translation.
Studies the major short storiesand novels of Leo Tolstoy against the backdrop of 19th-centuryhistory and with reference to 20th-century critical theory. Usuallyoffered in even years.
Staff
RUS 148a A Survey of RussianTheater from 1719-1917
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Conducted in English withreadings available in Russian for concentrators and in Englishtranslation. No prerequisites for non-concentrators.
Social, political, and literaryforces that were instrumental in the development of Russian theaterfrom the late 18th century to the Bolshevik Revolution. Majoremphasis given to important plays and playwrights of the 19thcentury. Usually offered in odd years.
Mr. Szulkin
RUS 148b A Survey of Twentieth-CenturyRussian Theater: Chekhov to the Present
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History and development ofRussian drama from Chekhov to the present. Conducted in English;readings in English translation, or in Russian for concentrators.Usually offered in odd years.
Mr. Szulkin
RECS 149b Twentieth-CenturyRussian Literature, Art, Film, and Theater
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Open to all students. Conductedin English with readings in English translation.
Focuses on three decades, 1900-30,and their various artistic movements as reflected in literature,painting, and theater. Explores the interrelationships betweenartistic movements and the political scene. Usually offered ineven years.
Mr. Szulkin
RUS 150b Russian Prose:Undergraduate Seminar
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An undergraduate seminar intendedprimarily for concentrators that examines in detail the artisticprose of the major figures in Russian literature. Topics varyfrom year to year and the course may be repeated for credit. Opento qualified non-concentrators. Taught in Russian. Usually offeredin odd years. Last offered in the spring of 1998.
Ms. Broude-Epstein
RUS 153a Russian Poetry:Undergraduate Seminar
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Topic for 1998: Pushkin toAchmatova. An undergraduate seminar, open to concentrators, thatanalyzes poetic movements, genres, and individual poets from the19th and 20th centuries. Topics vary from year to year, and thecourse may be repeated for credit. Open to qualified non-concentrators.Taught in Russian. Usually offered in even years. Will be offeredin the fall of 1998.
Ms. Broude-Epstein
RECS 154a Nabokov
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Enrollment limited to 18.
A concentrated study of VladimirNobokov, the most noted Russian author living in emigration andone of the most influential novelists of the 20th century. Studyfocuses on the novels, but readings will also include lecturesand autobiography. Usually offered in even years.
Mr. Swensen
European Cultural Studies:The Proseminar