Lawrence University Course Catalog

Lawrence offers a major in Russian studies and a minor in Russian. Requirements for each program are outlined below.

Russian is one of the world’s most important and widely spoken languages. Knowledge of the Russian language helps broaden students’ career opportunities and options in a variety of fields, including business and government service. Students who achieve a high level of language proficiency may wish to pursue internship opportunities available as a result of Lawrence’s connections with Appleton’s sister city in Russia, or with the NGO "Poruch," based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

In addition, Russian culture, music, art, and literature are extraordinarily rich. While the culture may be best appreciated by those who know the language, those who have no knowledge of Russian can also find much of value and interest in the study of Russian culture.

Students taking Russian at the beginning and intermediate levels concentrate on acquiring skills in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Majors are strongly encouraged to spend a term studying in Russia. Back on campus, upper-level courses and tutorials enable students to improve their critical and analytical skills, learn more about Russia’s rich cultural traditions, and gain additional speaking practice. At all levels, students have the opportunity to work with tutors who are native speakers and to take advantage of extracurricular activities, such as weekly Russian Table, film showings, and immersion weekends.

Culture and literature courses taught in translation are designed not only for those studying Russian but for all students. These courses have no prerequisites, and they fulfill a variety of general education requirements.

Students who complete the major in Russian studies will demonstrate competence in the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) at the intermediate-high to advanced-low level according to the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines. They will situate major figures, events, and institutions from Russian culture within their cultural and historical contexts. They will marshal and interpret historical facts about Russia and deal independently and critically with complex fictional, nonfictional, and filmic texts in Russian.

1. First-year language courses: RUSS 101, 102, 201 (or the equivalent)
2. Second-year language courses: RUSS 211, 212, 250 (or the equivalent)
3. Two courses in Russian literature and culture, 300-level or above
4. Two courses in Russian history
5. One course that allows students to understand Russia in a larger context, either by studying the literature or history of a neighboring country or countries or by placing Russia in a broader political and economic context as an important participant in international affairs. Consult faculty for approval of specific courses.
6. A senior-level independent study that results in the completion of a substantial research paper. In most cases, this project will be completed in RUSS 650, the senior seminar.  Students are expected to use some Russian language sources in conducting their research. Topics for this capstone experience are to be derived from work done in one of the following courses: RUSS 300, 305, 330, 335; HIST 315, 320, 325. Other topics may be approved through consultation with program faculty.

In addition to the requirements listed above, majors are encouraged to further strengthen their Russian-language skills by taking RUSS 280, 281 and 287; studying in Russia; attending an intensive summer language program offered in the U.S.; and attending weekly meetings of Russian Table and RUSS 340, a conversation-based current-events tutorial.

Students with prior background in Russian who place out of the first-year sequence are required to complete additional language study for the major.

Students who complete the major in Russian language and literature will demonstrate similar language competence as the Russian studies major, with a greater emphasis on literary versus cultural-historical study.

The major in Russian language and literature requires the following:

1. First-year language courses: RUSS 101, 102, 201 (or the equivalent)
2. Second-year language courses: RUSS 211, 212, 250
3. Two courses in Russian literature taught in translation, level 300 or above
4. Two courses in Russian literature taught in the original, level 300 or above
5. A senior-level independent study that results in the completion of a substantial research paper. Students are required to analyze some work or works of Russian literature, to be read in the original.

In addition to the requirements listed above, majors are strongly encouraged to further strengthen their Russian language skills by studying in Russia and/or in an intensive summer language program offered in the U.S.

Students with prior background in Russian who place out of the first-year sequence are required to complete additional language study for the major.

The Russian department’s Senior Experience consists of a senior-level research project that further develops work done in another course. Students complete their projects in RUSS 650, the senior seminar.

The research project allows students to explore a problem or question deeply and over an extended period of time. In completing this project, students will have marshaled the linguistic skills, cultural and historical knowledge, and analytical methods they have developed while pursing the Russian major. Finally, students present their research to the larger community at the Harrison Symposium, lecture recitals, theatrical productions, poster presentations, and other venues.

As part of the process of reviewing their work as Russian majors, students are also asked to submit a portfolio in the second week of their final term. The portfolio consists of a list of courses and brief statement in which students evaluate their development as Russian majors.

In addition to a copy of the capstone project and the Russian language portfolio, the senior portfolio should contain four course papers, including at least one from a history course and one from a literature course. The complete portfolio will be reviewed and approved or returned for revisions before the end of the term.

Students who are pursuing a double major or teacher certification should work with all concerned departments to assess the feasibility of an interdisciplinary capstone.

1. First-year language courses: RUSS 101, 102, 201 (or the equivalent)
2. Second-year language courses: RUSS 211, 212, 250 (or the equivalent)
3. Two courses in Russian literature, culture, or history, 300-level or above

Russian majors may seek certification to teach Russian at the elementary and secondary levels. To be certified, students must spend a term in a Russian-speaking country studying the language and culture and must pass an oral and writing proficiency test. Students can add an endorsement in a second area (such as another language or English as a second language) by completing the appropriate minor. Students who plan to seek teacher certification should review the requirements in the Education section of the catalog and meet with the director of teacher education, preferably before the end of the sophomore year.

After two years of language study on campus, majors are strongly encouraged to spend a term studying in Russia. Study abroad provides an unparalleled opportunity to make gains in language proficiency and to become familiar with Russian life and culture.

Most Russian majors and minors who choose to study abroad do so through the Lawrence affiliated Bardy-Smolny exchange. This Bard College program partners with Smolny College in St. Petersburg to offer students a comprehensive Russian as a Second Language program in combination with Russian-taught elective courses. The elective courses are integrative and taken with Russian students who are regular degree-seeking students at Smolny.

Students are also encouraged to participate in intensive summer language programs offered in the United States, especially immediately prior to spending a fall term in Russia.