Russian
专业详情
The major in Russian offered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures acquaints students with Russian literature and culture, develops students’ appreciation of literary values and skill in literary analysis, and gives them a basic competence in Russian. For an area major in Russian studies, see Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.
Placement Procedures
Students who have previously studied Russian formally or informally are required to take the Russian placement exam. This brief oral exam helps determine which Russian course best fits each student’s background. Contact the Russian language coordinator, Irina Dolgova, to schedule the oral placement exam or for information about preregistration. She may be reached via email or at 432-1307.
Students in the Class of 2023 With approval from the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), the following changes to the prerequisites and requirements of the major may be fulfilled by students who declared their major under previous requirements.
Students in the Class of 2024 and subsequent classes Follow the requirements as indicated.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite to the major in both programs is second year Russian, RUSS 140, 142, 145, or S140. The department offers three sequences of language courses to fulfill the prerequisite: either (1) RUSS 110, 120, 130, 140, or (2) RUSS 125, 145 or (3) courses for heritage speakers, RUSS 122, 142. Prospective majors should complete the prerequisites by the end of their sophomore year or accelerate their course of study by taking summer courses or studying abroad. While completing the prerequisite, students are encouraged to begin fulfilling requirements of the major that do not presuppose advanced knowledge of Russian by taking courses in Russian history and Russian literature in translation.
Requirements of the Major
In addition to the prerequisite, the major in Russian requires eleven term courses, which must include the following (some courses may fulfill more than one requirement):
- Third-year Russian: RUSS 150 and 151.
- Fourth-year Russian: RUSS 160 and 161.
- Two terms of Russian literature in translation, one in 19th-century or earlier Russian literature and one in 20th-century or later Russian literature. First-Year Seminars and courses number 200 or higher fulfill this requirement.
- One content course in which Russian is the language of instruction (RUSS 170–190).
- One course in Russian, East European, or Eurasian history or social sciences.
- RUSS 490 or 491. The senior essay is the intellectual culmination of the student’s work in the major. All primary sources used in the essay must be read in Russian.
If the language proficiency is met without coursework, these course requirements must be fulfilled through additional term courses to bring the overall total to 11 term courses. A Yale summer program in Russian culture may be used to fulfill the requirements, with DUS approval.
Credit/D/Fail Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.
Senior Requirement
All majors write a senior essay (RUSS 490 or 491), an independent project carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. By the end of the junior year, students should declare their general topic and arrange for a faculty adviser, in consultation with the DUS. Students planning to conduct summer research for the senior essay, especially if abroad, should contact the DUS early in the spring semester of the junior year and apply for fellowships. By the first day of the reading period of the term prior to the term of the senior essay (RUSS 490 or 491), majors submit a proposal to the adviser (up to two pages double spaced). A draft of at least ten pages of the text of the essay, or a detailed outline of the entire essay, is due to the adviser by the midterm of RUSS 490 or 491. The senior essay takes the form of a substantial article, no longer than 13,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography. The final essay is due on the first day of the reading period of the term the student is enrolled in RUSS 490 or 491. A member of the faculty other than the adviser grades the essay.
Students pursuing two majors need to fulfill the senior requirement of both majors. If the second major allows, students may enroll in both RUSS 490 and 491 and write an essay longer than a single-term essay. In this case, students count the second term of the Russian senior essay as their twelfth course in the Russian major.
Advising
Courses in the Graduate School are open to qualified undergraduates with permission of the instructor and of the director of graduate studies. Course descriptions are available at the office of the DUS.
Study Abroad
Students majoring in Russian are strongly encouraged to spend a summer or a term studying in the Russian Federation under the auspices of programs approved by the DUS. Language courses, as well as RUSS S241, S242, and S243, taken during the summer or during a term in Russia in approved programs may substitute for certain advanced Russian courses at Yale. Students interested in study abroad should consult the DUS well before their junior year. Students can apply for FLAS and Fox fellowships to support their travel.
