Major
Two majors are offered. A basic knowledge of the Russian language is fundamental to both. Courses awarded a final grade below C– /CR/P will not count toward either major.
1. The Russian Major
The Russian Major consists of 24 semester hours. Required courses include completion of the third year of Russian language study plus a minimum of five courses in literature and culture, with at least two courses in translation and two courses in the original (including a senior seminar).
Normally, up to 8 hours credit may be awarded for off-campus study at an accredited American university or appropriate abroad program in St. Petersburg, Moscow or other Russian cities. A minimum of 12 semester hours of courses to be applied toward the major must be taken at Oberlin College. Private reading courses, as a rule, do not apply to this category.
Strongly recommended are correlated courses in Russian History, Politics, Sociology, History of Theater, Dance, or Music.
Honors
Russian majors should seriously consider the possibility of participating in the departmental Honors Program. Students will be accepted into the program by invitation. Criteria for admission normally include the following: overall GPA of at least 3.25; major GPA of at least 3.50 by the beginning of the sixth semester; completion of Russian 305, or 306 and at least one literature course in translation by the end of the sixth semester.
2. The Russian and East European Studies Major
The Russian and East European Studies Major has a multidisciplinary focus, combining courses in language, literature, history, politics, and sociology. The major is administered by the Russian Department in consultation with the Russian and East European Studies Curricular Committee. For further details consult "Russian and East European Studies" in this catalog.
Minor
To minor in Russian a student must 1.) complete two semesters of Intermediate Russian; 2.) complete an additional four courses (of at least three credits each) dealing with Russian literature and culture (cinema, art, theater). At least two courses in this second category must be taken at Oberlin. Students planning to study on a program in Russia should consult the Russian staff for a preliminary interpretation of such work in terms of Oberlin credit. Courses awarded a final grade below C- will not count toward the minor.
Winter Term
Intensive Beginning Russian is offered each year during Winter Term. Successful completion of this course can lead to enrollment in Russian 102. Faculty are available to sponsor Winter Term projects in the following areas: 19th- and 20th-century Russian literature, literature and the environment, Russian film, Russian theater and dance, translation. Occasionally, the Russian program sponsors a study tour to Russia (two weeks, visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg). The cost of the program is supported by the individual student participants. Additional information may be obtained from the Russian staff.
