Slavic Languages and Literatures

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu/.

About the Program

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures PhD graduate program is designed to train future scholars and teachers of Slavic languages and literatures. Students specialize either in literature or linguistics, combining a core curriculum with independent research early in their graduate career.

Students are admitted to the PhD or MA/PhD program only; the Department will not consider applicants for the MA only.

Program in Literature and Culture

The program in literature and culture provides a thorough knowledge of the evolving literary canon along with attendant historical contexts, while encouraging students to acquire expertise in literary and cultural theory.

Berkeley welcomes students with interdisciplinary interests. Slavic students may pursue official Designated Emphases in Film, Folklore, Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, Critical Theory, Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, etc., as well as individually designed areas of specialization. The Slavic Department works in collaboration with the departments of Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Anthropology, History, Theater, Music, Art History, and with the Institute of Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies, which houses the Berkeley Program in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies and The Caucasus and Central Asia Program.

The majority of students at Berkeley choose Russian as their major language. We encourage students who wish to explore the diverse literary and cultural traditions of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. We accept a small number of students who choose Polish, Bulgarian or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) language and literature as their major field; in such cases special programs are worked out and students do much of their graduate work independently. These students normally take Russian as a minor field. Berkeley does not administer a PhD Program in Czech, but Czech can be chosen as the second Slavic language.

Program in Linguistics

The Slavic linguistics track of our program has been considerably reduced in recent years. Because students of Slavic linguistics have to do most of graduate work in individual meetings with faculty, we aim to admit students who already have advanced preparation in the field and who are able and willing to pursue an independent course of professional training.

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Admissions

Admission to the University

Uniform minimum requirements for admission

The following minimum requirements apply to all programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
  2. A minimum grade-point average of B or better (3.0);
  3. If the applicant comes from a country or political entity (e.g. Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, 230 on the computer-based test, 90 on the iBT test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these); and
  4. Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in the given field.

Applicants who already hold a graduate degree

The Graduate Council views academic degrees as evidence of broad research training, not as vocational training certificates; therefore, applicants who already have academic graduate degrees should be able to take up new subject matter on a serious level without undertaking a graduate program, unless the fields are completely dissimilar.

Programs may consider students for an additional academic master’s or professional master’s degree if the additional degree is in a distinctly different field.

Applicants admitted to a doctoral program that requires a master’s degree to be earned at Berkeley as a prerequisite (even though the applicant already has a master’s degree from another institution in the same or a closely allied field of study) will be permitted to undertake the second master’s degree, despite the overlap in field.

The Graduate Division will admit students for a second doctoral degree only if they meet the following guidelines:

  1. Applicants with doctoral degrees may be admitted for an additional doctoral degree only if that degree program is in a general area of knowledge distinctly different from the field in which they earned their original degree. For example, a physics PhD could be admitted to a doctoral degree program in music or history; however, a student with a doctoral degree in mathematics would not be permitted to add a PhD in statistics.
  2. Applicants who hold the PhD degree may be admitted to a professional doctorate or professional master’s degree program if there is no duplication of training involved.

Applicants may only apply to one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission cycle.

Any applicant who was previously registered at Berkeley as a graduate student, no matter how briefly, must apply for readmission, not admission, even if the new application is to a different program.

Required documents for admissions applications

  1. Transcripts:  Upload unofficial transcripts with the application for the departmental initial review. Official transcripts of all college-level work will be required if admitted. Official transcripts must be in sealed envelopes as issued by the school(s) you have attended. Request a current transcript from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.
    If you have attended Berkeley, upload unofficial transcript with the application for the departmental initial review. Official transcript with evidence of degree conferral will not be required if admitted.
  2. Letters of recommendation: Applicants can request online letters of recommendation through the online application system. Hard copies of recommendation letters must be sent directly to the program, not the Graduate Division.
  3. Evidence of English language proficiency: All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and most European countries. However, applicants who, at the time of application, have already completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at a U.S. university may submit an official transcript from the U.S. university to fulfill this requirement. The following courses will not fulfill this requirement: 1) courses in English as a Second Language, 2) courses conducted in a language other than English, 3) courses that will be completed after the application is submitted, and 4) courses of a non-academic nature. If applicants have previously been denied admission to Berkeley on the basis of their English language proficiency, they must submit new test scores that meet the current minimum from one of the standardized tests.

Admission to the Program

We select our graduate students on the basis of prior academic achievement and promise of success in scholarship and teaching. Students admitted to the PhD program with an MA in Slavic or a related field from another institution are required to pass a screening (permission-to-proceed) examination. Students who have earned the MA degree from this department may receive permission to proceed to the PhD program following successful performance on the MA comprehensive examinations and demonstrated aptitude for advanced work. The department does not accept applications for a terminal MA program of study.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Normative Time Requirements

Total Normative Time

Total Normative Time is six years.

Time to Advancement

Curriculum
Russian Literature Concentration
SLAVIC 201Course Not Available (if applicable per proficiency)
SLAVIC 204Course Not Available
SLAVIC 210Old Church Slavic4
SLAVIC 222Descriptive Grammar of Slavic Languages4
SLAVIC 280Studies in Slavic Literature and Linguistics4
SLAVIC 281Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Literary Scholarship4
SLAVIC Literature electives, as per specialized study list
Russian Linguistics Concentration
SLAVIC 200Graduate Colloquium (if applicable per proficiency)0.0
SLAVIC 201Course Not Available
SLAVIC 204Course Not Available
SLAVIC 210Old Church Slavic4
SLAVIC 222Descriptive Grammar of Slavic Languages4
SLAVIC 280Studies in Slavic Literature and Linguistics4
SLAVIC 282Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Linguistic Scholarship (can be substituted by LINGUIS 100)4
SLAVIC Linguistics electives, as per specialized study list
Foreign Language(s)

Students of linguistics are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of either French or German before taking the MA exams. They must demonstrate a reading knowledge of both before taking the PhD exams.

Students of literature are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of either French or German before taking their MA exams. As an alternative, students of literature have the option to complete two semesters of a second Slavic language on a letter grade basis. Students may, with prior permission granted on an individual basis and with a view to pursuing specific research goals, fulfill this requirement by studying a non-Slavic language from a region within the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe (e.g., Armenian, Georgian, Estonian, Hungarian, etc.).

Preliminary Exams

At the beginning of the semester in which the examination is taken, students who will take the PhD. Qualifying Exam must file the Application for the Qualifying Examination . Note that it requires the names of the student's examination committee (including the outside member). It is advisable to consult with the Graduate Adviser and, for students of linguistics, with the faculty mentor, and committee members during the semester preceding the examination. By the Graduate Division rules, applicants must list at least three subject areas in which the candidate will be examined. Students in our Department list their major and minor fields (literature) or three subject areas (linguistics) as well as the general field for all students: Russian language (or other major Slavic language). The completed form must be signed by the Graduate Adviser, and if applicable, the Designated Emphasis Graduate Adviser. The form is then submitted to the Graduate Division for approval.

In brief:

  1. Print and fill the form; if necessary, consult with the Graduate Assistant
  2. Consult with the Graduate Adviser and, for students of linguistics, with the faculty mentor, and obtain the signatures
  3. Make a copy for your department file and hand it to the Graduate Assistant
  4. Deliver the form to 318 Sproul, Graduate Division
Field Papers

Research Requirement ("qualifying paper" or "publishable paper"): All graduate students are required to submit an extended research paper (on a topic of their choice) to satisfy the Departmental research requirement. Usually, but not necessarily, the research paper is a revised and expanded version of a course/seminar paper. It is expected that the paper will be of publishable quality, that is, it will meet the standards of a scholarly journal in its scope, originality, form, and technical format. In some cases, this paper may further lead to a dissertation topic. The paper is submitted to the Graduate Adviser at the end of the third year (or by exception, at the beginning of the semester which precedes the exam). The paper must be approved by the Graduate Adviser, who usually asks two or more faculty members to read it. Faculty members are expected to promptly read and evaluate the paper. In some cases, additional revisions of the paper may be asked, which makes timing essential.

Time in Candidacy

Advancement

Advancement to Candidacy is an important official procedure. To qualify for advancement, a student must have passed the qualifying examinations and completed all other requirements for the degree (course requirements and language requirements). For the application, the student, in consultation with the Graduate Adviser and, for students of linguistics, with the faculty mentor, will create a working title for the dissertation and select the dissertation committee members.

Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus is a detailed outline of the project. The Department requires that a student complete an approved prospectus by the end of the semester following the PhD. qualifying examination. At this point students begin registering for the required units through SLAVIC 299 (Directed Research), which is usually supervised by the chair of their dissertation committee, though units may be divided between members of the committee as approved by the Graduate Adviser.

The prospectus generally includes a justification of the topic and a description of methodology, objectives, available scholarly literature, potential relevance of the work, the structure of the dissertation, etc. and includes a working bibliography. Once this prospectus has been approved by the Graduate Adviser, a copy should be given to the Graduate Assistant for the student's file.

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation represents the final demonstration, in the graduate program, of a student's research and scholarly abilities, and constitutes an original contribution to the field of study. It is an independent investigation undertaken with faculty guidance and evaluation, and as such it is important that this phase of graduate work be conducted with periodic consultation between the student and the dissertation committee members. The dissertation must receive the unanimous approval of the committee members in order for it to be accepted as final completion of the degree requirements.

During the course of work on the dissertation, it is the student's responsibility to initiate and maintain regular contact with the dissertation committee. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the faculty members to be available for consultation, and to offer necessary direction, advice and suggestions for improvements in the research and writing. To ensure adequate and regular faculty/student contact time students enroll each semester in SLAVIC 299, dissertation writing course.

Normally a student will be expected to complete the dissertation within two years after being advanced to candidacy. Each semester, the Graduate Adviser, in consultation with the dissertation chair, reviews the student's work to determine if acceptable progress is being made. Failure to make progress in the research and/or writing of the dissertation may result in the lapsing of a student's candidacy, as regulated by the Dean of the Graduate Division.

Courses

Literature, Linguistics and Culture:

Languages:

Slavic Languages and Literatures

SLAVIC 200 Graduate Colloquium 0.0 Units

Reports on current scholarly work by faculty and graduate students.

SLAVIC 210 Old Church Slavic 4 Units

Introduction to Old Church Slavic, with special attention to inflexional morphology. Assigned translations and sight reading of selected texts.

SLAVIC 214 Medieval Orthodox Slavic Texts 4 Units

Assigned translations and sight reading of selected Medieval Orthodox Slavic texts.

SLAVIC 220 Comparative Slavic Linguistics 4 Units

Reconstruction of Common Slavic phonology and morphology in relation to Indo-European and modern Slavic languages.

SLAVIC 222 Descriptive Grammar of Slavic Languages 4 Units

Survey of morphology and syntax of a contemporary Slavic language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian/Croatian); see departmental announcement for topic. Recommended for prospective teachers.

SLAVIC 223 Advanced Structure of Slavic Languages: Grammatical Analysis and Theory 4 Units

Analysis of synchronic grammar and structure of discourse of a Slavic language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian/Croatian) with attention to theoretical models; see Department announcement for topic.

SLAVIC 230 Historical Grammar of Slavic Languages 4 Units

Historical phonology, morphology, and syntax of a Slavic language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian/Croatian). Some coverage of dialectology. See Department announcement for topic.

SLAVIC 231 History of Slavic Literary Languages 4 Units

Analysis of language and style of a Slavic literary language (Czech, Polish, Russian, or Serbian/Croatian) from the beginnings to the present, with emphasis on periods of particular significance. See Department announcement for topic.

SLAVIC 234 South Slavic Linguistics 4 Units

Linguistic history and dialectology of Slovenian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbian/Croatian.

SLAVIC 239 Twentieth-Century Slavic Literary Theory 4 Units

Attempts to describe literary forms, poetic usage of language, and cultural infrastructure, as a code, examined as a consistent trend in 20th-Century literary theory. Consideration of this scholarly trend in historical perspective; its sources, evolution, and eventual dissipation.

SLAVIC 242 Eighteenth-Century Russian Literature 4 Units

Studies in poetry, drama, and fiction, covering major figures between 1730 and the end of the century.

SLAVIC 245A Russian Sentimentalism and Romanticism (1790s-1840s) 4 Units

Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.

SLAVIC 245B Russian Realism (1840s-1900) 4 Units

Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.

SLAVIC 246A Russian Modernism (1890s-1920s) 4 Units

Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.

SLAVIC 246B Contemporary Russian Literature (1920-present) 4 Units

Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.

SLAVIC 248 Topics in Russian Cultural History 4 Units

This seminar addresses the problems and methods of cultural history within the Russian context. Special attention will be given to the social, political, and historical matrices which determine (and may be determined by) aesthetic production, as well as to the role of culture in the construction of everyday life. Topic and period variable. Instruction in English; texts in English and Russian. Students without reading knowledge of Russian should consult with instructor.

SLAVIC 256 Topics in Slavic Folklore 4 Units

Selected topics in Slavic folklore, with focus on contributions to folklore theory based on Slavic material.

SLAVIC 258 Languages, Peoples, and Cultures of the Greater Slavic World 4 Units

Topics in the languages, peoples, and cultures of Eastern and Central Europe, the CIS, and diasporas. Topics vary as to region (e.g., Northeastern Europe, the Baltic Coast, the Caucasus) and approach (e.g., sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics, studies of ethnic and language minorities). Readings include sources in the original languages of the area.

SLAVIC 280 Studies in Slavic Literature and Linguistics 4 Units

Advanced studies in the several fields of Slavic literatures and linguistics. Content varies.

SLAVIC 281 Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Literary Scholarship 4 Units

Course designed for new graduate students in literature. Introduction to modern literary theory and criticism; principles of textual analysis; methods of bibliographical research.

SLAVIC 282 Proseminar: Aims and Methods of Linguistic Scholarship 4 Units

Course designed for new graduate students in Slavic linguistics. A survey of general and Slavic linguistics, Slavic philology, semiotics, and the relation of linguistics to literary studies. Methods of research and critical analysis. Current issues and goals of research.

SLAVIC 285 Eastern Christianity: History and Thought 4 Units

A survey of the religious history and thought of Eastern Europe and the Levant with an intent of providing greater insight into the shaping of faith and cultures of both halves of Europe.

SLAVIC 287 Russian Poetry 4 Units

Class conducted in Russian. Russian poetry and versification (eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries): close readings of texts. Variable topics.

SLAVIC 298 Special Study for Graduate Students 2 - 8 Units

Preliminary exploration of a restricted field involving research and a written report.

SLAVIC 299 Directed Research 2 - 12 Units

Normally reserved for students directly engaged upon the doctoral dissertation.

SLAVIC 301 Issues in Slavic Pedagogy 3 Units

Independent study. Consideration of special issues in the teaching of Slavic languages. Offered according to interest and need.

SLAVIC 310 Internship in the Teaching of Literature/Linguistics 1 - 2 Units

Weekly meetings with the instructor of the designated course. Discussion of course aims, syllabus preparation, lecture and assignment planning, grading, and related matters. Students may prepare a representative portion of the work for such a course (e.g., lecture outline and assignments for a course segment) and may participate in presentation of the material and in evaluation of samples of student work.

SLAVIC 375A Teaching Methods for Slavic Languages 3 Units

Course on practical teaching methods, grading, testing, and design of supplementary course materials. Required of all graduate student language instructors in Slavic. Course to be repeated for credit each semester of employment as a graduate student instructor.

SLAVIC 375B Teaching Methods of Reading and Composition 3 Units

Course on practical teaching methods, grading, testing, and design of supplementary course materials. Required of all graduate student instructors in Slavic. Course to be repeated for credit each semester of employment as a graduate student instructor.

SLAVIC 601 Individual Study for Master's Students 2 - 8 Units

Individual study for the comprehensive or language requirements in consultation with a field adviser.

SLAVIC 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 2 - 8 Units

Individual study in consultation with a major field adviser, intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required of candidates for the Ph.D.

Armenian

ARMENI 1A Introductory Armenian 3 Units

An introduction to Armenian language and culture, aiming to give students basic competence in all four skills and an introduction to traditional and contemporary Armenian culture.

ARMENI 1B Introductory Armenian 3 Units

An introduction to Armenian language and culture, aiming to give students basic competence in all four skills and an introduction to traditional and contemporary Armenian culture.

ARMENI 101A Continuing Armenian 3 Units

The purpose of this course is to further develop students' Armenian proficiency in all four language skills, using discussion, oral presentations, written assignments, and a variety of readings (literature, non-fiction, folklore, newspaper articles, etc.) chosen partly for their cultural significance and partly based on student needs and interests. Emphasis on particular skills (e.g. reading) depending on student needs and interests.

ARMENI 101B Continuing Armenian 3 Units

The purpose of this course is to further develop students' Armenian proficiency in all four language skills, using discussion, oral presentations, written assignments, and a variety of readings (literature, non-fiction, folklore, newspaper articles, etc.) chosen partly for their cultural significance and partly based on student needs and interests. Emphasis on particular skills (e.g. reading) depending on student needs and interests.

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian

BOSCRSR 27A Introductory Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 5 Units

Beginner's course. Sequence beginning Fall semester.

BOSCRSR 27B Introductory Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 5 Units

Beginner's course. Sequence beginning Fall semester.

BOSCRSR 117A Continuing Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 4 Units

Sequence begins fall semester.

BOSCRSR 117B Continuing Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 4 Units

Sequence begins fall semester.

Bulgarian

BULGARI 28A Introductory Bulgarian 5 Units

Sequence begins in the fall. Practical instruction in the Bulgarian language with a focus on integrated skills (reading, grammar, conversation). Course offered as staffing permits.

BULGARI 28B Introductory Bulgarian 5 Units

Sequence begins in the fall. Practical instruction in the Bulgarian language with a focus on integrated skills (reading, grammar, conversation). Course offered as staffing permits.

BULGARI 118A Continuing Bulgarian 4 Units

This course consists of a review of Bulgarian grammar covered in 28A-28B, a thorough presentation of the complex verbal tense-mood system and readings in contemporary Bulgarian prose.

BULGARI 118B Continuing Bulgarian 4 Units

This course is a continuation of 118A. It also introduces the question of the relation between Bulgarian and Macedonian and readings in Bulgarian belletristic poetry and prose.

Czech

CZECH 26A Introductory Czech 5 Units

Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

CZECH 26B Introductory Czech 5 Units

Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

CZECH 116A Continuing Czech 4 Units

Sequence begins fall semester.

CZECH 116B Continuing Czech 4 Units

Sequence begins fall semester.

Hungarian

HUNGARI 1A Introductory Hungarian 3 or 4 Units

Practical instruction in the Hungarian language. The course can be taken for either 3 or 4 units; the additional unit involves language laboratory work and additional written reading assignments.

HUNGARI 1B Introductory Hungarian 3 or 4 Units

Practical instruction in the Hungarian language. The course can be taken for either 3 or 4 units; the additional unit involves language laboratory work and additional written reading assignments.

HUNGARI 100 Readings in Hungarian 2 Units

The purpose of this course is to further develop the student's language proficiency in reading, speaking and writing by using interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communicative modes. Exploration of fascinating aspects of Hungarian culture including elements of literature, contemporary and historical events, pop-culture, and folklore. Students will be able to influence topic selections according to their personal goals and interests.

Polish

POLISH 25A Introductory Polish 5 Units

Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

POLISH 25B Introductory Polish 5 Units

Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

POLISH 115A Continuing Polish 4 Units

Sequence begins fall semester.

POLISH 115B Continuing Polish 4 Units

Sequence begins fall semester.

Romanian

ROMANI 1A Introductory Romanian 3 Units

The course will focus on reading and comprehension, elementary speaking and writing, providing fundamental grammatical and lexical competence for further language acquisition in Romanian.

ROMANI 1B Introductory Romanian 3 Units

The course will focus on reading and comprehension, elementary speaking and writing, providing fundamental grammatical and lexical competence for further language acquisition in Romanian.

ROMANI 102A Continuing Romanian 3 Units

The purpose of this course is to further develop students' Romanian proficiency in all four language skills, using discussion, oral presentations, written assignments, and a variety of readings (literature, non-fiction, folklore, newspaper articles, etc.) chosen partly for their cultural significance and partly based on student needs and interests. Emphasis on particular skills (e.g., reading) depending on student needs and interests.

ROMANI 102B Continuing Romanian 3 Units

The purpose of this course is to further develop students' Romanian proficiency in all four language skills, using discussion, oral presentations, written assignments, and a variety of readings (literature, non-fiction, folklore, newspaper articles, etc.) chosen partly for their cultural significance and partly based on student needs and interests. Emphasis on particular skills (e.g., reading) depending on student needs and interests.

Russian

RUSSIAN 1 Elementary Russian 5 Units

Beginner's course.

RUSSIAN 2 Elementary Russian 5 Units

RUSSIAN 3 Intermediate Russian 5 Units

RUSSIAN 4 Intermediate Russian 5 Units

RUSSIAN 6A Introductory Russian for Heritage Speakers 3 Units

The course is aimed at "heritage speakers" of Russian, i.e., those who grew up speaking Russian in the family without a full Russian educational and cultural background. These courses are designed for students who have speaking and comprehension ability in Russian but have minimum exposure to writing and reading. This course teaches basic skills of writing, reading, and grammar. 6A focuses on basic writing and reading ability. 6B introduces further knowledge of grammar and syntax and develops writing skills. Both 6A and 6B include reading and cultural material. (Students with advanced reading proficiency should consider Slavic 114 or SLAVIC 190.)

RUSSIAN 6B Introductory Russian for Heritage Speakers 3 Units

The course is aimed at "heritage speakers" of Russian, i.e., those who grew up speaking Russian in the family without a full Russian educational and cultural background. These courses are designed for students who have speaking and comprehension ability in Russian but have minimum exposure to writing and reading. This course teaches basic skills of writing, reading, and grammar. 6A focuses on basic writing and reading ability. 6B introduces further knowledge of grammar and syntax and develops writing skills. Both 6A and 6B include reading and cultural material. (Students with advanced reading proficiency should consider Slavic 114 or SLAVIC 190.)

RUSSIAN 10 Elementary Intensive Russian 10 Units

This summer session course is equivalent to the first year of Russian language instruction offered at Berkeley. An intensive program designed to develop students' comprehension and conversation skills while presenting the basic grammar of modern, standard Russian. Lectures and films on Russian culture will be arranged.

RUSSIAN 20 Intermediate Intensive Russian 10 Units

This summer session course is equivalent to the second year of Russian language instruction at Berkeley. An intensive program designed to consolidate command of basic grammar and further develop comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills.

RUSSIAN 101 Advanced Russian Phonetics and Oral Performance 1 - 3 Units

Aimed at both undergraduate and graduate students, this course helps students to improve their pronunciation, bringing it closer to the native level. The course teaches a whole spectrum of oral speech performance, including phonetics, intonation, and rhetoric, taking into account different functional styles. Course may be taken for 1 unit (5 weeks: basic skills), 2 units (10 weeks: advanced skills) or 3 units (15 weeks: advanced phonetics and performance).

RUSSIAN 102 Readings in Specialized Russian 3 Units

Selected readings in scholarly (scientific and technical), journalistic, and business styles to acquaint the student with the peculiarities of vocabulary, grammar, and phraseology.

RUSSIAN 103A Advanced Russian 4 Units

Course covers three main aspects of advanced Russian: grammar, syntax, and reading. Grammar is reviewed. Course taught in Russian.

RUSSIAN 103B Advanced Russian 4 Units

Course covers three main aspects of advanced Russian: grammar, syntax, and reading. Grammar is reviewed. Course taught in Russian.

RUSSIAN 105A Advanced Russian/English/Russian Translation 3 Units

Advanced training in both oral and written translation skills covering various areas of politics, business, technology, law, science, and culture. Elements of literary and poetic translation.

RUSSIAN 105B Advanced Russian/English/Russian Translation 3 Units

Advanced training in both oral and written translation skills covering various areas of politics, business, technology, law, science, and culture. Elements of literary and poetic translation.

RUSSIAN 106A Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers 3 Units

The course is aimed at "heritage speakers" of Russian, i.e., those who grew up speaking Russian in the family without a standard Russian educational background. The advanced course aims at building a sophisticated vocabulary, developing advanced reading ability, formal knowledge of grammar, and complete writing competency. This course fosters student's knowledge and understanding of Russian culture and society today. (Students with no or rudimentary reading proficiency should consider 6A or 6B by consent of instructor.)

RUSSIAN 106B Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers 3 Units

The course is aimed at "heritage speakers" of Russian, i.e., those who grew up speaking Russian in the family without a standard Russian educational background. The advanced course aims at building a sophisticated vocabulary, developing advanced reading ability, formal knowledge of grammar, and complete writing competency. This course fosters student's knowledge and understanding of Russian culture and society today. (Students with no or rudimentary reading proficiency should consider 6A or 6B by consent of instructor.)

RUSSIAN 109 Business Russian 3 Units

This course is designed for students with a good command of basic Russian who would like to gain the vocabulary of business transactions in Russian to be able to establish actual contacts with Russian businesspeople, to participate in business negotiations, to compile business contracts in Russian, and to read Russian business magazines and newspapers. Elements of the business law of Russia will also be discussed.

RUSSIAN 120A Advanced Russian Conversation and Communication 2 - 3 Units

Aimed at fostering advanced conversation and communication skills, this course explores Russian culture through communication. Contains reading, films, vocabulary building, listening exercises, and speaking activities. The course can be taken for two or three credits; for two credits, attendance is required for two classes per week; for three credits, three classes per week.

RUSSIAN 120B Advanced Russian Conversation and Communication 2 - 3 Units

Aimed at fostering advanced conversation and communication skills, this course explores Russian culture through communication. Contains reading, films, vocabulary building, listening exercises, and speaking activities. The course can be taken for two or three credits; for two credits, attendance is required for two classes per week; for three credits, three classes per week.

RUSSIAN 201 Advanced Russian Proficiency Maintenance 2 - 3 Units

Advanced work in speaking, writing and comprehension in order to develop and maintain superior proficiency. Discussions and readings will focus on current cultural and political trends and other topics pertaining to Slavic studies. Special attention to the details of contemporary life in Russia and its changing colloquial speech. Conducted in Russian.

RUSSIAN 204 Russian Composition and Style 4 Units

Essay-writing, analysis of texts, oral and written reports, and translation.

Faculty

Professors

Ronelle Alexander, Professor. Slavic languages & literatures, problems of orality and ethnicity, Balkan Slavic dialectology, Balkan linguistics, language contact, historical accentology, clitic phenomena, oral tradition, Parry-Lord theory of oral composition, South Slavic epic singers.
Research Profile

David A. Frick, Professor. Slavic languages & literatures.
Research Profile

Eric Naiman, Professor. Sexuality, history, comparative literature, Slavic language, ideological poetics, history of medicine, Soviet culture, the gothic novel.
Research Profile

Irina Paperno, Professor. Russian language and literature, intellectual history.
Research Profile

Associate Professors

Lyubov (Luba) Golburt, PhD, Associate Professor. Pushkin, Russian literature and art of the 18th and 19th centuries; Derzhavin, Turgenev; history and literature; historical novel.
Research Profile

Darya Kavitskaya, Associate Professor.

Anne Nesbet, Associate Professor. Culture, film studies, Slavic languages, early Soviet culture, Sergei Eisenstein, silent film, Soviet film, GDR history, children's literature & Stalinism, the Soviet Union, American minority movements.
Research Profile

Harsha Ram, Associate Professor. Slavic languages and literatures, Russian and European lyric poetry and poetics (Derzhavin, Pushkin, Lermontov, Khlebnikov, Mandel'shtam), the poetics and politics of the eighteenth century and the Russian Golden Age, the Russian and European avant-garde.
Research Profile

Lecturers

Ellen R. Langer, Lecturer.

Milutin Janjic, Lecturer.

Anna Muza, Lecturer.

Eva Szoke, Lecturer.

Katarzyna Zacha, Lecturer.

Lisa C. Little, Lecturer.

Santoukht, I. Mikaelian, Lecturer.

Contact Information

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

6303 Dwinelle Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720-2979

Phone: 510-642-2979

Fax: 510-642-6220

issa@berkeley.edu

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Irina Paperno, PhD

6303 Dwinelle Hall

ipaperno@berkeley.edu

Head Graduate Adviser

Harsha Ram, PhD

6303 Dwinelle Hall

ram@berkeley.edu

Graduate Admissions

Sandy Jones

slavicadmit@berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Services Adviser

Sandy Jones

6303 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-9051

issag@berkeley.edu

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