Russian Language

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

Minor

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures offers a minor in Russian Language. There is no major in Russian Language. Students desiring to major in Russian language, literature, or culture should choose the appropriate major track offered by the Slavic Languages and Literatures major .

Heritage Speakers of Russian

Heritage speakers include those who grew up in Russian speaking families but without a standard Russian language educational background. Heritage speakers of Russian are not eligible for this minor. However, heritage speakers may choose any of the Department's other minors (see links below).

Declaring the Minor

Students considering a minor track involving language requirements must see the Major Adviser early on to have their status as a heritage or native speaker determined, to be referred for language placement as needed, and to have their major study list plan approved. The paperwork for the minor, called an L&S Confirmation of Minor form, is completed with the Major Adviser the semester in which the student will earn his/her degree and no later than the last two weeks of classes in the student’s final semester. Students are required to bring a Bear Facts copy of their transcript when they meet with the major adviser to finalize their minor. Final approval for a minor rests with the major adviser.

Other Majors and Minors offered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Czech, Polish, or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS) Language and Literature  (Minor only)
Russian Language, Literature, and Culture  (Minor only)
Russian Literature  (Minor only)
Slavic Languages and Literatures  (Major only)

Visit Department Website

Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript in the memoranda section, but they are not noted on diplomas.

General Guidelines

  1. All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
  2. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.
  4. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth Requirement, for Letters and Science students.
  5. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
  6. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. Students who cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time should see a College of Letters and Science adviser.
  7. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

Requirements

Lower-division Prerequisites
RUSSIAN 1Elementary Russian5
RUSSIAN 2Elementary Russian5
RUSSIAN 3Intermediate Russian5
RUSSIAN 4Intermediate Russian5
Upper-division Requirements
RUSSIAN 103AAdvanced Russian4
RUSSIAN 103BAdvanced Russian4
RUSSIAN 120AAdvanced Russian Conversation and Communication2-3
or RUSSIAN 120B Advanced Russian Conversation and Communication
Select two from the following:
SLAVIC 104A
Course Not Available
SLAVIC 104B
Course Not Available
SLAVIC 180
Course Not Available
Readings in Russian Literature
Pushkin
SLAVIC 188
Course Not Available

Advising

The Department provides programmatic and individual advising services to prospective and current students who are pursuing major and minor tracks. Advisors assist with a range of issues including course selection, academic decision-making, achieving personal and academic goals, and maximizing the Berkeley experience.

Students who are looking to explore their options or are ready to declare a major, double major, or minor should contact the Undergraduate Student Services Advisor.

Advising Staff and Hours

Kathi Brosnan
issaug@berkeley.edu
6303 Dwinelle Hall
510-642-4661
Contact Kathi Brosnan via email to request an appointment
Advising hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-11:00am and 1:30pm-3:30pm

Courses

Select a subject to view courses:

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.

Slavic Languages and Literatures

SLAVIC R5A Reading and Composition 4 Units

Reading and composition course based on works of Russian and other Slavic writers, either written in English or translated into English. As students develop strategies of writing and interpretation, they will become acquainted with a particular theme in Russian and/or Slavic literatures and their major voices. R5A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R5B satisfies the second half.

SLAVIC R5B Reading and Composition 4 Units

Reading and composition course based on works of Russian and other Slavic writers, either written in English or translated into English. As students develop strategies of writing and interpretation, they will become acquainted with a particular theme in Russian and/or Slavic literatures and their major voices. R5A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R5B satisfies the second half.

SLAVIC 24 Freshman Seminar 1 Unit

The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 freshmen.

SLAVIC 36 Great Books of Russian Literature 3 Units

Readings in English of representative texts from the Russian literary tradition. Variable topics.

SLAVIC 39C Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Freshman and Sophomore seminars offer lower-division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

SLAVIC 39E Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Freshman and Sophomore seminars offer lower-division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

SLAVIC 39L Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Freshman and Sophomore seminars offer lower-division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

SLAVIC 39M Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Freshman and Sophomore seminars offer lower-division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

SLAVIC 39N Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Freshman and Sophomore seminars offer lower-division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

SLAVIC 45 Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature 3 Units

Development of Russian literature from Pushkin to Chekhov. No knowledge of Russian required. Prerequisite to admission to the Slavic major and recommended for prospective graduate students.

SLAVIC 46 Twentieth-Century Russian Literature 3 Units

Development of Russian literature from 1900 to the present: modernism, Soviet, and literature. No knowledge of Russian required. Prerequisite to admission to the Slavic major and recommended for prospective graduate students.

SLAVIC 50 Introduction to Russian/East European/Eurasian Cultures 3 Units

This course introduces students to the cultures of the peoples of the former Soviet bloc (Russia and other areas of the former Soviet Union, including Central Asia and the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe), from early times to the present, with the emphasis on cultural identity. Readings in history, fiction, folklore, viewing of films, and art works. Thematic units include: formation of the Russian civilization, Slavic nationalism in the Romantic era, empire and identity in Eastern/Central Europe; Soviet and post-Soviet daily life, Jews in Slavic lands, the former Yugoslavia; multi ethnic lands. Required of majors in Russian/East European/Eurasian cultures, the course is also aimed at a broad audience. Knowledge of the languages of the area is not required.

SLAVIC 98 Directed Group Study 1 - 4 Units

Group study of selected topics not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

SLAVIC 99 Individual Study 1 - 4 Units

Supervised independent study for lower division students with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

SLAVIC 100 Seminar: Russian, East European, and Eurasian Cultures 4 Units

An in-depth study of cultural history, literature, language, and society of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Variable topics. Course readings include primary texts (literature, film, popular culture, journalism) and scholarly studies. Course work emphasizes students' research. Required of all majors in the Slavic department. Final research paper of 10-20 pages required.

SLAVIC 130 The Culture of Medieval Rus' 4 Units

Introduction to the cultures of East Slavic peoples in the Middle Ages, including history, mythology, Christian religious culture, literature (writing), icon painting, and architecture.

SLAVIC 131 Literature, Art, and Society in 20th-Century Russia 4 Units

A lecture course examining Russian literature and culture in the 20th century. The course will focus on the interaction of literature, other artistic forms (painting, photography, or film), and broader social and ideological changes in one of the key transitional periods of the 20th century. Periods to be examined include the transition to Communism in the post-revolutionary 20s and the retreat from Communism (the perestroika 80s and the post-Communist 90s). No knowledge of Russian is required.

SLAVIC 132 Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and the English Novel 4 Units

A reading of novels by Dostoevsky and Tolstoy along with some relevant English novels. We will look at how the Russian and English novels respond to each other, resemble each other, and differ from each other, especially in their treatment of childhood, family, love, social theory, spirituality, and narrative.

SLAVIC 133 The Novel in Russia and the West 4 Units

Study of major Russian and Western (European and American) 19th- and 20th-century novels, and their interrelations. Variable reading list. See Department announcement for description.

SLAVIC 134A Gogol 4 Units

Gogol's fiction and plays, treated in relation to his life and to developments in Russian and European literature. Extensive outside reading required for this course.

SLAVIC 134C Dostoevsky 4 Units

A survey of the writer's principal artistic works, treated in relation to his life and to developments in Russian and European literature. Extensive outside reading required for this course.

SLAVIC 134D Tolstoy 4 Units

A survey of the writer's principal artistic works, treated in relation to his life and to developments in Russian and European literature. Extensive outside reading required for this course.

SLAVIC 134E Chekhov 4 Units

Studies in the innovative master of modern narrative forms: short story, drama, letter. Extensive exposure to the life and times of Anton Chekhov. Practice in critical approaches to literature and theater. Writing-intensive course.

SLAVIC 134F Nabokov 4 Units

A thorough examination of Nabokov's work as a novelist, critic, and memoirist. Explores Nabokov's fiction from his European and American periods, his (imagined) relation to literary predecessors, and his construct of an authorial self. Extensive outside reading required for this course.

SLAVIC 134G Tolstoy and Dostoevsky 4 Units

A reading of major works by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky in the context of Russian and European philosophy and religious thought. Extensive outside reading required. Variable content.

SLAVIC 134R Research in Russian Literature 1 Unit

Special research project to be coordinated with lecture course in the Slavic 134 series (SLAVIC 134A-B-C-D-E-F-G-N). Supervised by the instructor of the lecture course in which the student is also enrolled. Final research paper of 10-15 pages required.

SLAVIC 137 Introduction to Slavic Linguistics 3 Units

An introduction to the Slavic languages, their structures and histories, and descriptive and theoretical principles for their analysis. The origin and ancient history of the Slavs.

SLAVIC C137 Introduction to Slavic Linguistics 4 Units

An introduction to best practices in applying linguistic analysis to Slavic languages. Development of critical thinking and analytical skills.

SLAVIC 138 Topics in Russian and Soviet Film 4 Units

This course will examine the Russian contribution to film history and theory, with particular attention paid to the role of the cinema in Soviet culture and Russian films complex ties to literary and political movements. Variable topics.

SLAVIC C139 Language Spread 3 Units

Linguistic background and the general principles of language spread. Mechanisms of language spread, including creolization-decreolization, language planning, and the role of bilingualism. Case studies in language spread, including Austronesian, Indo-European, Amerindian, Uralic, African, Sinitic, and Australian languages. Relationship of language spread to immigration and culture spreads.

SLAVIC 140 The Performing Arts in Russia and Eastern Europe 4 Units

The course will examine the Russian and East European contribution to the practice and theory of the performing arts, especially (but not exclusively) theater. The course emphasizes the involvement of the performing arts in the social and cultural fabric.

SLAVIC 147A East Slavic Folklore 3 Units

Folktales, epic songs, customs, and beliefs of Russians and Ukrainians.

SLAVIC 147B Balkan Folklore 3 Units

Folktales, epic songs, customs, and beliefs of the South Slavs and other Balkan peoples.

SLAVIC 147R Slavic Studies Research 1 Unit

Special research project to be coordinated with lecture course for Slavic 147. Supervised by the instructor of the lecture course in which the student is also enrolled. Final research paper of 10-15 pages required.

SLAVIC 148 Topics in Russian Cultural History 4 Units

This course examines various dimensions of Russian culture--social, political, artistic, literary--in public and private life. The theory and method of cultural studies will be addressed, as well as concrete historical material pertaining to Russia. Topic and period variable. Instruction and texts in English, but students with a working knowledge of Russian are encouraged to do some reading in the original.

SLAVIC 150 Polish Literature and Intellectual Trends 3 Units

A survey of the major writers, works, and trends of the Polish literary tradition from the Middle Ages to the present. Special attention devoted to the Renaissance, the age of Romanticism, and the modern period. No knowledge of Polish required.

SLAVIC 151 Readings in Polish Literature 4 Units

Selected readings in Polish tailored to the academic interests of students enrolled.

SLAVIC 158 Topics in East European/Eurasian Cultural History 4 Units

This course examines various dimensions of different East European and Eurasian (Central Asia, the Caucasus, Siberia) cultures (history, society, languages, literature, art). Variable topics. Instruction and readings in English; students with knowledge of the languages of the area are encouraged to do some reading in the original language.

SLAVIC 170 Survey of Yugoslav Literatures 3 Units

Outline of major developments in Serbian (including Montenegrin) and Croatian (including Dalmatian) literatures from the beginnings to the present. No knowledge of Serbian/Croatian required.

SLAVIC 171 Readings in Yugoslav Literatures 4 Units

Selected readings in Serbian/Croatian, tailored to the academic interests of students enrolled.

SLAVIC 172 Topics in Serbian/Croatian 3 Units

Studies in Serbian/Croatian literatures, linguistics, or conversation, depending on the needs of the students enrolled.

SLAVIC 181 Readings in Russian Literature 4 Units

Study and analysis of the development of the Russian literary language and short fiction from the eighteenth century to the present.

SLAVIC 182 Pushkin 4 Units

A survey of the writer's principal artistic works, treated in relation to his life and to developments in Russian and European literature.

SLAVIC 190 Russian Culture Taught in Russian: Country, Identity, and Language 4 Units

Based on a wide range of sources from the 19th and 20th centuries--works of fiction, publicistics, personal documents--the course will trace the formation and historical transformation of Russian cultural identity, including issues in national identity, ethnicity, position in relation to state, gender, and sexuality. The class is aimed at students with advanced knowledge of Russian, both Americans studying Russian and Russians living in America. All readings, lectures, and discussions in Russian.

SLAVIC H195 Honors Seminar 4 Units

Study and research on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the faculty adviser, to culminate in the writing of a thesis. See departmental description of the Honors Program.

SLAVIC 198 Supervised Group Study for Undergraduates 1 - 4 Units

Supervised cooperative study of topics (in Slavic and East European languages and literatures) not covered by regularly scheduled courses.

SLAVIC 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

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

Phone: 510-642-2979

Fax: 510-642-6220

issa@berkeley.edu

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Irina Paperno, PhD

ipaperno@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Faculty Adviser

Ronelle Alexander, PhD

ralex@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Services Adviser

Kathi Brosnan

issaug@berkeley.edu

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