Slavic Languages and Literatures

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.

Overview

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures provides instruction in the languages and cultures of Russian and other Slavic peoples — Czech, Polish, and Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian (BCS) — as well as some of the non-Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe (Hungarian) and Eurasia (Armenian). In addition to language and literature, the department teaches different aspects of Slavic cultures, including film, drama, visual arts, popular culture, critical theory, religious thought, and cultural history.

Undergraduate Programs

Slavic Languages and Literatures : BA (with concentrations in Russian/East European/Eurasian Cultures; Russian Language and Literature; and Czech, Polish, or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) Language and Literature), Minor
Czech, Polish, or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) Language and Literature : Minor
Russian Language : Minor
Russian Language, Literature, and Culture : Minor
Russian Literature : Minor

Graduate Program

Slavic Languages and Literatures : PhD

Visit Department Website

Courses

Literature, Linguistics and Culture:

Languages:

Slavic Languages and Literatures

SLAVIC 200 Graduate Colloquium 0.0 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Reports on current scholarly work by faculty and graduate students.

SLAVIC 210 Old Church Slavic 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2013, Fall 2011
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2014
Assigned translations and sight reading of selected Medieval Orthodox Slavic texts.

SLAVIC 220 Comparative Slavic Linguistics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2011, Fall 2008, Fall 2005
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

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2015, Spring 2013
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

Terms offered: Fall 2008
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

Terms offered: Spring 2011, Fall 2009, Spring 2004
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

Terms offered: Spring 2012, Spring 2006, Spring 2004
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

Terms offered: Spring 2010, Fall 2006, Fall 2001
Linguistic history and dialectology of Slovenian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbian/Croatian.

SLAVIC 239 Twentieth-Century Slavic Literary Theory 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2014, Fall 2008
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

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2013
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

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Spring 2011, Fall 2010
Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.

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

Terms offered: Fall 2014, Fall 2011, Fall 2008
Coverage of major movements and genres in the intellectual context of the times. Readings in Russian.

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

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2013, Fall 2010
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

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Fall 2013
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

Terms offered: Fall 2009, Spring 1998, Fall 1996
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

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2014, Spring 2013
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

Terms offered: Spring 2010
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Advanced studies in the several fields of Slavic literatures and linguistics. Content varies.

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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
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

Terms offered: Fall 2010, Spring 2009, Spring 2006
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

Terms offered: Fall 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2009
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2014
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 10 Week Session, Spring 2017
Preliminary exploration of a restricted field involving research and a written report.

SLAVIC 299 Directed Research 2 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 10 Week Session, Spring 2017
Normally reserved for students directly engaged upon the doctoral dissertation.

SLAVIC 301 Issues in Slavic Pedagogy 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2012
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
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

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Individual study for the comprehensive or language requirements in consultation with a field adviser.

SLAVIC 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 2 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
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 102 Advanced Readings in Specialized Armenian 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017
Selected readings in Armenian drawn from a wide range of texts—literature, history, journalism, politics, law, science and technology, business and economics, etc.—tailored to the academic interests of students enrolled.

The course is designed to further develop students’ language skills and to link language competence to the study of the contemporary politics, culture, and society in Armenia and the Armenian diaspora.

ARMENI 124 Armenian Literature in Social Context 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2016
This course covers selected works and topics in Armenian literature treated in a broad socio-cultural context. In addition to introducing students to some of the Armenian literary masterpieces, the course offers a lens through which to view the socio-political issues and historical legacies that shape Armenian culture and identity, in Armenia and in diaspora, in today’s globalized world. Lectures, readings and discussions in English. No knowledge of Armenian language is required (students with knowledge of Armenian read in the original).

ARMENI 126 Armenian Culture and Film 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017
This course examines issues in Armenian culture (folklore, literature, architecture, visual arts, and film), with particular attention to Armenian cultural identity and socio-political movements in today’s Armenia and in diaspora. Lectures, readings and discussions in English. No knowledge of Armenian language is required (students with knowledge of Armenian read in the original).

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian

BOSCRSR 27A Introductory Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Beginner's course. Sequence beginning Fall semester.

BOSCRSR 27B Introductory Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Beginner's course. Sequence beginning Fall semester.

BOSCRSR 117A Continuing Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Sequence begins fall semester.

BOSCRSR 117B Continuing Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Sequence begins fall semester.

Bulgarian

BULGARI 28A Introductory Bulgarian 5 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

CZECH 26B Introductory Czech 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

CZECH 116A Continuing Czech 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Sequence begins fall semester.

CZECH 116B Continuing Czech 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2016
Sequence begins fall semester.

CZECH 163 Advanced Reading Tutorials in Czech 3 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017
Selected readings in Czech drawn from a wide range of texts—literature, history, science, media and journalism, politics, business and economics, etc.—tailored to the academic interests and language proficiency of students enrolled.

The course is designed to further develop students’ language skills and to link language competence to the study of the contemporary politics, culture, and society in the Czech Republic and, more broadly, Eastern Europe.

The course is taught in a small group setting. The course requires considerable independent reading at home.

Hungarian

HUNGARI 1A Introductory Hungarian 3 or 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
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 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

POLISH 25B Introductory Polish 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Beginner's course. Sequence beginning fall.

POLISH 115A Continuing Polish 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Sequence begins fall semester.

POLISH 115B Continuing Polish 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Sequence begins fall semester.

Romanian

ROMANI 1A Introductory Romanian 3 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Beginner's course.

RUSSIAN 2 Elementary Russian 5 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016

RUSSIAN 3 Intermediate Russian 5 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016

RUSSIAN 4 Intermediate Russian 5 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Fall 2015

RUSSIAN 6A Introductory Russian for Heritage Speakers 3 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
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

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015
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 202 Advanced Academic Russian 3 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Spring 2017
Advanced work in reading, speaking and comprehension for graduate student, aimed at developing and maintaining superior proficiency and competence in academic Russian. Readings and discussions focus on current linguistic and cultural trends. Special attention to contemporary life in Russia, its changing cultural norms and speech, viewed in a broad historical context. The course is conducted in Russian.

RUSSIAN 204 Russian Composition and Style 4 Units

Offered through: Slavic Languages and Literatures
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016
Essay-writing, analysis of texts, oral and written reports, and translation.

Faculty and Instructors

Faculty

Ronelle Alexander, Professor. Slavic languages & literatures, Balkan Slavic dialectology, Balkan linguistics, language contact, oral tradition, Parry-Lord theory of oral composition, South Slavic epic singers, issues of language and identity.
Research Profile

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

Lyubov (Luba) Golburt, 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. Phonological theory, opacity, contrast, Slavic phonology, phonetics/phonology interface, field linguistics (Slavic, Turkic, Uralic).
Research Profile

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

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

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

Harsha Ram, Associate Professor. Russian and European romanticism and modernism, Russian and European avant-gardes, Russian, European, Near Eastern and South Asian poetic traditions, Indian literature, Italian literature, Georgian history and literature, theories of world literature, literary theory, comparative poetics, genre theory, literary history, comparative modernisms and modernities, vernacular and high culture, cultural and political history of Russia-Eurasia and the Caucasus, postcolonial studies, theories of nationalism, imperialism and cosmopolitanism, the city and literature.
Research Profile

Lecturers

Milutin Janjic, Lecturer.

Ellen R. Langer, Lecturer.

Lisa C. Little, Lecturer.

Anna Muza, Senior Lecturer.

Hasmig Seropian, Lecturer.

Eva Soos Szoke, Lecturer.

Katarzyna Zacha, Lecturer.

Emeritus Faculty

Joan Grossman, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages and literatures, Russian symbolism and decadence viewed especially as a cultural process, questions of literary evolution, and Russian modernism.
Research Profile

Olga Hughes, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages and literatures, literature and culture of the 20th century, Pasternak, Tsvetaeva, Remizov, autobiographical prose, history and literature of Russian emigration, Russian literary developments and cultural life of the early 20th century.
Research Profile

Robert P. Hughes, Professor Emeritus. Critical theory, comparative literature, Slavic languages and literatures, Pushkin, Russian and European modernism, Russian poetry, Nabokov, Russian prose in the 1920s, Khodasevich's poetry, forms of autobiography, Andrei Belyi.
Research Profile

Olga Matich, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages and literatures, Russian symbolism and post-Stalin literature, women in Russian literature, Zinaida Gippius, Russian emigre literature, conceptualization of love in Russian culture, theory and practice of private life.
Research Profile

Hugh Mclean, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages and literatures, prose fiction of the 19th century (Gogol, Tolstoy; Kushchevskij, Leskov, Chekhov), Zoshchenko, and poetry (Majakovskij).
Research Profile

Johanna Nichols, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages & literatures, Slavic languages, syntax, historical linguistics, typology, including historical typology, linguistic geography and areal linguistics, languages of northern Eurasia, particularly languages of the Caucasus.
Research Profile

Walter Schamschula, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages and literatures, influences of cultural contacts on Czech literatures, especially Germanic, movement and migration of literary themes and topics in Europe, Czech cultural history & theory of literature, theory and practice of translation.
Research Profile

Alan Timberlake, Professor Emeritus. Slavic languages and literatures, descriptive grammar of Russian, chronicles.
Research Profile

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 Student Services Adviser

Kathi Brosnan

issag@berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Services Adviser

Vacant

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