Modern Languages and Literatures – Russian

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Interim Dean: Dr. Sophie Clavier

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Humanities Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338-1421
Email: russian@sfsu.edu
Website: mll.sfsu.edu/russian-program/

Chair: Charles Egan
Undergraduate Advisor: Natalia Tkachov

Program Scope

The Russian program offers lower-division language courses (RUSS 101-RUSS 103) and courses in advanced language, conversation, composition, culture, and civilization as well as a considerable range of literature—both in Russian and in English translation—comprising a minor that will enhance a wide range of majors in various disciplines. In this post-Soviet era the study of Russian language and culture, and the knowledge of the country as a whole, becomes even more imperative. Students are either frequently visiting Russia or working there for an extended period of time. In addition, there is now a greater availability of Russian archival material to Western students, researchers, and scholars.

The minor in Russian consists of 23 units of lower- and upper-division coursework. Up to 13 units of prerequisite coursework or demonstrated language proficiency is required to begin the minor.

Minor in Russian

All course work used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Russian Minor — 22 units

Required Course (16 units)

RUSS 103Third Semester Russian4
RUSS 260Russian Culture and Civilization in English3
RUSS 3053
RUSS 3073
RUSS 511Russian Literature II in English3

Electives (6 units)

on advisement (all must be upper division courses)

RUSS 101 First Semester Russian (Units: 4)

Instruction in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Russian.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

RUSS 102 Second Semester Russian (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: RUSS 101 or consent of the instructor.

Continuation of RUSS 101.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

RUSS 103 Third Semester Russian (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: RUSS 102 or consent of the instructor.

Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Russian at the intermediate level. Russian culture.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

RUSS 260 Russian Culture and Civilization in English (Units: 3)

Major themes in the development of Russian culture and civilization from the 9th Century to the present. Architecture, literature, folklore, customs, music, dance, theatre, and cinema. Taught in English.

RUSS 306 Advanced Conversation and Composition (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: RUSS 103 or consent of the instructor.

An intensive reading-conversation course.

RUSS 511 Russian Literature II in English (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area E.

Representative works and movements of the Golden Age in Russian literature from the beginning of the 19th Century to the beginning of the 20th Century. [Taught in English]

RUSS 610 Dostoevsky in English Translation (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.

Dostoevsky's seven important works. [Taught in English]

RUSS 615 The Russian Avant-Garde (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or consent of the instructor.

Creativity in Russian literature, arts, cinema, society between 1905 to 1930 in the context of Russian traditions and Western European parallels. [Taught in English]

RUSS 621 Tolstoy in English Translation (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area E.

Tolstoy was a master of fiction and non-fiction and radical thinker who challenged the status quo. Major fiction works/correspondence with Gandhi. Taught in English.

RUSS 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair and instructor.

Special topics in Russian. Written projects requiring critical analysis and interpretation of linguistic or literary problems. Material adapted to individual needs and interests. May be repeated for a total of 9 units.