About German and Russian Studies
German Studies
The program emphasizes language fluency and cultural competency at all levels of study. A flexible curriculum and individualized advising allow majors and minors to develop a program of study and to explore interests in the humanities and social sciences or in engineering, computer science, management or the natural sciences. The program focuses on culture in the broadest sense and approaches literature, language, visual arts, history and philosophy in an interdisciplinary manner through the lens of German studies. Students in German studies develop an awareness of the cultural context of the German language in its various forms as well as an understanding of the German contribution to culture, the history of ideas and the development of academic and professional disciplines.
Students who declare a major or minor must consult a faculty advisor to develop an individualized course program in German studies. The department also encourages interdisciplinary work through the double major or a dual-degree program with engineering/computer science or management that usually includes an internship abroad and study at a university of technology in Germany or Austria. A minor in German allows students to acquire language proficiency and to explore aspects of German culture in international contexts.
The department directs two highly regarded education-abroad programs, one at the University of Graz, Austria, and another at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Both are open to students in all disciplines. Students normally participate in the Graz exchange in the junior or sophomore year. Prerequisites include a 3.0 GPA and two years of training in German language for the traditional junior year semester-abroad program, or one year for the language, culture and general education program at the sophomore level. Students who wish to participate in the Leipzig exchange program require more advanced language proficiency. This program may be of special interest to students in the social sciences, business and management. Through generous endowments the program offers financial support for study abroad to majors and minors. Additional funds provided by program alumni recognize outstanding work in German studies at the intermediate and advanced levels and support departmental activities, such as lectures by leading scholars in German studies and events like the annual °®¶¹´«Ã½ German Studies Colloquium (BUGSC).
Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the office of International Education and Global Initiatives.
A minimum grade of "C" is required for any course to be counted toward the major or minor and defines "satisfactory performance" in a course. Only one course opted as Pass/Fail can be counted toward the major, double major or minor.
For GERM 491 (Practicum in Teaching German), permission of the undergraduate studies director is mandatory. This course is intended for students who are well advanced in the study of German.
The program strongly recommends that German studies majors and minors study abroad in a German-speaking country.
Russian Studies
The Russian studies program offers a broad range of instruction that combines language training with courses (taught in English) that provide exposure to Russian literature and culture. Language instruction extends from the beginning through the advanced level. Instruction stresses the basic skills — comprehension, speaking, reading and writing — and aims primarily to develop practical competency in two semesters. For heritage speakers of Russian, the course sequence Russian for Russians makes it possible to gain basic reading and writing competency. Russia’s literature and culture are introduced in a permanent sequence of lower- and upper-level courses.
Interested students can pursue a major or a minor in Russian studies.
Harpur College Requirements
Harpur College students must complete the following requirements in addition to those listed for the major:
- 126 credits
- 94 liberal arts and sciences credits
- Minimum of 46 upper-level credits
- Completion of the Harpur College writing requirement (four to five courses as described in the All-College Writing section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin. Maximum of one C/J course and two W courses may be transferred).
- Minimum of 44 credits in residence in Harpur College
- 2.0 or higher GPA
Harpur College requirements are described in detail in the Requirements for Graduation section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin.
Requirements for German Studies Major
The requirements for the major are 40 credits in German studies courses above GERM 102, beyond the first-year level. Of these, at least 20 credits must be taken at the 300- or 400-level. Students are required to demonstrate language proficiency in German by successfully completing GERM 306 or a separate exam administered by the department at the beginning of the semester and during early registration period. (German major) students will be placed into the language course sequence at the appropriate level, therefore GERM 101/102, GERM 203/204 and GERM 305/306 may all be required in order to achieve the required proficiency level. GERM 221, GERM 222 and the teaching practicum (GERM 491) may be counted only once toward the major. Twelve credits of coursework must be taken in courses that focus on the study of German literature and culture outside the language course sequence. (GERM 101/102, GERM 203/204 and GERM 305/306 constitute the language course sequence.) At least four credits must be taken in courses conducted in German (GERM 381) beyond the language course sequence. Up to 12 credits of coursework in German studies courses taught in English (e.g., GERM 241) may be counted toward the major. Credits for courses taken abroad may be counted toward the major with the permission of the departmental advisor. Upon return from education abroad, majors are expected to take at least one additional advanced German studies course in residence.
The requirements for a double major in German studies and in another discipline are 36 credits in German studies courses, of which at least 15 credits must be earned at the 300- or 400-level. Students are required to demonstrate language proficiency in German by successfully completing GERM 306 or a separate exam administered by the department at the beginning of the semester and during early registration period. German Conversation (GERM 221 or GERM 222) and the teaching practicum (GERM 491) may be counted once toward the major. Twelve credits must be taken in courses that focus on the study of German literature and culture outside the language course sequence. (GERM 101/102, GERM 203/204 and GERM 305/306 constitute the language course sequence.) At least four credits must be taken in courses conducted in German (GERM 381) beyond the language course sequence. Students who have studied abroad are expected to complete the major by taking at least one additional advanced German studies course in residence.
Completion of the German studies major and the German studies double major requires that students take at least 20 credits of coursework while in residence in °®¶¹´«Ã½ or as part of study abroad with the German studies program's partner universities in Graz, Austria, or Leipzig, Germany.
Requirements for German Studies Minor
The requirements for the minor are 24 credits in courses above GERM 102. Students must demonstrate language proficiency in German by successfully completing GERM 306 or a separate exam administered by the department at the beginning of the semester and during early registration period. German Conversation (GERM 221 or GERM 222), GERM 241 and the teaching practicum (GERM 491) may be counted only once toward the minor. Transfer credit is counted toward the 24-credit requirement for the minor, but students must still complete at least two upper-level German studies courses (eight credits) in residence.
Honors Program
German studies majors who intend to graduate with honors should contact the department chair at the beginning of their senior year:
Honors are usually awarded on the basis of demonstrated proficiency in German, a project that demonstrates an understanding of the development of German culture and literature, and an A– average in all courses in German, with no more than one course below an A–.
High Honors: Requirements for honors, plus a grade of an A on a substantive research paper written in the senior seminar course.
Requirements for the Russian Studies Major
- 40 credits
- Minimum of 24 upper-division credits
- Minimum of 24 credits at °®¶¹´«Ã½
- Minimum grade of "C" for a course to count towards the major
- Maximum of four credits of independent study or RUSS 491/492 will count towards major requirements
- Maximum of 16 language-study credits for non-heritage speakers
- Credit towards the major is given for language courses above the 100-level
- Maximum of eight language-study credits for heritage speakers
- Language Placement: All students entering the program with advanced language proficiency will take a placement exam.
Curriculum
The BA in Russian studies is available in two tracks: Track 1: Literary and Cultural Studies; Track 2: Area Studies.
Track 1: Literary and Cultural Studies
- Linguistic proficiency to the level of RUSS 306 or the equivalent for non-heritage learners; or to the level of RUSS 212 or the equivalent for heritage learners
- RUSS 110 Russian Culture and Civilization
- RUSS 210 Introduction to Russian Literature
- Additional courses selected from current course offerings in Russian Cultural Studies.
Courses recently offered at °®¶¹´«Ã½ include:
- RUSS 215 Slavic Folklore
- RUSS 261 Russian Popular Culture
- RUSS 321 19th Century Russian Literature
- RUSS 325 Demons, Fools, and Madmen
- RUSS 331 Moscow and St. Petersburg
- RUSS 341 20th Century Russian Literature
- RUSS 351 Women in Russian Literature
- RUSS 371 Russia and the World
- RUSS 380 Literature and Revolution
- RUSS 380 Soviet Cinema
- RUSS 380 Theater as Language
- RUSS 471 Activism in Russia
- RUSS 472 Great Russian Novels
Track 2: Area Studies
- Linguistic proficiency to the level of RUSS 306 or the equivalent for non-heritage learners; or to the level of RUSS 212 or the equivalent for heritage learners
- RUSS 110 Russian Culture and Civilization
- RUSS 210 Introduction to Russian Literature and/or HIST 225 Imperial Russia
- Minimum of at least one course in each of the following areas:
- Russian Literary and Cultural Studies
- Russian, Eurasian and East European History. Recent courses include:
- HIST 325 Red Phoenix: Revolution and USSR
- HIST 426 Soviet Russia
- Russian, Eurasian and East European Political Science. Recent courses include:
- PLSC 358 Russian and Post-Soviet Politics
- Recent courses in Russian Cultural Studies are listed above.
Honors Program
The director of undergraduate studies administers the Russian honors program. Students interested in honors must consult with the director to determine eligibility, and eligible students must submit a proposal no later than September of the senior year. To be eligible to earn honors, a Russian major must have a GPA of 3.60 in Russian studies courses, not counting courses taken Pass/Fail. The student must write an honors thesis and the thesis must be judged worthy (of honors, high honors or highest honors) by the faculty supervisor and one other member of the department (or a faculty member outside the department approved by the undergraduate director). In case of disagreement between the two readers, a third is designated by the undergraduate director. This work may be completed during the student’s last semester. Students writing an honors thesis will register for RUSS 499 Honors Thesis. However, this course may not be used to satisfy the major requirement. For more information, the student should refer to the Rules Governing the Preparation of Undergraduate Honors Theses, available from the undergraduate director.
Requirements for the Russian Studies Minor
A minimum of six courses is required for the minor in Russian studies with a language and literature concentration. All students are required to gain language proficiency to the level of RUSS 204 or equivalent; in addition, all students must take RUSS 321 or 341 and RUSS 110 or 374. A Russian studies minor with an area studies concentration is also available. For details, see the undergraduate director.
Education Abroad
Students with some proficiency in Russian are encouraged to attend an education-abroad
program in Russia for a summer, semester or academic year. In most cases, these programs
will help students make progress toward the minor or the major.
NOTE: Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the office of International Education and Global Initiatives.