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Department History and Our Undergraduate Program

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures provides instruction in the cultures of the Russian and other Slavic peoples, and their neighbors in Western Asia. In addition to language and literature, our department teaches different aspects of Slavic cultures, including film, drama, visual arts, popular culture, critical theory, religious thought, and cultural history.

Our department, which celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary in 2001, was one of the first departments of its kind in the United States.

Over the years, it has remained in the vanguard of Slavic studies, because of the breadth of our coverage and because of our innovative approach to the field. Our faculty members have a wide range of interests and train students to discover the links between our subject matter and other related disciplines. Thus, students find that our courses complement their studies in other fields, whether History, English, or Business.

Although much of the knowledge acquired in the program is specific to the Slavic field, the faculty is dedicated to developing its students' skills in expository writing, in interpreting texts, in clear verbal communication, in literary theory, in research, and in critical thinking. As students in a small department, our majors benefit from the accessibility of their teachers and the community of fellow students.

Because we have a choice of major tracks, students may develop a program of study that suits their needs and interests. There is flexibility in terms of the number of languages and cultures studied, and in terms of the types of courses taken. Whereas some students focus primarily on literature, others pursue a program that embraces a variety of related disciplines. Our majors have the opportunity to work closely with faculty in the students’ areas of interest.

Courses

Our courses combine different disciplines, traditions, approaches, and areas. Whether you are interested in the classics of Russian literature, Polish Romanticism, the novels of Nabokov or Kundera, Eurasian languages (such as Armenian or Georgian) and cultures, the religious culture of old Russia, Slavic folklore, Soviet culture, the films of Eisenstein, Russian Orientalism, contemporary popular culture, the Slavic Department has something to offer you. In almost all our courses on literature and culture, readings and lectures are in English, and no knowledge of Slavic languages is required. We welcome students from all programs and disciplines. Among our offerings, you will find courses that fulfill the following five of the seven breadth requirements: Arts and Literature, Philosophy and Values, Historical Studies, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and International Studies.

Slavic Studies Outside the Classroom

Our campus hosts many Slavic-related lectures, concerts, films, conferences, and other events . A weekly Russian conversation hour is one of the Berkeley Slavic Department's most lively institutions. The Polish Circle and Czech Circle meet regularly for discussions and social events. Film showings, of classic and contemporary films from Russia and other countries, are periodically organized by graduate students. The University of California has its own Study Abroad Program in Moscow during the Fall Semester, as well as a program in Central European Studies in Budapest.

After Graduation

In the world today, in-depth understanding of another culture and knowledge of another language are becoming increasingly valued. Graduates from our department are finding that the recent political, social, and economic changes in Slavic lands have resulted in an increasing number of opportunities for employment, both in this country and abroad, in fields such as education, journalism, business, diplomacy, social work, health, and environmental affairs. A degree in Slavic also provides excellent preparation for graduate studies in Slavic and other related fields, as well as a sound background in liberal arts for those wishing to attend professional schools.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHANGES TO RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN

NEW FALL 2008!

Effective Fall Semester 2008 there is a new requirement for heritage students of Russian who are prospective majors or minors. Heritage students must see the Undergraduate Staff or Major Adviser to obtain information specific to their individual language requirements and to be referred for a proficiency exam.

CHANGES FOR MAJOR AND MINOR REQUIREMENTS
FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN
(EFFECTIVE FALL 2008)

Heritage speakers include those who grew up in Russian speaking families, but without a standard Russian language educational background. Heritage speakers may select any major or minor track offered by the Department except the minor in Russian language. The unit requirements are the same as for all majors and minors. However, the balance between courses approved for and taken in language and literature/culture may change depending on each student’s language proficiency. The choice of specific courses in language and literature/culture for any respective major or minor track will be determined on an individual basis by the Major or Staff Adviser and academic staff.

Before enrolling in language courses and declaring a major or minor, heritage speakers are required to take a proficiency/placement test to determine which courses they will need to take and apply to the respective requirements. Students must make an appointment with the Undergraduate Staff or Major Adviser to obtain information specific to their individual language requirements and to be referred for the proficiency exam.

ADVISING

THE MAJOR ADVISER

The Major Adviser is a faculty member appointed each academic year. The Major Adviser for the academic year 2008-2009 is Prof. Anne Nesbet. Students interested in pursuing a major, double major, or minor track must see her early in their academic careers for advance advising and study list planning. Heritage speakers of Russian and East European languages are required to see the Major Adviser for initial screening and referral for placement exams.

The Major Adviser’s office hours are posted outside the main department office at the start of each semester and on our website. See Faculty Office Hours.

Prof. Anne Nesbet
6209 Dwinelle Hall
(510) 642-2642
nesbet@berkeley.edu

THE UNDERGRADUATE STAFF ADVISER

The Undergraduate Staff Adviser is available during department office hours Monday-Friday 8-12 & 1-4:30. Students who need preliminary advising for a major, double major, or minor track and have questions related to the requirements, courses, and policies regarding the major and minor tracks can contact her directly. The Staff Adviser works in tandem with the Major Adviser, referring students to the Major Adviser for declaration of majors and minors, managing the administrative aspects pertaining to student records, assessing academic progress, and certifying students for graduation.

Kathi Brosnan
6303 Dwinelle Hall
(510) 642-4661
issaug@berkeley.edu
Office Hours: M-F 8-12 & 1-4:30

LANGUAGES OFFERED

Language Instruction: We regularly offer instruction through four years in Russian and through two years in Polish, Czech, BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian), Bulgarian, Hungarian (a non-Slavic language also taught in this department), and Eurasian languages such as Armenian and Georgian. The department offers special classes for heritage speakers of Russian, as well as a course in Business Russian, and Russian/English, English/Russian oral and/or written translation.

LANGUAGE PLACEMENT EXAMS

Students who have learned Russian or other Slavic languages elsewhere and those returning from study abroad will need to take a placement test at the beginning of the semester. Please review language placement criteria from the selections below.

• Students starting with 1st or 2nd year Russian should consult with Lisa Little (lclittle@berkeley.edu, or during her office hours), Russian Language Coordinator, about placement in the lower-division language courses (Slavic 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6A-B).

• Students needing placement screening for third-year Russian (Slavic 103A-B, etc.) or testing for the Letters and Science foreign language requirement for Russian should consult with Dr. Arkady Alexeev (arkalexeev@yahoo.com, or during his office hours).

• Heritage speakers of Russian considering a major or minor track requiring Russian must make an appointment with the Undergraduate Staff or Major Adviser to obtain information specific to their individual language requirements and to be referred for the proficiency/placement exam.

• Students of East European or Eurasian languages should consult with the appropriate Language Coordinator for proficiency testing and placement. See coordinators list below.

Czech and Polish:
David Frick, frick@berkeley.edu, (510) 642-8623

Bulgarian and BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian):
Ronelle Alexander, ralex@berkeley.edu, (510) 642-8301

Eurasian Languages:
Johanna Nichols, jbnichols@berkeley.edu, (510) 642-1097

• Transfer students and those enrolling in study abroad programs should consult with the Major Adviser regarding course equivalents accepted by the Department.

Office hours are posted on the departmental bulletin board and on our website here.

EDUCATION ABROAD

The Slavic Department actively encourages students to participate in study abroad programs in Russia and other Slavic countries. Through the University of California’s Education Abroad Program, students may spend the fall semester in Moscow and do intensive work on Russian language, literature, and culture. There is also a program in Budapest featuring Central European studies. Other institutions also offer programs in Russia and other Slavic lands, both during the school year and summer. Please consult with the Major Adviser for information about these programs.

MAJOR TRACKS

The department offers three different major tracks. The major track in Russian/East European/Eurasian Cultures offers an interdisciplinary “area studies” approach. For this major track, two years of study (or the equivalent) in a language (either Russian, an East European language or a Eurasian language) are required. The major track in Russian Language and Literature focuses specifically on Russian language and literature. It requires three years of language coursework (or the equivalent). The major track in Czech, Polish, or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) languages and literatures allows students to focus intensively on one of these languages.

DECLARING A MAJOR

All students must see the Major Adviser for consultation, language proficiency referral (as needed), and study list planning and approval prior to pursuing a major track. Students are required to bring a Bear Facts copy of their transcript when they meet with the Major Adviser for their initial consultation.

• Students may declare their major upon entry to the university, however, we encourage one year of study in the student’s major language prior to declaration.
• Courses fulfilling major and minor requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

MAJOR TRACK IN RUSSIAN/
EAST EUROPEAN/
EURASIAN CULTURES
(50-52 units)

This major track integrates the study of languages and cultures of
a large area: Russia, Eastern/Central Europe, and Eurasia. Students design their own programs by selecting courses offered by the Slavic Department and other departments such as History, Sociology, Art, Political Science, Music, and Peace and Conflict Studies. While all majors in this track will gain knowledge of the whole area, the program also allows each student (1) to emphasize a specific cultural region, (2) to compare different regions, and/or (3) to define a particular field of study. Students are advised to see the Major Adviser in advance to prepare an individualized study plan. Note: Students may declare their major upon entry to the university, however, we encourage one year of study in the student's major language prior to declaration.

REQUIREMENTS:

Lower-division (21-24 units):

• Four semesters of one language of the area (18 to 20 units) (or the equivalent, as determined by examination). Russian heritage speakers, see “Major and Minor Requirements for Heritage Speakers of Russian (Effective Fall 2008).”

The Department highly recommends additional exposure to language, through course work, intensive summer language programs, or the Education Abroad Program. Languages regularly offered by our department that can be used for the major are: Russian, Polish, Czech, BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian), Georgian, Armenian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian. Certain other languages have been periodically offered in our department or other departments. These include Kazakh, Ingush, Chechen, Lithuanian, and others.

• One lower-division course in the Slavic Department. Slavic 50: Introduction to Russian/East European/Eurasian Cultures. With permission of the Major Adviser, it may be possible to substitute another lower-division course, e.g., Slavic 37, 39, 45, 46.

Upper-division (28 units):

• One cultural topics course: Slavic 148: Topics in Russian Cultural History or Slavic 158: Topics in East European & Eurasian Cultural History

• One relevant course in the Department of History, e.g. History 171A, B, or C; 172; 173; 177A or B

• Five courses chosen from the upper-division offerings of the Slavic Department, and the following courses from outside the department: Geography 55C; Political Science 129B, 129C, 141A, 141C; Sociology 181. With permission of the Major Adviser, students may substitute relevant courses from the following departments: Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies, Economics, Journalism, Legal Studies, or Peace and Conflict Studies.*

• *Up to three elective courses may be taken in departments other than Slavic.

• *Up to two upper-division language courses in the Slavic Department, taken in addition to the initial four semesters of language, can be counted toward electives.

MAJOR TRACK IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
(53-56 Units)

This major track integrates the study of Russian language, literature, institutions, and culture. Students will learn what defines Russia's unique place in civilization, both in earlier times and in today's world. Students are advised to see the Major Adviser in advance to prepare an individualized study plan. Students may declare the major after completion of Slavic 2 and either Slavic 45 or 46.

REQUIREMENTS:

Lower-division (26 units):

• The first four semesters of Russian (Slavic 1, 2, 3, & 4), or the equivalent Russian heritage speakers, see “Major and Minor Requirements for Heritage Speakers of Russian (Effective Fall 2008).”

• Nineteenth- and twentieth-century surveys of Russian literature (Slavic 45 & 46)

Upper-division (27-30 units):

• Advanced Russian language (Slavic 103A & 103B) and Russian conversation (Slavic 120A or B)

• One literature course with readings in Russian (Slavic 180, 181, 182, or 188)

• One Russian literature class in English translation (Slavic 131, 132, 133, 134A, B, C, D, E, F, G, N, or 146)

• One course in culture selected from the following: Russian culture (Slavic 130, 131, 140, 146, 148, 190), OR: The literatures of other Slavic peoples (Slavic 150, 160, 170), OR: Folklore (Slavic 147A or B), Linguistics (Slavic 137), Film (Slavic 138)

• Electives: Two upper-division elective courses (each worth 3 or 4 units) in Russian language, literature, or culture selected from the courses listed above. Relevant courses from other programs—for example, History—may be substituted with permission of the Major Adviser.

MAJOR TRACK in CZECH, POLISH,
BCS (BOSNIAN, CROATIAN, SERBIAN)
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
(53-56 units)

With advance consultation, students may pursue a major track in Czech, Polish, or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian). Advance consultation is critical, since not all required courses are offered regularly.

REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to Slavic 1 and 2 (10 units of elementary Russian) and two lower-division courses in literature chosen from Slavic 36, 37, 39, 45, 46, or 50 (6 units), the requirements include:

• 10 units of the relevant elementary language [Slavic 25A-25B (Polish), 26A-26B (Czech), 27A-27B (BCS)]

• 8 units of intermediate language (Slavic 115A-115B, 116A-116B, or 117A-117B)

• 3 units of the survey course in the relevant literature (Slavic 150, 160, or 170)

• 7 units of two additional courses in the relevant literature in the original (Slavic 151-152, 161-162, or 171-172)

• A plan of study, designed in advance in consultation with the Major Adviser, consisting of three relevant courses (9-12 units) in Russian or European literature and history

THE HONORS PROGRAM

Slavic majors with a minimum GPA of 3.3 overall and in courses for the major are invited to consult with members of the faculty and the Major Adviser in the spring of their junior year about the honors program and a thesis topic. Requirements for the honors program in Slavic include: (a) an additional upper-division Slavic course chosen by the student and (b) an honors thesis course (H195). In the honors thesis course, normally taken during the fall semester of the senior year, the student writes a thesis under the direction of a member of the faculty (as thesis director). In order to enroll in H195, the student must file an application with the department the semester before enrolling in H195 (available from
the Undergraduate Staff Adviser). This application includes a preliminary statement of the thesis topic and the names and signatures of the members of the honors committee, consisting of a faculty director and one additional faculty member (who also reads the completed thesis), and the Department Chair.

MINOR TRACKS

The Department offers minors in: (a) Russian language, (b) Russian literature (requiring no knowledge of Russian), (c) Russian language, literature, and culture, and (d) Slavic languages/ literatures with an emphasis in either Czech, Polish, or BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) language and literature.

Requirements: The minor is in a field academically distinct from the student’s major. An overall grade-point average of 2.0 in upper-division courses applied to the minor program is required. Courses fulfilling minor requirements must be taken for a letter grade. At least three of the required upper division courses must be taken at Berkeley.

Rules for Minors (effective Fall 2008): Heritage speakers of Russian may choose any minor except the Minor in Russian Language. Native speakers of Russian may choose only the minor in Russian Literature. Native speakers of East European languages may choose any minor that does not utilize their native language. Note: Heritage or native proficiency is determined by the Major Adviser in consultation with the faculty language coordinators. Final approval for a minor rests with the Major Adviser.

CONFIRMATION OR “DECLARATION” OF A 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 minor paperwork, called a 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.

MINOR IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, & CULTURE
TOTAL UPPER-DIVISION UNITS: 15-20

• Prerequisite: Four semesters of elementary/intermediate Russian (Slavic 1, 2, 3, & 4 or equivalent). Russian heritage speakers, see “Major and Minor Requirements for Heritage Speakers of Russian (Effective Fall 2008).”

• Five upper-division courses (3 or 4 units each) in Russian language and/or Russian and other Slavic literatures and cultures. These courses may be chosen in any combination by the student, in consultation with the Major Adviser. A course from another related program (for example, comparative literature) may be substituted with approval of the Major Adviser.

MINOR IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
TOTAL UPPER-DIVISION UNITS: 16-20

• Prerequisite: Four semesters of elementary/intermediate Russian (Slavic 1, 2, 3, & 4 or equivalent)

• Four semesters of advanced Russian (Slavic 103A & 103B, plus two courses chosen from Slavic 104A, 104B, 180, 181, 182, or 188), Advanced Russian Conversation (Slavic 120A or B)

MINOR IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE
TOTAL UPPER-DIVISION UNITS: 19-20

• Prerequisite: Surveys of Russian literature (Slavic 45 & 46)

• One course on the culture of Russia or other Slavic nation chosen from Slavic 130, 138, 140, 146, 147A or B, 148, 150, 160, or 170

• Four courses in Russian literature chosen from Slavic 132, 133, 134 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or N), 136, 180, 181, 182, 188

MINOR IN CZECH, POLISH, BCS (BOSNIAN/CROATIAN/SERBIAN)
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
TOTAL UPPER-DIVISION UNITS: 17-18

• Prerequisite: Appropriate first-year language sequence (Slavic 25A-B, 26A-B, 27A-B or equivalent)

• Two advanced language courses (Slavic 115A-B, 116A-B, or 117A-B), Literature survey (Slavic 150, 160, or 170)

• Two courses in the relevant literature (Slavic 151 and 152 or 161 and 162 or 171 and 172) or substitutes approved by the Major Adviser.

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