Polish, Russian, and Central and Eastern European Studies
Central and Eastern European Studies
Polish
Russian
Slavic and Baltic Languages and Literature
Central and Eastern European Studies Courses
CEES 400. A Survey of Central and Eastern Europe. 3 or 4 hours.
An interdisciplinary historical and cultural overview of Central and Eastern Europe. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
CEES 406. History of European Standard Languages. 3 or 4 hours.
The phenomenon of the "standard language" in Western and Eastern Europe. Course Information: Same as LCSL 406 and LING 406. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Taught in English. Previously listed as CEES 405. In cases where students speak languages other than English, they might receive tasks to research literature in that language (and on that language) and to present their research results. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; and consent of the instructor.
CEES 411. The City as Cultural Focus. 3 or 4 hours.
Interdisciplinary study of urban culture with focus on German-speaking countries. Course Information: Same as GER 411. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s). Taught in English. No knowledge of German required. Students who intend to use GER 411 toward a degree offered by the Department of Germanic Studies will do assignments in German. Area: literature/culture. Prerequisite(s): For majors and minors in the Department of Germanic Studies only: GER 212 or the equivalent or consent of the instructor.
CEES 418. Topics in German History. 3 or 4 hours.
Specific topics are announced each term. Course Information: Same as HIST 418. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of European history, or consent of the instructor.
CEES 433. Topics in Eastern European History. 3 or 4 hours.
Specific topics are announced each term. Course Information: Same as HIST 433. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of European history or consent of the instructor.
CEES 435. Topics in Russian History. 3 or 4 hours.
Specific topics are announced each term. Course Information: Same as HIST 435. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 3 hours of European history or consent of the instructor.
CEES 438. The Faust Legend. 3 or 4 hours.
Discusses Goethe's Faust within the context of European and non-European literatures. Traces the origins, significance, and interpretation of the Faust figure. Course Information: Same as GER 438. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Taught in English. Area: literature/culture.
CEES 439. Gender and Cultural Production. 3 or 4 hours.
Issues of gender representation and gender politics examined through the use of theoretical texts or through the study of women authors. Course Information: Same as GER 439 and GWS 439. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 1 time(s) if topics vary. Taught in English. Students who intend to use GER 439 toward a degree offered by the Department of Germanic Studies will do assignments in German. Area: literature/culture. Prerequisite(s): GER 212 or consent of the instructor.
CEES 460. Topics in Central and Eastern European Literature and Culture. 3 or 4 hours.
Study of a time period, movement, genre, or special topic. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Same as SLAV 460. May be repeated up to 2 time(s), with consent of the instructor, and if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
CEES 515. Film and Media Culture. 4 hours.
Explores the theory and history of film and other visual media. Emphasis will be given to the status of media texts in their cultural contexts, as well as to their function as components of modern social institutions. Course Information: Same as GER 515. May be repeated. Taught in English. Students will be asked to watch films outside of class.
CEES 532. Seminar in Russian History. 4 hours.
Research in topics. Course Information: Same as HIST 532. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
CEES 550. Critical and Theoretical Approaches to Cultural Production in Central and Eastern Europe. 4 hours.
In-depth examination and comparison of the critical and theoretical questions and approaches that currently frame the study of Central and Eastern European cultural production including film, visual arts, and other non-literary texts. Course Information: Taught in English. May be repeated if topics vary and with approval from Director of Graduate Studies.
CEES 551. Critical and Theoretical Approaches to Literature in Central and Eastern Europe. 4 hours.
Focuses on the types of critical questions and evolving analytical paradigms that currently guide the study of literatures and literary theories specific to the Central and Eastern European context. Course Information: Taught in English. May be repeated if topics vary and with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.
CEES 599. Ph.D. Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.
The writing of a Ph.D. thesis based on original research in the area of the candidate's major specialization (literature or culture). Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Students may apply a maximum of 26 credit hours toward the degree. Previously listed as SLAV 599. Prerequisite(s): Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree and consent of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Polish Courses
POL 460. Studies in Polish Literature. 3 or 4 hours.
Major literary Polish writers recognized in the world, translated extensively into English; their poetics, worldviews as compared with foreign writers; historical and philosophical background. Topics may vary. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours for undergraduates, or 12 hours for graduate students, if topics vary. Only 6 hours may be applied toward the undergraduate major in Polish. Taught in English. Polish majors will be required to complete some assignments in Polish. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in CEES 224 or Credit or concurrent registration in CEES 225; or consent of the instructor.
POL 499. Independent Study. 1-4 hours.
Investigation of special problems under the general direction of a staff member. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Graduate students may register for more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Senior or graduate standing, consent of the instructor and consent of the head of the department. Class Schedule Information: This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the undergraduate degree and the major.
POL 525. Polish Visual and Popular Culture. 4 hours.
Advanced analysis of Polish film, art, comic books, or other visual phenomena in Polish culture. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Taught in English. Prerequisite(s):Consent of the instructor.
POL 535. Polish Modernism and Avant-Gardes. 4 hours.
A survey of the most innovative trends in Polish literature in the 20th century, against the European background, with a strong comparative component. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours of credit, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in English.
POL 544. Workshops in Translation. 4 hours.
Intensive work on translation of literary and non-literary texts from Polish to English combined with elements of theory. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours of credit, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in English.
POL 545. Pre-Modern Polish Literature. 4 hours.
A detailed interpretation of various literary works prior to the 20th century. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in English.
POL 570. Literary Theory and the Polish Canon. 4 hours.
A detailed analysis of main currents in contemporary Polish criticism and theory. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in Polish.
POL 596. Independent Study. 1-4 hours.
Investigation of special problems under the general direction of a staff member. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and consent of the head of the department.
Russian Courses
RUSS 410. Structure of Modern Russian. 3 or 4 hours.
Introduction to Russian morphology and phonology. Examination of the Russian language as a system with particular attention to verb conjugation and noun declension, with the goal of improving students’ practical language skills. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): RUSS 201; and credit or concurrent registration in RUSS 202; or consent of the instructor.
RUSS 440. Topics in Russian Culture and Cultural Studies. 3 or 4 hours.
Exploration of various topics in Russian culture through an interdisciplinary prism, addressing intersections between visual and verbal arts as well as high and popular culture. Content varies.Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours for undergraduate students or 8 hours for graduate students, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in English. All texts are available in English. Students pursuing a major or minor in Russian, or an MA or PhD in Slavic Studies, will be required to read primary texts in the target language. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
RUSS 460. Topics in Russian Literature. 3 or 4 hours.
Study of a major author, movement, genre, or special topic. Content varies. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s) if topics vary. Taught in English. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor Junior, senior, or graduate standing. Or consent of the instructor.
RUSS 499. Independent Study. 1-4 hours.
Investigation of special problems under the general direction of a staff member. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Graduate students may register for more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Senior or graduate standing, consent of the instructor and the head of the department. Class Schedule Information: This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the degree and the major.
RUSS 525. Studies in the Russian Novel. 4 hours.
Extensive reading and independent critical analysis of the nineteenth-century classic Russian novels. Authors may include, but are not limited to, Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Turgenev, and Gogol. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary and with consent of instructor. Taught in English.
RUSS 530. Studies in Russian Poetry. 4 hours.
The development of Russian poetry from the 18th century to the present. Contemporary theories on poetry. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary and with consent of instructor. Taught in English.
RUSS 535. Experimental Prose and Metafiction. 4 hours.
In-depth exploration of six metafictional novels dealing with defining aesthetics and rethinking the place of the writer vis-a-vis his age, his reader, and his self. Topics may vary. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary and with consent of instructor. Taught in English.
RUSS 540. Imitation and Originality in Russian Literature. 4 hours.
Practices of imitation and parody in Russian literature, the role of those practices in Russian literary history, and their relationship to literary evolution and ideological change. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary and with consent of instructor. Taught in Russian.
RUSS 560. Russian Modernism and the Avant-Garde. 4 hours.
In-depth exploration of various theories of the avant-garde and of avant-garde practices in literature, film, architecture, visual and performing arts. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in English.
RUSS 575. Workshops in Translation. 4 hours.
Focuses on the translation of literary and non-literary texts. Various theoretical approaches to translation and trace the evolution of notions of conveying from one language to another. Topics may vary. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, if topics vary, and with consent of the instructor. Taught in English.
RUSS 596. Independent Study. 1-4 hours.
Investigation of special problems under the general direction of a staff member. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and the head of the department.
Slavic and Baltic Language and Literature Courses
SLAV 460. Topics in Central and Eastern European Literature and Culture. 3 or 4 hours.
Study of a time period, movement, genre, or special topic. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Same as CEES 460. May be repeated up to 2 time(s), with consent of the instructor, and if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SLAV 499. Independent Study. 1-4 hours.
Investigation of special problems under the general direction of a staff member. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Graduate students may register for more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Senior or graduate standing, consent of the instructor and the head of the department. Class Schedule Information: This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the degree and the major.
SLAV 596. Independent Study. 1-4 hours.
Investigation of special problems under the general direction of a faculty member. Course Information: May be repeated up to 8 time(s). Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and the head of the department.