168 Humanities Instructional Building; (949) 824-8119
Lynn Mally, Director
Faculty
Guy de Mallac, Ph.D. Cornell University, Professor Emeritus of Russian (modern Russian literature, peace studies, philosophy of nonviolence, Tolstoy's thought, Gandhi's thought, religious studies, Russian intellectual thought, Pasternak's life and work)
Michael A. Green, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Professor Emeritus of Russian (eighteenth-century Russian theatre and literary theory, Pushkin, Chekhov, Kuzmin, Russian Symbolist theater, cabaret theatre, Russian literature and theater of the 1920s)
Victorina Lefebvre, Ph.D. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lecturer (methods of teaching, comparative study of Western and Soviet culture, Russian language and literature)
Lynn Mally, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, Director of the Program in Russian Studies and Associate Professor of History (modern Russian and Soviet history)
Spanning both Europe and Asia, Russia is one of the world's dominant political entities. Its rich cultural traditions have enhanced world literature, theater, art, and dance. As the world's first socialist state, it became a major political rival of the United States after the Second World War. In the past decade, Russians have abandoned their socialist system and are now in the process of making a rocky transition to capitalism and a multi-party system. Although Russia lost sizeable amounts of territory in this transition, the Russian language now serves as the lingua franca throughout many areas formerly controlled by the Soviet Union.
While the demand for specialists in various sectors of government has eased, relationships between our countries at other levels of society are growing more active and business opportunities are exciting and rewarding. Other areas in which the need for Russian language competence is evident right now include trade, environmental protection, social services, law, medicine, and technology.
All students in Russian language courses are encouraged to take part in the University's Education Abroad Program and spend a portion of their junior or senior year studying in Russia. Additional information is available in the Center for International Education section of this Catalogue.
The Russian Studies minor is a multidisciplinary curriculum combining the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Social Ecology. It is designed to introduce students to the rich history and culture of Russia and provide them with the intellectual and linguistic tools necessary for sustained engagement with this area of the world.
Requirements for the Minor
Russian 1A-B-C, 2A-B-C, 50 (three different topics); 16 units of upper-division courses selected from the following: Russian 140, 150, 199, appropriate Comparative Literature courses, History 124A, 124B, 190 (when topics are related to Russia), Political Science 154F (cross-listed with Anthropology 136D), and 159C. (A maximum of 4 units may be chosen from the following courses devoted in part to Russian themes: History 126A, 126B, 126C, 158A, Political Science 154G, and Social Ecology E113.)
Residence Requirement for the Minor: At least four upper-division courses required for the minor must be completed successfully at UCI. By petition, two of the four may be taken through the UC Education Abroad Program, provided course content is approved in advance by the appropriate department chair.
1A-B-C Fundamentals of the Russian Language (5-5-5) F, W, S. Focuses on reading, comprehension, basic composition, and conversation skills, and gives the student an initial exposure to the Russian cultural scene.
2A-B-C Second-Year Language Study (5-5-5) F, W, S. Students read simple passages from contemporary Russian literary texts and newspapers. Development of oral skills and exposure to Russian culture continue. Prerequisites: Russian 1A-B-C. (2A: VI)
3 Russian Conversation (2) F, W, S. Enables students to engage more easily in everyday activities using the Russian language. Discussions based on articles from Russian periodicals and on selected texts as well as on Russian radio and television broadcasts. Eligible students at all levels encouraged to enroll. Prerequisite: Russian 1C or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit six times.
50 Russian Culture (4) F, W, S. Study of varied topics in Russian culture, area studies, and society, both in the present and in historical perspective. Topics are not normally repeated for a two-year period. May be taken four times for credit as topics vary. (IV, VII-B)
99 Special Studies Russian (1 to 5). Prerequisite: consultation with instructor necessary prior to enrollment.
100A-B-C Third-Year Language Study (4-4-4) F, W, S. Continuation of second-year program, with emphasis on grammar review, development of oral and written composition skills, and reading comprehension. Prerequisite: Russian 2C or consent of instructor. (VII-B)
101A-B-C Fourth-Year Language Study (4-4-4) F, W, S. Advanced study of Russian. Aim is to enhance comprehension and develop vocabulary at the conceptual level of oral and written exposition. Reading and analysis of literary and nonliterary texts; advanced study of morphology, syntax, and stylistics; exploration of translation techniques. Prerequisite: Russian 100C. Open to qualified nonmajors by consent of instructor. (VII-B)
140 Topics in Russian Literary Theory (4). Examines the work of individual theorists and schools of literary theory in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (VII-B)
150 Topics in Russian Literature (4) F. Examines major Russian writers and important themes in Russian literature from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. Taught in English translation. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (VII-B)
151 Classics of Russian Literature (4). Employs a variety of approaches--historical, sociological, formalist, comparativist--to illuminate one of the world's great bodies of writing. Among writers whose work and thought examined are Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Belyi, Bulgakov, Turgenev, Grekova. Taught in English. Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement. May be taken two times for credit as topics vary. (VII-B)
152 Soviet Russian Literature (4) S. Examination of novels and short stories by Russian writers of the Soviet period; topics may include examples of Socialist Realism, dissident and emigre literature, literature of the Thaw and Perestroika. Relevant social and political contexts are discussed. Taught in English. Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement. (VII-B)
191 Proseminar in Reading Russian Sources (4) F. Intensive training in reading original scholarly texts in Russian. Emphasis on developing reading speed and efficiency. Required for Russian majors in preparation for Russian 192 and 193. Prerequisite: Russian 100C or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit two times as topics vary.
192 Seminar in Advanced Russian Studies (4) W. Students explore range of topics in Russian culture and area studies through independent reading, oral presentations, and discussion. Instructor provides basic bibliography. Conducted in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 101A and 191 or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit two times as topics vary.
193 Undergraduate Research in Russian Studies (4) S. Independent research in a carefully defined topic of Russian culture or area studies under individual direction of faculty member or members. Normally involves substantive work with Russian language sources or field work in Russian and results in extensive written report summarizing research and results. Prerequisites: Russian 101B, 191, and 192.
195A-B-C Research Internship (4-4-4) F, W, S. Year-long commitment to assist in a faculty-originated research project, either in the Program in Russian or outside of it, in research directly concerned with Russia or Russian culture or society and utilizing the Russian language. Prerequisite: Russian 100C or consent of instructor.
198 Directed Group Study (4) F, W, S. Group independent study under direct faculty supervision. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be taken two times for credit.
199 Independent Study (1 to 4) F, W, S. Independent study under direct faculty supervision. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be taken two times for credit.
