Russian (RUSS)

RUSS 1410. Beginning Russian I.

This course is a beginning level Russian course designed for students with little or no previous experience in the language. It emphasizes the development of basic communicative skills through accurate Russian pronunciation, essential vocabulary, and foundational grammar structures presented within a rich cultural framework. Students build communicative competence by engaging in integrated reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that reflect everyday situations and wide-ranging Russian-speaking communities, preparing them to function in simple, real-world interactions.

RUSS 1420. Beginning Russian II.

This course is the second semester of beginner level Russian and builds on the competencies introduced in the first term. It develops students’ language skills using vocabulary and grammar structures presented within a range of ethnic, cultural, ideological, and national contexts. Students further practice the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing to communicate in Russian about everyday topics and to engage with information about Russian-speaking societies and their cultural expressions. Prerequisite: RUSS 1410 with a grade of "D" or better.

RUSS 2310. Intermediate Russian I.

This course is a third-semester Russian course that continues the development and review of all language skills in a Russian-language framework. It supports multilingual literacy through the use and analysis of Russian to strengthen linguistic competence (aspect, mood, compound tenses, passive voice), communication and interactional competence (pragmatics, cultural perspectives), and metalinguistic competence (analysis of oral and written texts, dialectal variation). Students use the target language in varied interactive settings to build understanding of Russian-speaking cultures. Prerequisite: RUSS 1420 with a grade of "D" or better.

RUSS 2320. Intermediate Russian II.

This course is a fourth-semester Russian course that reinforces and expands students’ vocabulary, grammar structures, and their appropriate use in a range of contexts. It emphasizes engagement with culturally authentic texts to strengthen reading and writing skills such as interpreting texts, identifying main ideas and themes, and using context to understand unfamiliar vocabulary. Oral skills in speaking and listening are further developed through presentational communication. This course completes a four-semester language sequence requirement. Prerequisite: RUSS 2310 with a grade of "D" or better.

RUSS 3302. Advanced Russian I.

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop advanced-level oral and written communication skills in the Russian language while strengthening listening and reading comprehension. Emphasis is placed on expanding vocabulary, refining sentence structure, and improving grammatical accuracy in both spoken and written contexts. Students engage in focused practice in listening and reading comprehension, as well as systematic pronunciation training, to build fluency, clarity, and confidence in real-world and academic communication. Prerequisite: RUSS 2320 with a grade of "D" or better.

RUSS 4301. Advanced Russian through Film.

This course focuses on Russian and Soviet films as artistic, cultural, and historical texts. Students analyze films with attention to their thematic concerns, narrative structures, visual style, and formal techniques, while also examining the social, political, and cultural contexts in which they were produced. Through film screenings, discussions, and written assignments, course activities help students develop and integrate their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, strengthening both analytical ability and language proficiency. Prerequisite: RUSS 3302 with a grade of "D" or better.

RUSS 4390. Studies in Russian Language and Culture.

This course is an individual study course in Russian under the direct supervision of a professor. It is generally available to graduating seniors who have completed several advanced courses or graduate students with special needs. Also, students enrolled in an education abroad program offered by the Department of World Languages & Literatures may take the course to fulfill up to two upper division elective courses in their degree plan. Students may not exceed six hours of credit in Independent Study. The course is repeatable for credit with different emphasis. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.