Russian Language and Literature Major
Program Director: Cynthia L. Martin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Russian
The undergraduate major in Russian Language and Literature consists of 40 credits beyond the prerequisite of Elementary Russian (RUSS101, RUSS102 or equivalent). Many students pursue a double major or double degree in Russian and another discipline, such as international relations, business, history, economics, journalism, engineering, etc. Russian students have the opportunity to live in St. Mary's Language House, and the majority of majors participate in study abroad. Native or heritage speakers wishing to enroll in Russian courses or major in Russian should consult the undergraduate advisor. Students interested in enrolling in a course that appears closed or that has a waitlist are strongly encouraged to contact the faculty member or undergraduate advisor for Russian for permission to enroll.
Placement in Courses
When registering for a Russian course for the first time, the system will require that you have taken the World Language Placement. For information about the World Language Placement, go to: http://arhu.umd.edu/academics/world-language-placement/. Please consult with the Russian advisor or Program Head, as well.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Russian majors will be able to communicate effectively in spoken Russian in a broad range of everyday situations and contexts.
- Russian majors will communicate effectively in written Russian in essays on a range of topics.
- Russian majors will demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the culture(s) of the Russian Federation (literature, history, art, cuisine, traditions, etc.).
Students must take language-acquisition courses sequentially. Once credit has been received in a higher level language acquisition or grammar course, a lower level course may not be taken for credit.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College Requirements | ||
| Requirements | ||
| RUSS201 | Intermediate Russian I | 5 |
| RUSS202 | Intermediate Russian II | 5 |
| RUSS301 | Advanced Russian I | 3 |
| RUSS302 | Advanced Russian II | 3 |
| RUSS 3xx | One additional course at the 3xx level | 3 |
| RUSS401 | Advanced Russian Composition | 3 |
| RUSS402 | Practicum in Written Russian | 3 |
| RUSS4xx | Select one additional course at the 4xx level | 3 |
| RUSS | Two RUSS electives | 6 |
| Select two RUSS3xx or RUSS4xx level electives 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
- 1
Must be taught in Russian
Notes: One supporting course outside the department (at the 3xx or 4xx level) may be counted toward the major with an advisor's prior approval.
Students must earn a grade of "C-" or higher in each course applied toward a major or minor in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Additionally, an overall GPA of 2.0 in a major or minor is required for graduation.
Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages:
- http://4yearplans.umd.edu
- the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog
Study Abroad
Students majoring in Russian Studies are encouraged to spend a summer or a semester abroad. For information on study abroad programs see http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/education-abroad/.