College of Arts & Sciences

The study of Russian and other Slavic languages and literatures is offered not only for its intrinsic interest, but also as a means toward understanding the peoples and cultures of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Major programs lay a firm foundation for postgraduate study in diverse fields or for various professional occupations.

Careers

In addition to traditional careers in secondary-school and university-level, graduates are finding employment in business, the media, banking, the legal profession, as consultants in non-governmental agencies dealing with commerce, democratization, and the development of civil society in Russia and other post-Soviet states, as investment fund analysts, travel agents, cultural exchange coordinators, exhibit guides, translators and interpreters, and in many other fields.

Special Opportunities

To provide access to the riches of Russian literature and culture to all undergraduates, regardless of their interest in language, the Slavic and Eurasian Studies program offers a wide range of courses in Russian literature, culture and film in translation. These courses assume no prior knowledge of the Russian language and are intended also for students who are not majoring in Russian. Students interested in these courses are advised to consult the program for current offerings and course descriptions.

Opportunities to spend a semester in Russia are made possible through close cooperation between the SUNY and Moscow State University.

Language Placement

Experience indicates that students with one year of high school Russian will usually place in A Rus 101 or 102, with two years in A Rus 102, with three years in A Rus 102 or 201, and with four years in A Rus 201. Placement is contingent upon an active assessment of language skills made by the instructor in the course no later than the second class or in consultation with the undergraduate program director.

A student may not earn graduation credit for a course in a language sequence if it is a prerequisite to a course for which graduation credit has already been earned.

Students earning advanced placement credits from high school, and those earning credits in the University at Albany�s University in High School Program, will be expected to register for the next course in the language sequence.

Transfer students are expected to register for the next level course in the language sequence. Placement is contingent upon an active assessment of language skills made by the instructor in the course no later than the second class or in consultation with the undergraduate program director.

Degree Requirements for the Major in Russian

General Program B.A.: A minimum of 36 credits of Russian language (above A Rus 102), literature, or culture courses. Two alternative tracks lead to the degree: (A) Language, (B) Literature and Culture. Each program consists of a common core of 28 credits plus at least 8 credits in the area of concentration.

Core Program (28 credits)

Language: A Rus 201 (5), 202 (5), 301 (3), 302 (3), 312 (3) (19 credits).

Literature and Culture: Three courses, at least one of which in literature, from among A Rus 251, 252, 253, 161/Z, 162/Z, 280 or as advised by the Director of Undergraduate Studies (9 credits).

Area Concentration: (8 credits)

(A) Language: A Rus 311 (3) plus 5 credits in Russian language courses or in literature courses taught in Russian at the 300 level or above.

(B) Literature and Culture: A Rus 311 (3), at least one course in Russian literature at the 300 level or above, and at least one course as advised from among A Rus 380 (3), A His 354 (3), 355 (3), A Pos 354 (3) 356 (3), 452Z (3) or other courses.

B.A./M.B.A. Program

Beginning in the fall semester 1996, Russian has participated with the School of Business in a five-year program leading to a B.A. degree in Russian and an M.B.A. Candidates spend two years on the Albany campus studying language and culture and lower-level business courses and satisfying General Education requirements. The junior year is spent studying at Moscow State University, followed by two years in Albany completing the business degree.

Honors Program

The honors program in Russian is designed for outstanding Russian majors enrolled in either the general program (language, literature or culture track) or the teacher education program.

Students may apply for admission to the honors program by submitting a letter of request to the program no later than April 15 of the sophomore year (for admission in the fall) or November 15 of the junior year (for admission in the spring). Junior transfers may apply for consideration at the time of their admission to the University.

Combined B.A./M.A. Program

The Combined B.A./M.A. Program in Russian provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master�s degree programs starting from the beginning of their junior year. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earn the B.A. and M.A. degrees within nine semesters.

The combined program requires a minimum of 138 credits, of which at least 30 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students will meet all University and college requirements, including the requirement for any of the B.A. programs in Russian described above, the minor requirement, the minimum 90-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.A., students will meet all University and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completing a minimum of 30 graduate credits, and any conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, or other professional experience where required, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.A. programs.

Students will be considered as undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits and satisfactory completion of all B.A. requirements. Upon satisfying requirements for the B.A., students will automatically be considered as graduate students.

Students may apply for admission to the combined degree program at the beginning of their junior year, or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration. Students will be admitted to the combined program upon the recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee (Slavic) of Slavic and Eurasian Studies.

Advanced Study in Russia

Through cooperation with the State University of New York Office of International Programs, Slavic and Eurasian Studies provides advanced students with an opportunity to spend one semester in Russia. Students accepted for the program reside and study at Moscow State University and follow a curriculum comprised of advanced Russian language, Russian and Soviet literature and Russian culture. Students are eligible to apply for the program in their third year of Russian study or later.

Students with advanced language skills are encouraged to participate in the UAlbany exchange program with Moscow University and enroll in courses in the Russian Area Studies Program at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies. Besides instruction in Russian Language, available courses taught entirely in Russian include Russian History, Russian Culture, Literature, and Religion, Russian Economics and Russian Economic Geography, Russian Society and Politics, Russian International Relations and Foreign Policy, Ethnology in Russia, and Russian Civilization. Adequate language proficiency is a requirement for this option, and application is subject to approval by the faculty of the Slavic and Eurasian Studies Program.

Other Slavic Languages

The program provides instruction in Slavic languages other than Russian. In recent years, it has offered courses in Bulgarian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian. Courses in Yugoslav and Bulgarian culture (in English) and Polish and East European literatures have also been offered.

Through cooperation with the State University of New York Office of International Programs, the Russian and East European Studies Program provides advanced students with the opportunity to spend one semester in Russia. Students with appropriate language skills are encouraged to participate in the UAlbany exchange program with Moscow University and enroll in courses in the Russian Area Studies Program at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies. Besides instruction in Russian Language, available courses taught entirely in Russian include Russian History, Russian Culture, Literature, and Religion, Russian Economics and Russian Economic Geography, Russian Society and Politics, Russian International Relations and Foreign Policy, Ethnology in Russia, and Russian Civilization. Adequate language proficiency is a requirement for this option, and application is subject to approval by the faculty of the Slavic and Eurasian Studies Program.