Program in Russian and East European Studies
Russian and East European Studies coursework provides opportunities for interdisciplinary training and the development of language skills in a critically important geographic region. Courses are offered in the areas of history, political science, and Soviet and post-Soviet Russia. A minor in Russian and Eastern European Studies is available. This study provides excellent preparation for advanced work in Russian and East European studies, international law, business, education, foreign affairs and public administration, as well as for professional careers in public or private organizations involved in international activities.
Through cooperation with the State University of New York Office of International Programs, Russian and East European Studies provides students with opportunities to spend one semester in Russia. Students with appropriate language skills are encouraged to participate in the UAlbany exchange program with Moscow State 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. Students with only elementary Russian language skills are encouraged to consider additional programs offered through UAlbany’s exchange affiliation with Moscow State University in partnership with the Knowledge Exchange Institute (KEI). These programs offer both language instruction and up to three Russian studies courses conducted in English. See https://ualbany.studioabroad.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=10042.
The Student-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major in Russian and East European Studies*
Students wishing to go beyond the undergraduate minor in Russian and Eastern European Studies may propose their own Interdisciplinary Major by blending courses from the department and other academic departments on campus. Many departments on campus offer courses relevant to this field of study, including (but not limited to) the Departments of: Languages, Literatures and Cultures; Political Science; and History. See the guidelines for the Student-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major: https://www.albany.edu/undergraduateeducation/files/IDS_Major_App.docx.
The Interdisciplinary Major must consist of at least 36 but not more than 66 credits. If the major includes fewer than 54 credits, the student will need a separate minor to meet graduation requirements. If the major includes 54 or more credits, the student will not need to declare a separate minor.
At least half of the total credits in the Interdisciplinary Major must be at the 300 level or above. Up to 25% of the credits earned toward the Interdisciplinary Major may take the form of independent study courses.
The Interdisciplinary Major must have at least two faculty sponsors, one primary and one secondary, with the primary sponsor serving as the student’s major advisor. The two sponsors must be faculty members of academic rank (i.e. assistant professor, associate professor or professor) and must come from two different academic departments offering courses included in the proposed major.
Formal application to initiate an Interdisciplinary Major must be made through the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education located in Lecture Center 30 (518-442-3950). In order to apply a student must have already completed at least 30 general credits toward graduation. Proposals will be reviewed by the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee of the Undergraduate Academic Council.
*Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2011 who are declared Russian and East European Studies majors should consult the previous Undergraduate Bulletin year appropriate to their date of matriculation as well as their Degree Audit for their own graduation requirements. Previous Undergraduate Bulletins are available online at: https://www.albany.edu/undergraduate_bulletin_archive/2023-2024/previous_bulletins.html.
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