Russian, Central, and Eastern European Studies

Chair(s):

Russian, Central, and Eastern European Studies (RCEES) is an interdisciplinary concentration focusing on the history and culture of Russia, the other republics of the former Soviet Union (including territories of the Caucasus and Central Asia), and the nations of Eastern and Central Europe (with particular emphasis on Poland and the Czech Republic.) RCEES students can choose among three different specializations: Russian literature and culture, Russian history and culture, or the history and culture of Central and Eastern Europe. Students complete coursework in several different fields (such as literature, history, economics, and political science) and complete an independent research project. While study of a foreign language is not required, many concentrators choose to study Russian at Grinnell, or a Central or East European language during off-campus study.

Concentration requirements: 24 or 26 credits as follows:

Russian Literature and Culture Track

1. Literature

12 credits chosen from the following courses:

GLS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits
GLS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits
GLS 353 - Major Russian Writers 4 credits
RUS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits
RUS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits
RUS 251 - The Theme of the African in Russian Literature and Culture 4 credits
RUS 261 - History of Russian Film 4 credits
RUS 313 - Present through the Past: Russian Cultural Traditions 4 credits
RUS 353 - Major Russian Writers 4 credits
RUS 389 - Advanced Russian Seminar 4 credits

2. History

8 credits:

HIS 241 - Origins of Modern Russia 4 credits
HIS 242 - The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 4 credits

3. And

Four or six credits in an interdisciplinary seminar or independent work related to or deriving from a course already taken in the concentration

Russian History and Culture Track

1. Social Sciences

12 credits chosen from the following courses (eight of these must be from one social science discipline):

ECN 225 - Marxian Economics 4 credits
HIS 241 - Origins of Modern Russia 4 credits
HIS 242 - The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 4 credits
HIS 244 - Ivan and Fritz Go to War: World War II on the Eastern Front 4 credits
HIS 34x - Advanced Studies in Russian History 4 credits
POL 250 - Politics of International Relations 4 credits
POL 251 - International Political Economy 4 credits
POL 257 - Nationalism 4 credits
POL 273 - Politics of Russia 4 credits
POL 357 - Diffusion of Democracy 4 credits
The area studies components of the Russian and Central European programs with which Grinnell College is affiliated (4 credits)

2. Eight credits from the literature list

GLS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits
GLS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits
RUS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits
RUS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits
RUS 251 - The Theme of the African in Russian Literature and Culture 4 credits
RUS 261 - History of Russian Film 4 credits
RUS 313 - Present through the Past: Russian Cultural Traditions 4 credits
RUS 389 - Advanced Russian Seminar 4 credits
GLS 353 - Major Russian Writers 4 credits

3. And

Four or six credits in an interdisciplinary seminar or independent work related to or deriving from a course already taken in the concentration

Central and Eastern European Track

1. Twelve credits chosen from the following courses:

ECN 225 - Marxian Economics 4 credits
HIS 238 - The Making of Modern Germany 4 credits
HIS 241 - Origins of Modern Russia 4 credits
HIS 242 - The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 4 credits
HIS 244 - Ivan and Fritz Go to War: World War II on the Eastern Front 4 credits
POL 250 - Politics of International Relations 4 credits
POL 255 - The Politics of New Europe 4 credits
POL 257 - Nationalism 4 credits
POL 273 - Politics of Russia 4 credits
POL 357 - Diffusion of Democracy 4 credits

2. And

RES 291 - Perspectives in 20th-Century Central and Eastern European Literature 4 credits

3. And

Four credits from the following courses:

RUS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits
RUS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits
GRM 227 - Topics in German Literature in Translation 4 credits
PHI 234 - 19th-Century Continental Philosophy 4 credits
The area studies components of Russian and Central European programs with which Grinnell College is affiliated (4 credits)
One 300-level (or higher) Russian or German literature course

4. And

Four or six credits in an interdisciplinary seminar or independent work related to or deriving from a course already taken in the concentration