Academic Program

German and Russian Studies

Professor Kazecki (chair); Associate Professor Cernahoschi; Visiting Lecturers Filipovic and Stephenson

Offerings in the Department of German and Russian Studies investigate interconnections among histories, societies, cultural practices, and languages in Eastern and Central Europe and beyond. The curricula in German and Russian explore societies shaped by change and diversity, highlighting the importance of attaining fluency not only in language but also in the nuances of cultural understanding.

The department offers a German major, a German minor, a Russian minor, and courses within the interdisciplinary European Studies major and minor.

Incoming students with previous knowledge of German should complete the German Language Placement Questionnaire to determine the appropriate German course to take.

Incoming students with previous knowledge of Russian should complete the Russian Language Placement Questionnaire to determine the appropriate Russian course to take.

Entering students are assigned to the appropriate level in language courses according to relative proficiency based on language exposure, length of previous study, and/or their performance on the Advanced Placement Test of the College Entrance Examination Board taken in high school.

More information is available on the German and Russian Studies department website.

Curriculum
Planning

Course Offering Plan

The German and Russian Studies department provides the following list of possible course offerings for student planning purposes. The course list gives students valuable information regarding the variety and number of courses that will be offered in the future and is useful for students wishing to plan out their course of study over multiple years. The courses listed are not guaranteed to be offered and are subject to change.

​Fall 2027

  • FYS 597 Pioneers, Punks, and Protestors: East European Youth Culture
  • GER 101 Introduction to German Language and Culture I
  • GER 201 Intermediate German Language and Culture I
  • GER 233 Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis
  • GER 262 Rebels, Radicals, and Realists: Social Change in German Cinema
  • GER 350 Margins and Migrations
  • GER 457 Senior Thesis
  • RUSS 101 Elementary Russian I
  • RUSS 201 Intermediate Russian I
  • RUSS 301 Advanced Russian I

Winter 2028

  • GER 102 Introduction to German Language and Culture II
  • GER 202 Intermediate German Language and Culture II
  • GER 245 Adaptation
  • TBD GER 300-level elective
  • GER 458 Senior Thesis
  • RUSS 102 Elementary Russian II
  • RUSS 202 Intermediate Russian II
  • RUSS 233 Russian Myths and Legends
  • RUSS 302 Advanced Russian II

Fall 2028

  • GER 101 Introduction to German Language and Culture I
  • GER 201 Intermediate German Language and Culture I
  • GER 233 Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis
  • GER 341 Landscapes and Cityscapes in German-Language Media
  • GER 457 Senior Thesis
  • TBD GER course
  • RUSS 101 Elementary Russian I
  • RUSS 201 Intermediate Russian I
  • RUSS 216 Nature in the Cultures of Russia
  • RUSS 301 Advanced Russian I

Winter 2029

  • GER 102 Introduction to German Language and Culture II
  • GER 202 Intermediate German Language and Culture II
  • GER 253 Contemporary German Cultures
  • GER 458 Senior Thesis
  • RUSS 102 Elementary Russian II
  • RUSS 202 Intermediate Russian II
  • RUSS 247 Contemporary Russia on Film
  • RUSS 302 Advanced Russian II

Fall 2029

  • GER 101 Introduction to German Language and Culture I
  • GER 201 Intermediate German Language and Culture I
  • GER 233 Advanced German: Reading, Writing, Analysis
  • GER 358 Literature and Film of the German Democratic Republic
  • GER 423 Humor in Lit and Visual Media
  • GER 457 Senior Thesis
  • RUSS 101 Elementary Russian I
  • RUSS 201 Intermediate Russian I
  • RUSS 230 Cold War Identities: Competing Images of Self and Society in the US and the Soviet Union
  • RUSS 301 Advanced Russian I

Winter 2030

  • GER 102 Introduction to German Language and Culture II
  • GER 202 Intermediate German Language and Culture II
  • TBD GER 200-level elective
  • GER 458 Senior Thesis
  • RUSS 102 Elementary Russian II
  • RUSS 202 Intermediate Russian II
  • RUSS 302 Advanced Russian II
  • RUSS 317 Beyond Human: Cyborgs and Technology

Our course catalog may include more information on German and Russian Studies, its programs, courses, and requirements.

Full Catalog Listing