The major in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (REEES) is an interdisciplinary program focusing on study of the current cultural and social context, and the literary, artistic, and historical aspects of Russian, East European and Eurasian cultures in the past and present. The aim of the language curriculum is to equip students to read, write, speak and understand Russian on a level allowing communication with fluent Russian speakers. Before registering for a language course other than RUSS 1010, students should consult with the undergraduate faculty advisor concerning appropriate placement.   

Students interested in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies may consider a double major in order to increase their career opportunities. Prospective teachers might combine REEES with a major in another foreign language, while those preparing for a career in government, business or social services may benefit from a combination of REEES and a social science or business major. Students structure their curriculum according to the departmental checklist for majors, in close consultation with a departmental advisor.   

Study Abroad

The department strongly recommends that all Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies majors take part in an intensive language program, summer or semester long, in Russian-speaking countries or in the U.S.. For more information on CU Study Abroad programs, visit the Education Abroad website.

Courses Taught in English

Many of our content courses are offered in translation. These courses generally require no previous study in the language, history or culture of the area involved, and are open to all interested students, regardless of major.

Requirements

General Requirements

Students must complete at least 30 credit hours in Russian studies, at least 18 of which must be completed at the 3000 or 4000 level, with grades of C- or better (none may be taken as pass/fail).

  • RUSS 1010 and RUSS 1020 do not count toward the 30 credit hours required for the major in Russian studies.
  • Students may not receive credit for both RUSS 3060 and RUSS 4010 or RUSS 4020 and RUSS 4060. Choose either the RUSS 3060/RUSS 4060 sequence or the RUSS 4010/RUSS 4020 sequence.
  • Beginning or middle-level language course requirements may be met by transfer credit or by testing out of the course. Students who enter the program at the third-year level must complete at least 18 credit hours in residence in courses numbered 3000 or above with grades of C- or better (none may be taken pass/fail).

  • Students who enter at and enroll in Russian language courses at the 3000- or 4000-level may not receive credit for lower-division Russian language courses, unless lower-division language coursework was completed prior to registration for 3000- and 4000-level Russian language courses.

  • No course can be used for more than one category.

Students are required to structure their curriculum for the major in close consultation with the departmental advisor. Students with advanced Russian language skills are strongly encouraged to meet with the undergraduate faculty advisor to discuss language placement. Students who have Russian language transfer credit and/or students who are Russian language native or heritage speakers may enter the program at the upper-division level, up to RUSS 4010, with faculty permission.

In the case of advanced language placement, students will be required to meet with the Russian faculty advisor for Russian course substitutions and recommendations. Students who place out of Russian language courses required for the major must replace the credits with additional coursework in Russian Studies. Any substitutions to major coursework must be preapproved by the Russian faculty advisor.

Graduating Russian studies majors are asked to participate in an annual assessment exercise during their last (spring) semester at the university to help evaluate the quality of the Russian Studies major. Students may also be interested in learning their level of language competence from the standardized online test. Students cannot study for the exams, and they do not affect course grades or graduation in any way.

NOTE: Study abroad is recommended after the second year of language study.

Program Tracks

Track A: Russian Language and Culture

Required Russian Language Courses
RUSS 2010Second-Year Russian 14
RUSS 2020Second-Year Russian 24
RUSS 3010Third-Year Russian 14
RUSS 3020Third-Year Russian 24
Russian Literature/Culture Course - the 19th Century and Earlier3
Select one of the following:
Topics in Russian and Slavic Culture 2
Russian Culture and Art Under Tsars Great and Terrible
Madness and Gambling: Russian Short Stories of Life on the Edge
Energy Cultures: Oil, Coal, and Atoms in Modern Literature and Film
Women in Russian Culture: From Folklore to the Nineteenth Century
Russian Culture Past and Present
Slavic Folk Culture: Ideals and Values in the Contemporary World
Crimes of Passion: Gender and Sexual Politics in Tolstoy's Russia
American-Russian Cultural Relations
Dostoevsky
Tolstoy
Chekhov
Rogues to Revolutionaries: Russian Rebels, Past and Present
Seeds of Revolt: 19th-Century Russian Literature
Absurd and Supernatural in Russian Literature
Russian Literature/Culture Course - the 20th and 21st Centuries3
Select one of the following:
Topics in Russian and Slavic Culture 2
Introduction to Modern Russian Culture
Madness and Gambling: Russian Short Stories of Life on the Edge
Energy Cultures: Oil, Coal, and Atoms in Modern Literature and Film
Russia Beyond the Headlines: Media, Politics, Culture, and Environment
Red Star Trek: Russian Science Fiction Between Utopia and Dystopia
Arctic Thrillers: Environment, Landscape and Literature of the Far North
Russia Today through Film and TV
Spies Like Us: Espionage in the Culture of the Cold War and Beyond
Russian Culture Past and Present
Russia after Communism: Post-Soviet Politics and Culture
Topics in Russian Culture 2
RUSS 4211
Stalinism: Culture and Society
Russian Queer Culture
Mythological Russia
Women in 20th-21st Century Russian Culture
Rogues to Revolutionaries: Russian Rebels, Past and Present
20th-Century Russian Literature and Art
Contemporary Russian Literature
Absurd and Supernatural in Russian Literature
Advanced Language Courses
Select two of the following:8
Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 1) 1
Advanced Conversation and Composition 1
Advanced Conversation and Composition 2 1
Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 2)
Upper-Division Courses
Select one of the following:3
Professional Russian
Russian Cultural Idioms
Open Topics: Russian Culture in Russian
Russian Film and Society (taught in Russian)
6 credit hours of upper-division study-abroad Russian language class
Total Credit Hours33

Track B: Russian Culture and Literature

Required Courses
RUSS 2010Second-Year Russian 14
RUSS 2020Second-Year Russian 24
RUSS 4811Seeds of Revolt: 19th-Century Russian Literature3
RUSS 482120th-Century Russian Literature and Art3
Aspects of Russian/Soviet/Post-Soviet Culture
Select two of the following (one must be upper-division):6
Astronauts & Astropolitics: Space Exploration from the Cold War to the Future of Innovation
Topics in Russian and Slavic Culture 2
Russian Culture and Art Under Tsars Great and Terrible
Introduction to Modern Russian Culture
Sports and the Cold War
Energy Cultures: Oil, Coal, and Atoms in Modern Literature and Film
Russia Beyond the Headlines: Media, Politics, Culture, and Environment
Space Race in Russian and American Culture
Spies Like Us: Espionage in the Culture of the Cold War and Beyond
Russian Culture Past and Present
Slavic Folk Culture: Ideals and Values in the Contemporary World
Russia after Communism: Post-Soviet Politics and Culture
Topics in Russian Culture 2
Stalinism: Culture and Society
American-Russian Cultural Relations
Mythological Russia
2000-Level Literature/Film Courses
Select one of the following:3
Fairy Tales of Russia
Death and the Undead in Slavic and Nordic Cultures
Madness and Gambling: Russian Short Stories of Life on the Edge
Women in Russian Culture: From Folklore to the Nineteenth Century
3000/4000-Level Literature/Film Courses
Select two of the following:6
Red Star Trek: Russian Science Fiction Between Utopia and Dystopia
Arctic Thrillers: Environment, Landscape and Literature of the Far North
Russia Today through Film and TV
Crimes of Passion: Gender and Sexual Politics in Tolstoy's Russia
RUSS 4211
Russian Queer Culture
Dostoevsky
Tolstoy
Chekhov
Women in 20th-21st Century Russian Culture
Contemporary Russian Literature
Rogues to Revolutionaries: Russian Rebels, Past and Present
Absurd and Supernatural in Russian Literature
Elective
Select one of the following:3
Any one 3000- or 4000-level RUSS or GSLL culture/literature or language course, or a course in another department pertaining to Russia, upon consent of advisor.
Upper-division study-abroad language class.
Total Credit Hours32

Track C: Russian Major for Heritage Speakers

Required Courses
RUSS 3060Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 1) 14
RUSS 4060Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 2) (or any other upper-division Russian language course ) 14
or RUSS 4010 Advanced Conversation and Composition 1
or RUSS 4020 Advanced Conversation and Composition 2
or RUSS 4050 Professional Russian
or RUSS 4210 Topics in Russian Culture
or RUSS 4230 Russian Cultural Idioms
or RUSS 4850 Russian Film and Society (taught in Russian)
Russian Literature/Culture Course - the 19th Century and Earlier
Select one of the following:3
Russian Culture and Art Under Tsars Great and Terrible
Russian Culture Past and Present 2
Seeds of Revolt: 19th-Century Russian Literature
Russian Literature/Culture Course - the 20th and 21st Centuries
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Modern Russian Culture
Russian Culture Past and Present 2
20th-Century Russian Literature and Art
RUSS 2000-level course3
Topics in Russian and Slavic Culture 2
Sports and the Cold War
Fairy Tales of Russia
Death and the Undead in Slavic and Nordic Cultures
Energy Cultures: Oil, Coal, and Atoms in Modern Literature and Film
Women in Russian Culture: From Folklore to the Nineteenth Century
Russia Beyond the Headlines: Media, Politics, Culture, and Environment
Russian Culture
Select three of the following:9
Red Star Trek: Russian Science Fiction Between Utopia and Dystopia
Arctic Thrillers: Environment, Landscape and Literature of the Far North
Russia Today through Film and TV
Spies Like Us: Espionage in the Culture of the Cold War and Beyond
Slavic Folk Culture: Ideals and Values in the Contemporary World
RUSS 4211
Stalinism: Culture and Society
American-Russian Cultural Relations
Mythological Russia
Women in 20th-21st Century Russian Culture
Rogues to Revolutionaries: Russian Rebels, Past and Present
Contemporary Russian Literature
Russian Literature
Select one of the following:3
Crimes of Passion: Gender and Sexual Politics in Tolstoy's Russia
Russia after Communism: Post-Soviet Politics and Culture
Russian Queer Culture
Dostoevsky
Tolstoy
Chekhov
Absurd and Supernatural in Russian Literature
Elective
One other 3000- to 4000-level RUSS or GSLL culture/literature or language course, or a course in another department pertaining to Russia, upon consent of advisor.3
Total Credit Hours32

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major.

Recommended four-year plans of study appear on the Four-Year Plans tab. To maintain adequate progress in Germanic or Russian studies, students should meet the following requirements:

  • Begin to study the language in the freshman year, or have received AP credit.
  • In consultation with the major program advisor before the end of the drop/add period in the first semester, plan a tentative schedule of courses to be taken over eight semesters.
  • Discuss progress toward the degree each semester with the major advisor.

NOTE: Although these requirements apply only in cases in which students are seeking to graduate under the terms of the four-year guarantee, they are good advice for all majors. Consult the program advisor about the major at any time.

Recommended Four-Year Plans of Study

Through the required coursework for all tracks of the major, students can complete all 12 credit hours of the Arts & Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement. Depending on the courses selected from options, students can potentially complete some credit hours in the Social Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and the Global Perspective component of the Gen Ed Diversity Requirement.

Track A: Russian Language and Culture

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
RUSS 1010 and 1020 (which do not count toward the major) 8
RUSS course on 19th century or earlier periods 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) (if needed) 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with lab) 4
Elective/MAPS 3
Elective/MAPS 3
Elective/MAPS 3
 Credit Hours33
Year Two
RUSS 2010
RUSS 2020
Second-Year Russian 1
and Second-Year Russian 2 (or Study Abroad)
8
RUSS course on 20th-21st centuries 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours29
Year Three
RUSS 3010
RUSS 3020
Third-Year Russian 1
and Third-Year Russian 2 (or Study Abroad)
8
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) 3
Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours29
Year Four
RUSS 4010
RUSS 4020
Advanced Conversation and Composition 1 ( (or Study Abroad) )
or Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 1) and Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 2)
8
RUSS 4210
Topics in Russian Culture
or Russian Cultural Idioms
or Critical Thinking: Russian Film and Society (taught in English)
or Professional Russian
3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
 Credit Hours29
 Total Credit Hours120

Track B: Russian Culture and Literature

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
RUSS 1010 and RUSS 1020 (which do not count toward the major) 8
RUSS 2000-level Aspects of Russian/Soviet/Post-Soviet Culture course 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) 4
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) (if needed) 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective/MAPS 3
Elective/MAPS 3
 Credit Hours30
Year Two
RUSS 2010
RUSS 2020
Second-Year Russian 1
and Second-Year Russian 2 (or Study Abroad)
8
RUSS 2000-level Russian literature or film course 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) 4
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours30
Year Three
RUSS 4811 Seeds of Revolt: 19th-Century Russian Literature 3
RUSS 4821 20th-Century Russian Literature and Art 3
RUSS Upper-division Aspects of Russian/Soviet/Post-Soviet Culture course 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) (if needed) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours30
Year Four
Two 3000-4000 level RUSS literature or film courses 6
Elective 3000-4000 level RUSS or GSLL culture, literature or language course 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) (if needed) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours30
 Total Credit Hours120

Track C: Russian Major for Heritage Speakers

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
RUSS 3060
RUSS 4060
Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 1)
and Advanced Russian for Heritage Speakers (Part 2)
8
One of the RUSS courses on 19th century or earlier periods OR Study Abroad 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) 4
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours30
Year Two
One of the RUSS courses on 20th-21st centuries 3
One of the 2000-level RUSS culture courses 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) (if needed) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours30
Year Three
One 4000 level RUSS literature course 3
Two 3000-4000 level RUSS culture courses 6
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) (if needed) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours30
Year Four
One 3000-4000 level RUSS culture course 3
One elective 3000-4000 level RUSS or GSLL culture, literature or language course 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) (if needed) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) 3
Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) 3
 Credit Hours30
 Total Credit Hours120

Learning Outcomes

The following objectives are central to the undergraduate degree in Russian studies:

  • To understand, articulate and critically reflect on key concepts, events and movements as they relate to the study of Russian literature, history and culture.
  • To cultivate historical understanding and intercultural competency.
  • To recognize, describe, and engage critically and comparatively with diverse perspectives and positionalities within Russophone societies.
  • To conduct research and engage in critical analysis of the area of study.
  • To develop proficiency in Russian language skills, written or spoken, to enable culturally appropriate communication, self-expression and creativity.

Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first, but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees, students receive a master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master's degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor's–accelerated master's program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.

BA and MA in Russian Studies

Highly motivated undergraduates majoring in Russian studies at CU Boulder have the opportunity to enter a BAM program, thereby earning both the BA and the MA in five years. The accelerated degree program offers a unique academic credential designed to produce skilled graduates for a variety of occupations.

Admissions Requirements

In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a minimum GPA of 3.25 for all Russian Studies courses.
  • Have completed a minimum of 75 credit hours of coursework.
  • If a transfer student, have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours at CU Boulder.

It is recommended that applications be submitted the spring semester of the third year of study, but late applications will also be considered. Two letters of recommendation indicating strong potential for advanced, intensive work in Russian also required. Students should have completed most of their MAPS/Gen Ed requirements by the end of the sophomore year. Only CU Boulder students may apply.

Program Requirements

Students may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program, which can later be used toward the master's degree. However, only 6 credits may be double counted toward the bachelor's degree and the master's degree. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor's degree, and apply to continue with the master's degree, early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.

BAM students are expected to take graduate courses in the fourth and fifth years only. 

If you are interested in the BAM degree program, please contact the Russian MA program. For more information, visit the BA/MA degree in Russian studies webpage.