Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

REES 190. Special Topics in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. 1 Unit.

REES 200B. Empire, Culture, Power: An Introduction to Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. 1 Unit.

This course offers an introduction to the vast sweep of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia from an interdisciplinary perspective. This is one of the world's most important and intriguing but troubled regions with extraordinary diversity of religions, cultures at the intersection of the Western and Eastern worlds, and political systems ranging from empires to democracies.

REES 201B. Russia Today. 1 Unit.

Introduction to Russian studies, with attention to political, demographic, economic, social, and cultural features of the Russian area.

REES 285. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

REES 290. Special Topics in REES. 1 Unit.

REES 290B. Introduction to Caucasus: Religion and Coexistence in Georgia. 1 Unit.

Georgia is a land of multiple faiths: Judaism, Islam, Official Atheism, Christian Orthodoxy, and Paganism have a long history of coexistence. This three-week course begins in Tbilisi with an introduction to religions in Georgia. The last two weeks students travel to spiritual sites central to Georgia's religious history. We will reflect upon and better understand religious traditions and values.

REES 301A. Survey of Russian Civilization. 1 Unit.

Introduction to Russian cultural achievements in music, visual arts, architecture, folk arts, philosophy, and religion.

REES 309. Survey of Russian Literature in English. 1 Unit.

Introduction to important works in Russian literature from the twelfth to twentieth century.

REES 310. 20th Century Russian Literature in English. 1 Unit.

The course encompasses many literary movements - Realism, Symbolism, Socialist Realism, and Village Prose - in their historical context. Genres include essays, tales, poetry, the novel, autobiography, film, and plays.

REES 320A. Russian and Soviet Film. 1 Unit.

Explores the one-hundred year tradition of Russian film art. We approach film as both an historical object that offers understanding into the traditions and beliefs of Russia, as well as works of art. Through workshops on cameras, editing, and acting, students gain additional insights into the potentials for cinematic art.

REES 338. Central Asia Politics. 1 Unit.

Long a peripheral region of European and Asian empires, Central Asia is now reclaiming its own identity in the wake of the collapse of the USSR. The primary focus of the course is on politics, society, and foreign policies in the new Central Asian states of Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, though some attention will also be given to the Turkic regions of western China as well as Iran and Afghanistan. Among the topics to be examined are Islamic revivalism, ethnic conflict, national security, the attempts to construct modern national identities as well as modern political and economic systems. Cross-listed with POLI 338.

REES 340V. Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. 1 Unit.

This course focuses on Stetson's Ethical or Spiritual Inquiry Value. Two of the world’s greatest writers. They lived in one age, in one country, and sometimes in one city. They could not have agreed less on God, nature, man, and society. One Russian philosopher wrote that Tolstoy and Dostoevsky “exemplify an insoluble controversy, in which two sets of assumptions, two fundamental concepts of existence, confront one another.” To understand them both, and choose between them, is to define your own nature. In English.

REES 341V. Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. 1 Unit.

This course focuses on Stetson's Human Diversity Value. The first priority is to read, analyze, and (most importantly) enjoy a long and complex novel about life in Russia at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In this national epic, Tolstoy wages polemical war on issues like historiography, human psychology, decision-making, nation-building, moral codes, violence, gender, and class. The answers are never what you expect, and they are as pertinent today as they were a hundred and fifty years ago. Junior Seminar.

REES 342V. Real Men, Real Women? Gender in 20th- and 21st-Century Russian Literature and Culture. 1 Unit.

This course focuses on Stetson's Human Diversity Value. We explore the contentious topic of gender in a Russian context by examining an array of representations of masculinity and femininity in Russian literature and film since the early twentieth century. By interrogating these representations, we will assess what it means (and what it has meant) to be a Russian man or woman, and in the process, we may challenge some of our own Western assumptions about gender constructs. As we identify and analyze the characteristics of ideal/real men and women, we will consider how and whether gender stereotypes are reinforced or shattered in the works of contemporary authors. Format: discussion-based class with minilectures for context. Requirements: thoughtful and active class participation, two short essays and a longer paper, a class presentation and discussion leader assignment, a midterm examination, and a final examination. Writing Enhanced course. Junior Seminar.

REES 343V. Protest Culture and Putin's Russia. 1 Unit.

This course focuses on Stetson's Human Diversity Value. This course examines the relationship between individuals and the state in Putin’s Russia. It analyzes a variety of texts – fiction, cinema, journalism, and popular culture – dealing with the chaos of the “wild 1990s,” Putin’s solidification of power in the early 2000s, and the rise of the protest culture that has dominated media attention in the last several years. Attention is devoted to the two recent Russo-Chechen Wars, activism and war in Ukraine, Putin’s interactions with Donald Trump, and the recent protests in Belarus. Course materials include works by representative authors, artists, journalists, and cultural critics. Format: discussion-based class with mini-lectures for context. Requirements: thoughtful and active class participation, two short essays and a longer paper, a class presentation and discussion leader assignment, a midterm examination, and a final examination. Junior Seminar.

REES 385. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

REES 390. Topics in Russian Studies. 0.5 to 1 Units.

Topics include single authors, historical periods, genres, or themes. In English.

REES 395. Teaching Apprenticeship. 0.5 Units.

Pass/Fail only.

REES 397. Internship in Russian Area Studies. 0.5 or 1 Units.

A student–initiated internship (domestic or abroad) that builds knowledge and competency in Russian-area studies such as politics, geography, history, business, etc. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and chair. Enrollment in an internship course requires students to attend an orientation prior to beginning work at their internship site. For more information regarding internship orientations, please contact Career & Professional Development at career@stetson.edu or 386-822-7315.

REES 398. Contemporary Russian Culture. 1 Unit.

Analysis of current changes in Russian society as seen through culture in its historical context, beginning with the idea of culture. Texts are drawn from literature, journalism, history, film, art, and culture studies. In English.

REES 485. Independent Study. 0.5 to 1 Units.

REES 498. Senior Research: Sources and Methodology. 0.5 Units.

REES 498 helps the student locate a topic, an approach, and available research that will inform their Senior Research.

REES 499. Senior Project. 0.5 Units.

RUSS 101. Elementary Russian I. 1 Unit.

For students who have had no previous Russian or fewer than two years of pre-college Russian. Introduction to the alphabet, basic grammar, and vocabulary of modern Russian language. Not open to native speakers.

RUSS 102L. Elementary Russian II. 1 Unit.

For students who have completed RUSS 101 and for students who have had two or more years pre-college Russian whose placement scores indicate admission to this level. Prerequisite: RUSS 101 or permission of the instructor. Not open to native speakers.

RUSS 190. Special Topics in Russian Language and Literature. 0.25 to 1 Units.

For students who have completed RUSS 101 and for students who have had two or more years pre-college Russian whose placement scores indicate admission to this level. Prerequisite: RUSS 101 or permission of the instructor. Not open to native speakers. Not open to native speakers.

RUSS 201. Second-Year Russian I. 1 Unit.

Intensive work on expanding key language skills of listening comprehension, reading, composition and speaking. Prerequisite for RUSS 201: RUSS 102 or permission of the instructor.

RUSS 201L. Second Year Russian I. 1 Unit.

Intensive work on expanding key language skills of listening comprehension, reading, composition and speaking. Prerequisite: RUSS 102L or permission of the instructor. Not open to native speakers.

RUSS 202L. Second Year Russian II. 1 Unit.

Intensive work on expanding key language skills of listening comprehension, reading, composition and speaking. Prerequisite: RUSS 201L. Not open to native speakers.

RUSS 285. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

RUSS 290. Special Topics in Russian Language and Literature. 1 Unit.

RUSS 301L. Intermediate Russian Conversation and Composition I. 1 Unit.

Emphasis on the application of grammar to written compositions. Extensive vocabulary building. Continued development of oral proficiency through individual and group discussions and presentations. Prerequisite: RUSS 202L or permission of the instructor.

RUSS 302L. Intermediate Russian Conversation and Composition II. 1 Unit.

Emphasis on the application of grammar to written compositions. Extensive vocabulary building. Continued development of oral proficiency through individual and group discussions and presentations. Prerequisite: RUSS 301L or permission of the instructor.

RUSS 303L. Advanced Russian Grammar. 1 Unit.

An advanced seminar usually designed to develop knowledge of difficult grammatical constructions and structural features of modern Russian. Topics in morphology include expressive use of verbs of motion, advanced concepts in aspectual choice, and correct formation and use of participles.

RUSS 305L. The Art of the Russian Short Story. 1 Unit.

This course introduces Russian literature through the short story. The course involves close analysis of the short story genre and its development over the course of the 19th-20th Centuries, with an added emphasis on comprehension of complex, literary lexicon and syntax. Taught in Russian. Prerequisite: RUSS 201L.

RUSS 306L. Introduction to Russian Poetry. 1 Unit.

This course surveys 19th and 20th Century Russian poetry, emphasizing the analysis of individual poems by major poets. Taught in Russian. Prerequisite: RUSS 201L.

RUSS 307L. Advanced Conversation and Stylistics. 0.5 or 1 Units.

This course is for students who have had at least three years of college-level Russian. It teaches advanced conversation and reading, and includes reading Russian newspapers and working with Russian films or documentaries. All reading and discussion in class is in Russian. The course meets twice a week. Prerequisite: RUSS 302L or its equivalent.

RUSS 385. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

RUSS 390. Special Topics in Russian Language and Literature. 1 Unit.

Topics include advanced directed reading, linguistic analysis, phonetics, and media studies. In Russian.

RUSS 395. Teaching Apprenticeship. 0.5 Units.

RUSS 397. Internship in Russian. 0.5 or 1 Units.

A student–initiated internship (domestic or abroad) where skills in Russian language study can be developed. Prerequisites: completion of RUSS 201L and permission of instructor and chair. Enrollment in an internship course requires students to attend an orientation prior to beginning work at their internship site. For more information regarding internship orientations, please contact Career & Professional Development at career@stetson.edu or 386-822-7315.

RUSS 398. Contemporary Russia: Culture and Civilization. 1 Unit.

RUSS 401L. Advanced Russian Conversation and Composition. 1 Unit.

Provides advanced Russian students the chance to polish, advance, and diversify their skills. Focus on stylistics, syntax, and vocabulary building. Prerequisite: RUSS 302L or permission of the instructor. Repeatable with permission of instructor.

RUSS 403. Advanced Studies in Russian Media. 1 Unit.

The ultimate goal of the course is to foster and promote Russian language use at an advanced level and the ability to navigate Russian language media. Throughout the course, students learn to integrate knowledge acquired from multiple target-language resources into meaningful oral or written output, cultivating global competence as one of the teachable attributes of the course. Throughout the course, students work with a carefully chosen range of authentic engaging materials from a variety of media sources including but not limited to print media, broadcast media, and the Internet. Prerequisite: RUSS 302L.

RUSS 407. Structure of Russian: Advanced Phonology and Morphology. 1 Unit.

This course is a theoretical and practical introduction to the linguistic structure of Contemporary Standard Russian. Students will get familiar with the sounds system (phonetics and phonology), and inflection system. Additionally, they will examine and discuss theoretical and practical attributions of Cognitive Linguistics. This course is designed to systematize the study of the Russian language as well as provide the basic tools to continue the study of Russian independently at work or research settings. It serves as a general introduction to linguistics (what is language and how is it structured?) with illustrative data from Russian. For those who intend to become teachers of Russian, this course is an introduction to the inner workings of the language. Taught in Russian. Prerequisite: RUSS 302L.

RUSS 485. Independent Study. 0.5 or 1 Units.

RUSS 490. Special Topics Russian Lang/Li. 0.5 to 1 Units.

RUSS 490L. Special Topics in Russian Language. 1 Unit.

RUSS 499. Senior Project. 1 Unit.