GEOG 250C/S 01/02W Russian and Central Eurasian Geography
4 Credits
Medvedkov, Olga
Pre-requisites: None
For the first time in all Russian history geography speaks for itself. After the disintegration of the Soviet Empire regions became exceedingly important in this highly centralized state. The current government is trying to reestablish control over the regions. Who will win in this geo-political game? Will Russia become a democratic state or it will pull back to the dictatorship? Will newly independent states like Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan gravitate to Russian economic and political domain or create new alliances with other bordering countries?
We will discuss it throughout the course. The class will be focused on changing space economy, environmental and population issues, national identity problems, political orientation in different regions of the post-Soviet space. This course has a lecture-discussion-project format. Students are expected to complete several map assignments, participate in class discussions, and to write a final paper on major topics.
HIST 251C 1W. The History of Russia to 1796
4.00 credits
Raffensperger, Chris
Prerequisite: none.
Russia occupies a unique position between Europe and Asia. This class will explore the creation of the Russian state, leading into the modern period. We will begin with the exploration and settlement of the Vikings in Eastern Europe, which began the genesis of the state known as “Rus’.” That European state soon encountered threats from Asia when the Mongols invaded in the thirteenth century. The Mongol invasions changed Russian history and contributed to the “othering” of Russia which has continued to the present day. It also created a situation which leads to the creation of Tsars, Russian emperors who come to dominate their European and Asian territory, eventually leading to the creation of a multi-ethnic empire under Tsar Ivan IV. Ivan’s spiritual heirs Peter and Catherine are where we will end the class. The two “greats” dominate the eighteenth century in Russian politics and have a huge impact on the international political scene, changing Russia from the inside out. This course counts toward the PAST minor. Writing intensive.
Russian 105: Russian for Professionals
(4 semester hours)
L. Zaharkov
Russian 111: Beginning Russian I
(5 semester hours)
L. Zaharkov
Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Afraid of the Russian alphabet? Believe it or not, you already know almost half of it if you know Latin (our) alphabet and a little Greek from being a member of a sorority or a fraternity! After just five days you will be able to read many words that are borrowed from other languages! We use the computer to help us, too! Recent world economic events have convinced us that Russia is indeed an important player in the international economic arena. Don’t be left behind! This course also will teach you how to speak and write Russian while learning the structure of the language. In addition, this course is accompanied by a video program where we follow the adventures of an American who lands in Russia as a roving photographer to
learn about the people and the country.
Russian 230: CLAC Module. See description of Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum Above.
(1 semester hour)
L. Zaharkov
Prerequisite: Must either be enrolled in a 200-Level Russian course or have completed at least 2 credits at the 200-Level
Russian 241: Foreign Language Tutor Training
(2 semester hours)
B. Bertrand
Permission of instructor only
This two-credit, half semester course is designed to train potential foreign language tutors for employment in Wittenberg’s Foreign Language Learning Center (FLLC). Learning goals include effective tutoring strategies, training in language technologies, and course-specific sessions with language faculty. The course will be taught in English by the FLLC director and will combine both practical and theoretical material in the form of readings, video segments, discussion, and hands-on practice. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate from the CRLA stating that they are certified level 2 (Advanced) tutors. This course is mandatory for employment in the FLLC.
Russian 260/1.2: Understanding Contemporary Russian Social Issues
(2 semester hours)
L. Zaharkov
Prerequisite: Russian 112 or placement at the 200 level
Introduction to reading skills in Russian by using authentic materials from the contemporary Russian press found on the World Wide Web. Discussion of social and cultural issues in Russian society such as the role of women, education, political movements and youth groups, immigration and relocation issues of the former Soviet Republics.
Russian 263/1.1: Russian Film and Culture
(2 semester hours)
L. Zaharkov
Prerequisite: Russian 112 or placement at the 200 level
Through the study of Russian, students will watch and discuss films that acquaint students with contemporary Russian life. Students will learn the vocabulary necessary to discuss the portrayals of family, relationships, changing value systems, and social questions as reflected in Russian film. This course will also help students gain additional language skills in speaking and aural comprehension.
SOCI 390C 1W Russian and Central Eurasian Societies and Cultures
4 Credits
Pankhurst, Jerry
Pre-requisites: One course in Sociology, RCEP major or minor, or Permission of Instructor.
The fifteen separate nations that resulted from the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 have all sought to find their own national identities and to establish workable social institutions. From families, religion and schools to government and economy, each nation has tried to establish the societal and cultural foundations for ongoing development. Significant separatist movements challenge national unity in several of these countries, and everywhere in the post-Soviet region, enormous cultural diversity challenges the development of common purpose and settled social life.
This course will explore the great social challenges facing the countries of the Russian and Central Eurasian region in the 21st Century and try to pinpoint major issues in institutional change that will determine the successes and failures in this epochal project. Using a sociological perspective, we will first review the history of the region to provide a basis for our exploration of the current conditions. Understanding the legacies of the communist era (1917-1991) will be particularly important for our inquiry. However, our goal will be to put into clear focus the emerging national identities and social dynamics of Russia and the other countries of the region today. (Because of its overwhelming size and power, Russia will occupy much of our attention, but we will also evaluate the other successor countries as much as possible. Individual students may pursue special interests related to any of the countries as part of the course.)
Course Format: Seminar. The course will include numerous readings, some to be presented to the class by students. Participation by students in class discussions will be important. Simultaneously, there will be some short papers working toward the enhancement of writing skills, and students will keep a portfolio of these papers to demonstrate patterns of improvement. Some peer review of these papers will be built into the course. In addition, each student will complete two book critiques and a term project on a subject selected in consultation with the instructor. Term projects will be presented to the class at the end of the semester. There will be two or three examinations on the core content of the course, and there may be an occasional quiz on the factual materials.
