BA in Russian
Degree Program Description
The discipline of Russian studies involves the systematic, first-hand exploration of the language, literature, and cultures of diverse Russian-speaking countries and Russophone cultures around the world. The liberal arts foundation of this discipline prepares students for careers in a wide variety of fields, including journalism, tourism, diplomacy, and education.
Major Program Requirements
The major in Russian consists of 27 credits in Russian beyond RUSS 1200. Within these 27 hours, students will meet minimum requirements across five categories: language, culture, a 19th-century period course, a 20th-21st century period course, and one interdisciplinary course. At least one of non-language courses will be taken at the 4000 level to meet the capstone requirement. The Russian faculty encourages majors to spend a summer, semester, or year studying abroad in a Russian-speaking country, preferably after their second year of the language. In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
| Major core requirements: 24 credit hours | ||
| Russian Language: Four of the following courses or their equivalents, including a minimum of two at the 3000+ level | 12 | |
| RUSS 2130 | Second-Year Russian I | 4 |
| RUSS 2160 | Second-Year Russian II | 4 |
| RUSS 3001 | Topics in Russian-General | 1-3 |
| RUSS 3130 | Intermediate Russian | 3 |
| RUSS 3160 | Intermediate Conversation and Composition | 3 |
| RUSS 4160 | Advanced Russian Conversation | 3 |
| RUSS 3630 | Russian Classics I | 3 |
| RUSS 3640 | Russian Classics II | 3 |
| Russian Literature and Culture: One course from each of the four areas below, one of which must be at the 4000+ level | 12 | |
| Survey course of Russian culture (required) | 3 | |
| RUSS 2340 | Icons and Revolutions: Russia from its Beginnings to Today | 3 |
| or RUSS 2340W | Icons and Revolutions: Russia from its Beginnings to Today - Writing Intensive | |
| or RUSS 2340H | Icons and Revolutions: Russia from its Beginnings to Today-Honors | |
| or RUSS 2340HW | Icons and Revolutions: Russia from its Beginnings to Today - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| One course in 19th century literature or culture, chosen from the following: | 3 | |
| RUSS 3320 | Matters of Life and Death: The Fiction of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky | 3 |
| RUSS 3380 | Sinners, Saints, and Madmen: 19th Century Russian Literature | 3 |
| or RUSS 3380W | Sinners, Saints, and Madmen: 19th Century Russian Literature - Writing Intensive | |
| RUSS 4530 | Dostoevsky | 3 |
| RUSS 4540 | Tolstoy's Fiction and Truth | 3 |
| One course in 20th and 21st century literature or culture, chosen from the following: | 3 | |
| RUSS 2350 | Understanding Russia through Film | 3 |
| or RUSS 2350W | Understanding Russia through Film - Writing Intensive | |
| RUSS 3390 | True Fictions: Russian Prose since 1900 | 3 |
| or RUSS 3390W | True Fictions: Russian Prose since 1900 - Writing Intensive | |
| One interdisciplinary course, chosen from the following: | 3 | |
| RUSS 3710 | Refugee and Migration Studies: A Cultural-Historical Introduction | 3 |
| or GERMAN 3710 | Refugee and Migration Studies: A Cultural-Historical Introduction | |
| RUSS 4840 | Totalitarianism and Culture | 3 |
| or RUSS 4840W | Totalitarianism and Culture - Writing Intensive | |
| or RUSS 4840H | Totalitarianism and Culture - Honors | |
| or RUSS 4840HW | Totalitarianism and Culture - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| or GERMAN 4840 | Totalitarianism and Culture | |
| RUSS 4880 | Environment and Empire in Russia and Eurasia | 3 |
| or RUSS 4880W | Environment and Empire in Russia and Eurasia - Writing Intensive | |
| LG_LT_CT 4850 | Revolution and Media in a Global Perspective | 3 |
| or LG_LT_CT 4850H | Revolution and Media in a Global Perspective - Honors | |
| or LG_LT_CT 4850W | Revolution and Media in a Global Perspective - Writing Intensive | |
| LG_LT_CT 4940 | SLLC Global Internship | 1-6 |
| or RUSS 4730 | Internship in Russian | |
| Elective in Russian, chosen from any additional course listed above or below, or as approved by the Russian advisor | 3 | |
| RUSS 2100 | Classics and Iconoclasts: An Introduction to Russian Literature | 3 |
| RUSS 3005 | Topics in Russian-Humanities | 1-3 |
| RUSS 4005 | Topics in Russian-Humanities | 1-3 |
| RUSS 4420 | Russian Poetry | 3 |
| RUSS 4430 | Russian Drama | 3 |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RUSS 1100 | 6 | RUSS 1200 | 6 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Missouri State Law Requirement: Social Science from Arts and Science | 3 |
| First-year orientation course | 2 | Behavioral Science | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RUSS 2130 | 4 | RUSS 2160 | 4 |
| RUSS 2100 | 3 | RUSS 2350 | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 | Humanities, First Writing Intensive Course | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RUSS 3130 | 3 | RUSS 3160 | 3 |
| RUSS 3390 | 3 | Biological or Physical Science with lab | 3 |
| Humanities 2000+ from Arts and Science | 3 | Behavioral Science from Arts and Science | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 6 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| RUSS 4880 | 3 | RUSS 4840 | 3 |
| Humanities 2000+ | 3 | Social Science 2000+ | 3 |
| Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 8 | Second Major, Minor, Certificate, or Elective | 9 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.