Russian

Wilbert Roget, Department Chair

537 Anderson Hall

215-204-8266

wilbert.roget@temple.edu

Benjamin Rifkin, Faculty Advisor

1206 Anderson Hall

215-204-1816

brifkin@temple.edu

www.temple.edu/fgis/Slavic/

Russian is a major world language spoken by more than 150 million people in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Baltic States, the Caucasus, and right here in Philadelphia, as well as in every other large American city.  Russian is the national (official) language of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and is used as a lingua franca throughout Central Asia.  It is also one of the official working languages of the United Nations. Russian is the language of the booming Russian economy, one of the largest producers of oil, gas, coal, diamonds, gold, copper, steel, and timber.  A tremendous market for U.S. goods and services, Russia is also beginning to increase its exports to the United States, especially in the energy sector.  Students who study Russian can go on to enjoy exciting and fulfilling careers in international business. 

Russia is also the birthplace of one of the world's most fascinating cultures.  Whether you are interested in literature (think Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, Pasternak and Akhmatova), music (think Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky), theater (think Stanislavsky and Chekhov), film (think Tarkovsky and Sokurov) or art (think Kandinsky, Malevich, and Chagall), Russian culture is a rich and exciting tradition that has been of critical importance for the development of world culture. 

Students who major, minor or earn the certificate in Russian go on to careers in business, media, government service, and work in non-profit agencies; some choose to go to graduate or professional school before embarking on careers in law, medicine or government service.  Russian is considered a language of national strategic significance and numerous federal agencies give preference to job candidates with Russian language expertise.  Many students who major or minor in Russian do so in combination with another academic program.

The Temple Russian program strongly encourages students to participate in study abroad through accredited programs (see below) and is ready to help students apply for scholarships to help make that possible.  Students who study Russian at Temple find that the Russian program prepares them to do well in whatever they choose upon graduation; our program teaches students to think, read, and write critically.  The word Russian stands out on students' résumés and transcripts.

The Russian major, minor and certificate are transitioning to new and exciting programs designed to meet students' needs to develop strong language skills for professional opportunities or personal fulfillment. 

Students who begin first-year Russian and students who declare a Russian major, minor or certificate prior to the spring of 2007 will be permitted to finish the Russian major in accordance with requirements established before the proposed program is implemented; however, these students may choose, in consultation with the Russian advisor, to follow the new program (as listed below). 

Students who begin first-year Russian in fall 2006 or later are required to complete the new Russian major, minor or certificate program.  Students who do not take first-year Russian at Temple (heritage and transfer students) but who declare a Russian major, minor or certificate before fall 2008 are required to complete the new curriculum described below, but will work with the Russian Section Head and advisors in the Academic Advising Center to arrange for appropriate substitutions as necessary.

Students majoring or minoring in Russian, as well as students seeking the certificate in Russian, are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad in Russia.  Students participating in recognized programs in Russia, such as those sponsored by the American Council of Teachers of Russian (www.actr.org), the Council on International Educational Exchange (www.ciee.org), or the School for Russian and Asian Studies (www.sras.org), as well as in other study abroad programs as approved by the faculty advisor, receive credit towards the Russian major for courses taken in Russia on study abroad.  See the faculty advisor for more details, and visit the Temple University International Academic Programs office in Tuttleman Hall (www.temple.edu/studyabroad/) for more information.

Requirements for the Major for Students Declaring the Major in Fall 2006 or later

(Students who completed Russian 3001 or higher in fall 2006 or spring 2007 may complete the old Russian major program and should see Professor Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek for details.)

Prerequisites:  Placement into Russian 3001 or 3003.  Heritage students of Russian, i.e., students who speak Russian in their homes, are required to take Russian 3003 and should see the faculty advisor for Russian for this placement.  Students with no Russian language background take Russian 1001 (First-Year Russian I) and continue to take Russian through fourth-semester Russian, Russian 2002.  Successful completion of Russian 2002 or the equivalent is the prerequisite for entrance into Russian 3001, a course required for the Russian major.

Distinction in Major

To be considered for Distinction in Major, students must:

• Complete the requirements for the concentration in Russian with a GPA of at least 3.50 in Russian courses;
• Be recommended to the Chair of the department by the Russian faculty advisor;
• Have an overall GPA of at least 3.25.

Minor in Russian for Students Declaring the Minor in Fall 2006 or Later

(Students who completed Russian 3001 or higher in fall 2006 or spring 2007 may elect to complete the old Russian minor and should see Professor Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek for details.)

Prerequisites:  Placement into Russian 3001 or 3003.  Heritage students of Russian, i.e., students who speak Russian in their homes, are required to take Russian 3003 and should see the faculty advisor for Russian for this placement.  Students with no Russian language background take Russian 1001 (First-Year Russian I) and continue to take Russian through fourth-semester Russian, Russian 2002.  Successful completion of Russian 2002 or the equivalent is the prerequisite for entrance into Russian 3001, a course required for the Russian minor.

Requirements for the Special Foreign Language Certificate in Russian for Students Declaring the Certificate in Fall

2006 or later

(Students who completed Russian 3001 or higher in fall 2006 or spring 2007 may elect to complete the old Russian certificate and should see Professor Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek for details.)

Prerequisites: Placement into Russian 3001 or 3003.  Heritage students of Russian, i.e., students who speak Russian in their homes, are required to take Russian 3003 and should see the faculty advisor for Russian for this placement.  Students with no Russian language background take Russian 1001 (First-Year Russian I) and continue to take Russian through fourth-semester Russian, Russian 2002.  Successful completion of Russian 2002 or the equivalent is the prerequisite for entrance into Russian 3001, a course required for the Russian certificate.