Bachelor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at University of California, Berkeley

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures offers two different major tracks.

Russian/East European/Eurasian Cultures

This track offers an interdisciplinary area studies approach. For this major track, students chose between two concentrations: Russian, or Armenian/Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian/Czech/Hungarian/Polish. Two years of study (or the equivalent) in Russian or another language are required. This major track integrates the study of languages and cultures of a large area: Russia, East Central Europe, Southeastern Europe, and Eurasia. Students design their own programs by selecting courses offered by the Slavic department and other departments such as History, Political Economy, Geography, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, Anthropology, and others. While all majors in this track will gain some knowledge of the whole area, the program also allows each student to emphasize a specific cultural region, compare different regions, and/or define a particular field of study.

Students are advised to see the major advisor in advance to prepare an individualized study list plan.

Russian Language and Literature

This track focuses specifically on Russian language and literature. It requires three years of language coursework (or the equivalent). This major track integrates the study of Russian language, literature, and culture. Students will learn what defines Russia's unique place in civilization both in earlier times and in today's world. Students are advised to see the major advisor in advance to prepare an individualized study plan.

Declaring the Major

All students must see the major advisor for consultation, language proficiency referral (as needed), and study list planning and approval prior to pursuing a major track. Students may declare their major upon entry to the University. However, the department encourages one year of study in the student's major language prior to declaration.

Heritage Speakers of Russian

Heritage speakers include those who grew up in Russian speaking families or communities but without a standard Russian language educational background. Heritage speakers may select any major or minor track offered by the Department except the minor in Russian language. The requirements may change depending on each student's language proficiency and academic interests. Consult the Major Advisor for language testing and individualized plan of study.

Honors Program

Slavic majors with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 overall and in courses for the major are invited to consult with members of the faculty and the major advisor in the spring of their junior year about the honors program and a thesis topic. Requirements for the honors program in Slavic include an additional upper division Slavic course chosen by the student and an honors thesis course (SLAVIC H195).

In the honors thesis course, normally taken during the fall semester of the senior year, the student will write a thesis under the direction of a member of the faculty (the thesis director). In order to enroll in SLAVIC H195, students must file an application with the department (available from the undergraduate student services advisor). This application includes a preliminary statement of the thesis topic and the names and signatures of the honors committee"the faculty director and one additional faculty member who also read the completed thesis"and the department chair.

Minors offered by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

The department does not offer a general minor in Slavic Languages and Literatures. Instead, the minor programs offered are specialized based on language and/or literature:
Armenian Studies (Minor only)
East European/Eurasian Languages and/or Cultures (Minor only)
Russian Language (Minor only)
Russian Culture (Minor only)
Russian Literature (Minor only)

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1. Communicative and reading competence in at least one of the languages of the area: the major track in Russian Language and Literature requires communicative competence in the Russian language; the major track in Russian/East European/Eurasian Cultures requires communicative competence in one of the languages of the area (to be chosen from regularly taught languages: Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, or Russian)
2. Understanding of the shared linguistic, literary, cultural, and historical experiences that unite and divide the peoples of Russia, East and Central Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia during a millennium including their intermediary position between the "West" and the "East," participation in large multi-national states and empires, and membership in the Soviet bloc in the twentieth century that is participation in the cultural and political developments that influenced the history of the large part of the world
3. Solid knowledge of Russian and other major Slavic literatures from the Middle Ages to contemporary times
4. Understanding of such aspects of the cultures of the area as folklore, film, theater, visual arts, and religious thought
5. Mastery of writing, research, and analytical skills, including advance skills in expository writing (in English), in interpreting texts, images, and other cultural artifacts (especially, but not exclusively, those pertaining to the cultures of the area). Mastery of twelve techniques of verbal communication, independent research, information analysis, and critical thinking. Slavic majors achieve their learning goals mainly through coursework within the clearly defined, discipline-specific curriculum