Minors in Slavic Languages & Literatures

The Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures offers three minors: Russian Language, Slavic Languages, and Russian and Slavic Literatures.  These minors enrich students' education by enhancing their understanding of how people in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union experience the world, and serve as an excellent complement for those studying in various fields, including business, political science, psychology, and international studies.

Students who complete a minor in our department study with nationally acclaimed faculty, and benefit from the department’s close ties to the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies, as well as local Slavic communities. They also have the opportunity to take what they learn outside the classroom, by participating in study abroad, practicing their language skills at a Conversation Table, or attending one of our many departmental events.

Declaring a Minor

Students in good academic standing may declare one of our minors at any time by meeting with their major adviser. Please see Undergraduate Advising’s Minor page for additional considerations about earning a minor.

Minor Requirements by Program

Minor in Russian Language

  1. RUSS 201, 202, and 203 (15 credits) 
    One ore more of these language courses may be satisfied by taking placement exam and testing out of them.  A successful placement exam does not count towards the 25-credit requirement.
  2. Courses from the following list of electives (0-25 credits):
      • RUSS 301, 302, and 303: Third-Year Russian
      • RUSS 313: Business Russian
      • RUSS 314: Business Russian
      • RUSS 316: Extended Russian Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
      • RUSS 350: Intensive Third-Year Russian
      • RUSS 401, 402, and 403: Fourth-Year Russian
      • RUSS 450: Intensive Fourth-Year Russian
      • RUSS 451: Structure of Russian
      • RUSS 481: Russian Language in Russia
      • SLAVIC 110: The Slavic Languages
      • SLAVIC 210: Introduction to Bilingualism
      • SLAVIC 351: Introduction to the History of the Slavic Languages
      • SLAVIC 425: Ways of Meaning: Universal and Culture Specific Aspects of Language
      • SLAVIC 426: Ways of Feeling: Expressions of Emotions Across Languages and Cultures
      • SLAVIC 470: Special Topics in Slavic Linguistics
  3. A minimum of 15 credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level
  4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses presented for this minor
  5. A minimum of 15 graded credits presented for the minor must be completed through the UW

Minor in Slavic Languages

  1. Completion second-year language of ONE of the following East European languages (6-15 credits):
      • BCMS 404, 405, and 406
      • BULGR 404, 405, and 406
      • CZECH 404, 405, and 406
      • POLSH 404, 405, and 406
      • SLVN 404 and 406
      • UKR 404, 405, and 406 
    One ore more of these language courses may be satisfied by taking placement exam and testing out of them.  A successful placement exam does not count towards the 25-credit requirement.
  2. Courses from the following list of electives (0-25 credits):
      • SLAVIC 101: Slavic Lands and Peoples
      • SLAVIC 110: The Slavic Languages
      • SLAVIC 130: Introduction to Slavic Culture and Civilization
      • SLAVIC 210: Introduction to Bilingualism
      • SLAVIC 351: Introduction to the History of Slavic Languages
      • SLAVIC 370: What is in a Language Name?  The Case of Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian
      • SLAVIC 425: Ways of Meaning: Universal & Culture Specific Aspects of Language
      • SLAVIC 426: Ways of Feeling: Expressions of Emotion across Languages & Cultures
      • SLAVIC 470: Special Topics in Slavic Linguistics
  3. A minimum of 15 credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level
  4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses presented for this minor
  5. A minimum of 15 graded credits presented for the minor must be completed through the UW

Minor in Russian and Slavic Literatures

  1. RUSS 322, 323 (10 credits, may be taken in any order)
  2. A minimum of 15 credits from the following list of courses:
      • BCMS 420: Literature of the Former Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav Successor States
      • CZECH 420: Topics in Czech Literature
      • POLSH 320: Introduction to Contemporary Polish Culture
      • POLSH 420: Topics in Polish Literature
      • RUSS 210: From Paganism to Christianity: Medieval Russian Mythology, Literature, and Culture
      • RUSS 221: Contemporary Russian Literature
      • RUSS 223: Russian Cinema
      • RUSS 230: Masterpieces of Russian Literature
      • RUSS 240: Vladimir Nabokov
      • RUSS 324: Russian Folk Literature in English
      • RUSS 420: Topics in Russian Literary and Cultural History
      • RUSS 421: Post-Soviet Literary and Cultural Scene
      • RUSS 422: Russian Literature in Emigration and Exile
      • RUSS 423: Russian Film
      • RUSS 424: Topics in Ethnicity and Cultural Identity
      • RUSS 425: Russian Drama
      • RUSS 426: Russian Art and Architecture
      • RUSS 427: Russian Jewish Experience
      • RUSS 430: Major Authors
      • RUSS 490: Studies in Russian Literature (credits vary)
      • SLAVIC 223: East European Cinema
      • SLAVIC 320: The Other Europe: Post-World War II East European Fiction
      • SLAVIC 323: Masterpieces of East European Cinema
      • SLAVIC 423: East European Film
      • SLAVIC 490: Studies in Slavic Literatures (credits vary)
      • UKR 420: Literature, Film, and Culture of Ukraine
  3. No more than 5 credits from the following may also apply:  RUSS 110, RUSS 120

PLEASE NOTE: The University of Washington requires a minimum of 25 credits for all minors. Students who test out of Slavic Department language requirements MUST STILL complete 25 credits appropriate to the minor they are pursuing, and should select alternate courses with the assistance of one of the advisers in the Humanities Academic Services Center.

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