Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: HFA

 (Revised Fall 2017)  

How to Explore / Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2019 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

(placement according to background and preparation)

The major in Russian and East European Studies consists of 14 courses, with a basic set of language requirements and interdisciplinary area studies options.

How to Declare the Major

See the Chief Undergraduate Advisor at any time.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

The Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies Major at UMass Amherst consists of 14 courses.

I. Language Core

RUSSIAN 110 and 120 (Elementary Russian I and II), or equivalent
RUSSIAN 230 and 240 (Intermediate Russian I and II), or equivalent
RUSSIAN 301 and 302 (Advanced Russian I and II), or equivalent

Notes:

  • Students testing with Russian language proficiency at the intermediate level must complete the advanced language requirement and take two additional courses from Section II.
  • With the approval of the major advisor, a student may substitute equivalent work in a Slavic, East European or Central Asian language other than Russian for the language core requirement.

II. Coursework

Six courses dealing with the Russian, East European and Eurasian area in a minimum of three disciplines chosen from Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Economics, English, History, Judaic Studies, Political Science, Sociology, or Russian. Appropriate courses taught at the other four colleges, in an exchange program or study abroad may also serve to meet this requirement with the approval of the major advisor.

III. Junior Year Writing Requirement and Integrative Experience Requirement

These General Education requirements may be satisfied by so-designated courses in Anthropology, Comparative Literature, History, Political Science or other departments.

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For further information, contact
Audrey Altstadt (722 Herter Hall) or Julie Hemment (206 Machmer Hall)
Program Co-Directors and Chief Undergraduate Advisors, 2018-2019