East European Studies, Minor

Program Code: EEST_UMNR

Program Description

The East-European Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for students having a special interest in the geographical area that includes the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe and considering an academic or professional career requiring a knowledge of a foreign language combined with regional specialization. The minor combines courses in languages, literature and cultures of Russia and other nations of the region with courses in history, political science, economics, and other related disciplines. The minor may be combined with any undergraduate major in the University such as History, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Journalism, Business, or other fields in which a knowledge of an East-European language and civilization is advantageous. The minor helps prepare students for further academic work in the area of East European, Euraisan, and Global Studies at the graduate level or to pursue careers as area specialists in commerce, industry, journalism, education, and various governmental and international agencies.

Students can select different tracks depending on their linguistic skills and focus of interest. Thus, students can choose between pursuing in-depth studies of Russian language and civilization or broadening their linguistic experience by studying several East-European languages in combination with content courses related to this region.

Study abroad is strongly encouraged.

Program Requirements

Requirement Credits
Requirements for the Minor 26-28

Requirements for the Minor

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
RUS 100Russian Culture and Civilization Keystone/General Education Course3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select one of the following tracks:11-16
Track 1 (This track is for those students who want to pursue in-depth studies in Russian):
Intermediate Russian I
Heritage Russian
Intermediate Russian II
Advanced Russian A
Track 2:
Intermediate Ukrainian
Select one of the following:
Level One Polish A
and Level One Polish B
and Level Two Polish A
Elementary Russian I
and Elementary Russian II
and Intermediate Russian I
Track 3:
Level Two Polish A
Select one of the following:
Elementary Ukrainian I
and Elementary Ukrainian II
and Intermediate Ukrainian
Elementary Russian I
and Elementary Russian II
and Intermediate Russian I
Track 4:
Intermediate Russian I
Heritage Russian
Select one of the following:
Level One Polish A
and Level One Polish B
and Level Two Polish A
Elementary Ukrainian I
and Elementary Ukrainian II
and Intermediate Ukrainian
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select one of the following: 19-12
Students who choose Track 1 (Russian language only) must select 12 course credits other than RUS (e.g., HIST, PLSC, ECON, etc.) from the departmental list of courses in East European area studies (at least two courses must be at the 400-level).
Students who choose Track 2, 3, and 4 must select 9 credits from the departmental list of courses in East European area studies (at least two courses must be at the 400-level).
1

Other courses approved by the program adviser, such as *97, can also be used.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF GERMANIC AND SLAVIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
442 Burrowes Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-5481
psugerman@psu.edu

https://german.la.psu.edu/slavic/