Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Why take courses in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies?
The Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Program explores the vast, complex, and extraordinarily diverse region that stretches from Eastern Europe and the Baltics through European Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia to Siberia and the Russian Far East. Our approach is at once intellectually adventurous and pragmatic, with a curriculum that combines an array of courses in literature, film, visual arts, music, history, politics, sociology, and environmental studies with rigorous training in the Russian language.
What kinds of questions does Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies explore?
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Because of the interdisciplinary nature of our Program, the range of questions that our courses raise is really broad. Here are just some of them: How have literature, art, and protest related to each other in Russia? How did Ukrainian novelists, playwrights, poets, and filmmakers respond to Ukraine’s culture being shaped by encounters with colonialism? Why is it important to learn Russian today? Last but not least, was Lenin a mushroom?
What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies?
Check out courses related to Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia offered by REEES as well as Comparative Literature, History, Politics, and Sociology. Begin with any course that sparks your interest. Except for specifically Russian language courses and senior seminars, most of our courses are taught in English and are open to everyone.
If you consider studying Russian at Oberlin, or majoring in Russian or REEES, it is highly recommended that you start taking language courses beginning in your first semester at Oberlin. We also offer an intensive Winter Term Russian for beginners that covers an entire first semester of Russian.
If you have ANY questions about our Program and courses, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
Taking Courses
Courses for non-majors or general interest
- We teach a variety of courses on literature, culture, art, history, politics, and sociology of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia . The majority are taught in English, have no prerequisites, and are open to all students.
Getting started in the major
We offer two majors: Russian, for students who want to focus primarily on literature and culture, and Russian,East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES), a multidisciplinary program for students who want to combine the study of language and literature with courses in history, politics, sociology, and related disciplines.
While most students choose to study Russian, with careful planning it is possible to count another relevant language studied elsewhere (such as Ukrainian, Georgian, or Uzbek) toward the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies major.
Advanced Placement Credit
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies does not transfer AP credit toward the major requirements. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores.
Incoming students with previous training in Russian should contact Maia Solovieva to determine the appropriate level to continue their study of the language.
Majoring in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.
Sample Four-Year Plans
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | RUSS 101 REEE 2XX |
RUSS 102 HIST 107 |
| Y2 | RUSS 203 REEE 2XX |
RUSS 204 REEE 3XX |
| Y3 | Study Away | Study Away |
| Y4 | REEE 411 | REEE 446 |
| Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | FYSP 085 FYSP 182 |
REEE 2XX |
| Y2 | REEE XXX | HIST 108 |
| Y3 | RUSS 305 HIST 481 |
RUSS 306 REEE XXX |
| Y4 | Study Away | REEE 446 |
Related Areas of Study
Art History, Cinema and Media, Comparative Literature, Economics, Environmental Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Sociology, Studio Art, Theater
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Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Major Requirements
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Department