Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts
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Russian is one of the major languages of the modern world. It is the official language of the former USSR, and of the Russian Republic, which is by far the largest member state of the CIS; Russians are the most numerous ethnic group in that country (some 150 million speakers). It is a language of international trade, culture, science, and some of the world's major literature. It is still a linga franca amongst the countries of the former Soviet bloc. Russian, German, French, Italian and Greek are all members of the same language family and Russian is not markedly more difficult to learn than the others.
The study of a language and its literature at university level is a rigorous intellectual discipline. It provides invaluable training in literary criticism, fosters cultural awareness, and leads students to an appreciation of the social forces and historical events which shape a language and its forms of imaginative and reflective expression. As with other Arts Faculty subjects, graduates of Russian are intellectually equipped to enter a wide range of professions, e. g. public administration, diplomacy, radio and television, tourism, teaching and theatre. In addition, when combined with another or a higher degree, language studies equip graduates for careers in academia, international law, and international business.
The language stream or level in which a student enrols will be determined by the department. Placement will be based on the students' VCE results, other language study record or a placement test. However, their enrolment will remain provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered in the light of new evidence that might emerge during the first weeks of teaching. As far as possible, changes will be notified in the first two weeks of the semester. Changes in weeks 3 and 4 will have to be reported to the Associate Dean.
A major in Russian requires the completion of at least five Russian subjects at second or third-year level, totalling 83.3 points and including 33.3 points of Advanced Russian. The prerequisite for Advanced Russian is Intermediate Russian B or equivalent. Russian Literature and Society A-D are taught in English; for this reason Russian Literature and Society Cand D may not be included in the 83.3 points; the parallel subjects which may be included, with shared content but with Russian components are 20th-Century Russian Literature A and B.
Entry to the Honours School is subject to the completion of all the requirements for the pass degree, with a major in Russian including at least one subject chosen from those available at 3rd and 4th year level, with an overall average grade of H2A. Combined Honours students must also meet the requirements for Honours in the combining department.
Pure Honours students enrol in 126-414 Russian Honours Thesis and four semester subjects (66.6 points) in Russian: either by enrolling in 126-410 Russian 4 Pure Honours Coursework (66.6 points) or in four individual semester subjects chosen from those offered at fourth-year level.
Students undertaking Honours part-time normally enrol in 50 points of coursework in their first year - either 126-412 Russian 4 Pure Honours Part A Coursework or three individual semester subjects chosen from those offered at fourth-year level; and in 126-414 Russian Honours Thesis and 16.7 points of coursework in the second year.
Combined Honours students enrol in either 126-411 Russian 4 Combined Honours or two individual semester subjects chosen from those offered at fourth-year level; plus a thesis in either Russian or the combining department.
For further information please contact:
The Department of Germanic Studies and Russian
The University of Melbourne
telephone: (03) 9344 5193
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Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 10 1995 Last modified: Oct 10 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: Faculty of Arts
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.