Faculty of Arts

 Russian

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions

"Russian" covers the study of the language, literature and culture of the Russian-speaking people. Russian is the official language of the former USSR, and of the Russian Republic, which is by far the largest member of the CIS; Russians are the most numerous ethnic group in that country (some 150 million speakers), and it is still a lingua franca amongst the countries of the former Soviet bloc. It is a language of international trade, culture, science, and some of the world's major literature. The Department of Germanic Studies and Russian's subjects focus on language and literature.

 1. Career opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts who have majored in Russian have found employment in the following areas:

• teaching;
• media;
• theatre;
• public service;
• diplomacy;
• tourism.

In addition, when combined with another or a higher degree, Russian equips graduates for careers in academia, international law, and international business. Commercial dealings between the West, including Australia, and Russia are increasing quickly.

 2. Prerequisites

The prerequisite requirements for each Russian subject are given under the individual subjects. The language stream or level in which a student enrols initially will be determined by the department. Placement will be based on the students' VCE results, other language study record or a placement test. However, the enrolment will remain provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered in the light of new evidence that might emerge during the first two 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.

 3. Requirements for a major

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 126-259 Advanced Russian A and 126-260 Advanced Russian B. The prerequisite for Advanced Russian is 126-117 Intermediate Russian B or equivalent. 126-114 Russian Literature and Society A, 126-115 Russian Literature and Society B and 126-255 Russian Literature and Society D are taught in English; for this reason 126-255 Russian Literature and Society 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 126-250 20th-Century Russian Literature and 126-251 20th Century Russian Literature B.

 4. Entry to Honours

The prerequisites for entry to honours in Russian is the completion of all requirements for the BA 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 at least H2A. Combined Honours students must also meet the requirements for Honours in the combining department.

 5. Honours requirements

 5.1. Pure Honours

Pure Honours students complete:

• 126-414 Russian Honours Thesis (33.3 points), and;
• four semester subjects in Russian (66.6 points).

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.

 5.2. Combined Honours

Combined Honours students complete:

• either:
  • 126-411 Russian 4 Combined Honours Coursework, or;
  • two individual semester subjects chosen from those offered at fourth-year level (33.3 points); plus;
• 126-414 Russian Honours Thesis or the thesis in the combining department (33.3 points), and;
• subjects in the combining department according to the requirements of that department.

 6. Opportunities for further study

Students who have studied Russian have the following opportunities to continue their studies in the area:

• MA in Russian (Thesis);
• PhD in Russian (Thesis);
• Postgraduate Diploma in Russian and Slavonic Studies;
• MA in Russian Studies (Coursework and Minor Thesis; coordinated by CREAS);
• Overseas language courses.

 7. For more information

Subject descriptions

126-112 Beginners Russian A
126-113 Beginners Russian B
126-114 Russian Literature and Society A
126-115 Russian Literature and Society B
126-116 Intermediate Russian A
126-117 Intermediate Russian B
126-143 Russian Civilization
126-231 Russian Linguistics A
126-232 Russian Linguistics B
126-250 20th-Century Russian Literature
126-251 20th Century Russian Literature B
126-252 Advanced Russian Syntax
126-253 Advanced Russian Translation
126-254 The Russian Novel in the 20th Century
126-255 Russian Literature and Society D
126-259 Advanced Russian A
126-260 Advanced Russian B
126-419 Russian-English Interpreting
126-420 Russian Stylistics
126-426 Introduction To Polish Through Russian
126-427 Introduction To Czech Through Russian
126-429 History of the Russian Language
126-430 Russian Drama and Poetry
126-435 The Russian Novel in the 19th Century
126-445 Advanced Topics in Russian Grammar A
126-446 Advanced Topics in Russian Grammar B
126-411 Russian 4 Combined Honours Coursework
126-412 Russian 4 Pure Honours Part A Coursework
126-413 Russian 4 Pure Honours Part B Coursework
126-414 Russian Honours Thesis

Status:                   Official 1998
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au