In this seminar, students will undertake an in-depth exploration of various aspects of the cultural history, literature, language, and society of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Aimed at introducing students to the diverse field of Russian, East European and Eurasian studies, the course will feature a number of guest speakers—scholars who will present their own research and provide introductions to the region. Course readings include diverse primary texts (literature, popular culture, journalism, etc.) and representative scholarly studies. Taught in a seminar format, this course places special emphasis on research. Participants will be given the opportunity to produce a research paper (10-20 pages) on a topic of their own interest, working in individual consultations with both the primary instructor and other faculty members. (Students working on a senior or honors thesis may find this seminar useful for their thesis research.)

Required of all majors in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, this course is also open to other students who are interested in research on this vital area of the world.

Prerequisite: Major/minor status in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures or the consent of the instructor.